Coronary artery disease occurs when plaque builds up in the arteries that supply blood to your heart. One treatment option is coronary brachytherapy. Brachytherapy uses radiation to prevent scar tissue growth and keep your arteries open. Dr. Stephen Ellis provides an overview of coronary brachytherapy treatment.

Don't let the hustle and bustle of the holidays derail your heart health. Dr. Vikas Sunder talks with Jenna DiBernardo, APRN and Michelle Dodd, RD about ways to stay healthy during the holiday season. For information about claiming CE credits, go to clevelandclinic.org/neuropodcast and click on the episode.

Having heart surgery is life changing and when needing a second one, there is a lot to think about. There are more things to consider for the surgeon too. Marc Gillinov, MD, Faisal Bakaeen, MD, and Shinya Unai, MD, discuss what has led to Cleveland Clinic's success in how we care for patients who need another heart surgery.

Suffering a cardiac event is life changing. The effects go beyond just your heart. Dr. Michael Emery has a heartfelt discussion with one of his patients, Kevin Kessler, about how life has changed for his family and him after a cardiac event during an athletic event.

Clinical trials (or research studies) help us create the medicine of tomorrow. Dr. Eileen Hsich talks about how clinical trials have changed over time to expand who can participate and ensure that they are as safe as possible.

Atrial fibrillation after heart surgery is common. Dr. Daniel Burns discusses what afib is and how your doctor manages it after heart surgery.

September was Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month. Drs. Oussama Wazni and Robert Koeth talk about if and how afib can be prevented.

If your aorta, the major artery that carries blood away from your heart, becomes damaged or weak, it could cause it to become wider (aneurysm) or tear (dissection). A different type of doctor or surgeon may see you depending on the size and location of the disease. Dr. Frank Caputo and Dr. Patrick Vargo discuss how our doctors all work together to best care for you.

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia is a rare form of cardiomyopathy. Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia is also called arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). Drs. Oussama Wazni and Pasquale Santangeli discuss what you need to know about ARVD.

Cardiovascular disease or heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and around the world. People assigned female at birth (AFAB) are affected in unique ways. Dr. Leslie Cho, Director of the Women’s Cardiovascular Center, highlights special considerations for women or people AFAB.

Did you know that chest pain is not the only sign of a heart attack? Dr. Jacqueline Tamis-Holland, Institute Director for Acute Coronary Care at Cleveland Clinic, describes other symptoms that may indicate you are having a heart attack and when to call for help.

September is Aortic Disease Awareness Month. Drs. Milind Desai, Vidyasagar Kalahasti, and Eric Roselli, from the Aorta Center at Cleveland Clinic, speak with Tom Beers, Manager of Emergency Medical Services, about how Cleveland Clinic is working with First Responders to improve how we care for patients with a life-threatening aortic dissection.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved a new use for the medication colchicine. This medication can now be used to decrease the risk of cardiac events in some patients. Dr. Steve Nissen and Dr. Vik Sunder discuss this new development and what it means for patients.

One of the first things to consider when a patient is told they need heart valve surgery is the type of valve. Dr. Marc Gillinov, Chairman of the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, gives an overview of bioprosthetic (tissue) and mechanical valves.

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) is the narrowing or blockage of the vessels that carry blood from the heart to the legs. Natalie Salvatore, RN, talks with Dr. Teresa Wu from the Section of Vascular Medicine at Cleveland Clinic about PAD and what you need to know.

Lipoprotein (a) or LP(a) is a type of LDL or “bad cholesterol”. Dr. Ashish Sarraju explains what LP(a) is and how it relates to other forms of lipoproteins.

An organ transplant changes your life forever. Natalie Salvatore, RN, speaks with Dr. Eileen Hsich, Medical Director for the Heart Transplant Program at Cleveland Clinic, about the basics for heart transplantation and her biggest piece of advice for patients and families.

Robotic heart surgery sounds like a thing of the future. It is important to know that your surgeon is still the one performing the surgery and he or she is using the robot as a tool. As you might imagine, this requires your surgeon to have a specific set of skills. Dr. Marc Gillinov, Chair of the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at Cleveland Clinic, answers some common questions about training that surgeons receive and questions you should ask your surgeon if you are...

In 2006, Cleveland Clinic performed its first transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Since then, the number of patients we treat has grown and how we care for this patient population has evolved. Dr. Samir Kapadia, Chairman of Cardiology, and Dr. Amar Krishnaswamy, Head of Interventional Cardiology, discuss how the care for patients having TAVR has changed and the benefit to going home the same day if appropriate.

A Cleveland Clinic-led trial looked at the safety of testosterone replacement therapy for patients with documented low levels of testosterone. Dr. Steve Nissen discusses the results that testosterone-replacement therapy did not result in a higher rate of major adverse cardiac events for some patients. Although safe in the patient group studied, researchers still urge caution when considering testosterone therapy.

Intermittent fasting is a pattern of eating as usual then not eating for a set time period and may have some heart health benefits. Julia Zumpano, registered dietician with the Department of Preventative Cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic, answers "what is intermittent fasting?" and explains why it works for some people.

An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is a medical device that monitors your heart and can deliver an electric shock to correct life-threatening arrhythmia and prevent sudden cardiac arrest. Dr. Mohamed Kanj talks about the safety and risks of activity with an ICD and different arrhythmias. He reviews findings from research that helps guide how doctors care for active patients with ICDs.

A heart MRI is a painless, safe and noninvasive way for your healthcare provider to see detailed pictures of your heart. Cardiac MRI images show the parts of your heart and any damage to specific areas and also show how well your heart’s chambers and valves are working. Cardiac MRI is often a necessary diagnostic test for patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) but challenging due to patient safety concerns and poor image quality. Drs. Callahan and Wilkoff talk with Dr....

Aortopathy refers to conditions that weaken your aorta, like aortic aneurysms and aortic dissections. Dr. Vidyasagar Kalahasti, Director of the Marfan Syndrome and Connective Tissue Disorder Clinic and member of the Aorta Center, discusses causes of aortopathies, especially for people with genetic conditions or competitive athletes.

School may be out for the summer, but student athletes are still attending practices for the next season. Summertime also provides masters level athletes a chance to enjoy the nice weather while practicing their sport. Dr. Tamanna Singh hosts a panel discussion with Drs. Richard Figler, Thomas Callahan, and Michael Emery about screening and preparedness for potential life-threatening heart conditions that affect athletes.