Do I need to take antibiotics before dental cleanings and other procedures to prevent infection in my hip prosthesis?
When doctors interpret a blood pressure reading, should they also consider the heart rate? My pressure is often higher when my heart rate is close to its usual resting rate and lower when my heart is beating faster than that.
My wife and I have read that erectile dysfunction can be a warning for future heart disease in men. My wife is experiencing a drop in her sex drive. She’ll be seeing her gynecologist for help, but we wonder if she should see a cardiologist, too.
I’ve heard that apple cider vinegar can clean out the arteries. Is there any truth to that?
I was taking diltiazem and Atacand, which gave me an average blood pressure of 110/65. Recently while in the hospital, my blood pressure got so low I was told to stop taking these medications. My blood pressure has remained at 105/65. How can this be?
I have an electrocardiogram as part of my yearly checkup. After the last one, my doctor mentioned that my ST segment was longer this year than it was last year. He recommended that I have a stress test to check this out. I passed with flying colors. When I asked the cardiologist who did the stress test about the ST segment, he said the length isn?t really important, that the height and shape are what matter. Can you explain?
Your article on mitral valve surgery didn’t mention how often someone like me – with mild regurgitation from a leaky mitral valve but no symptoms – should have his or her valve checked. Are there any standards for this?
If you have a slow heart rate (bradycardia), is it safe to drink wine? If so, how much per day? Does alcohol affect the heart rate?
You wrote about weak, brittle fingernails with longitudinal ridges. I have strong nails with horizontal ridges. What causes this, and what can I do about it?
My wife gets down in the dumps each January. She thinks it’s just because the holidays have come and gone, but I think it’s more than that. Is it depression?