Blog

Minute for Your Heart - Choosing the Right Heart Arrhythmia Monitor

Cardiac electrophysiologist Dr. David Sandler joins us today on the blog to talk about heart monitors for arrhythmia patients. 

Patients who experience symptoms such as palpitation or fainting spells are often prescribed monitors in order to catch a potential heart rhythm abnormality. Choosing the proper monitor requires the provider to take a thorough history and have knowledge of potential diagnostic tools.

The most commonly prescribed monitor is a 24-hour, continuously recording device called a Holter monitor (named after its inventor, Norman Jeff Holter). While this... Read More »

Does Sitting Trump Smoking?

There is a new term making its way around the Internet – “Sitting is the new smoking.” If it sounds shocking, it’s meant to, as researchers are taking a long, hard look at how we spend our time and what impact that is having on our health. Just as smoking a little is still smoking, sitting all week is still sitting, even though you also find time to work out. What they have found you may not want to sit down for, so go ahead and stand up.

We sit way too much

According to a 2012 study published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity... Read More »

Preventing DVT when Traveling

The Oklahoma Heart Research and Education Foundation recently held their bi-annual symposium in Tulsa, OK. Health care providers from across the region listened to presentations from several Oklahoma Heart Institute cardiologist on a variety of topics. One particular moment received spontaneous laughter from the audience, as Dr. Eugene Ichinose pulled a chair onto the stage, upon which he preceded to stand and model his compression socks underneath his suit. The demonstration was both a comical break and illustration of the point of his presentation – preventing deep vein thrombosis (DVT... Read More »

Tulsan Saved by New Heart Valve Replacement Procedure - NewsOn6

A revolutionary procedure for heart patients is celebrating one-and-a-half years of getting Oklahomans back on their feet. The procedure is for patients who are too sick for open heart surgery but facing long odds of survival.

One Tulsa man says the procedure is almost too good to be true.

"I tell you, it's hard to grasp. It's almost been a year of euphoria," said Jim Meehan.

Jim Meehan says he was "staring death in the eyes" almost two years ago. He was suffering from aortic stenosis, a disease that causes the opening of the aortic valve to narrow.

"At that... Read More »

Running with Robin

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You can tell when someone is truly passionate about something. More than just a hobby or interest, it drives them to be better, do more and push the limits. When you talk to Oklahoma Heart Institute cardiac nurse Robin Williams, RN, her passion outside work and family is running. “It doesn’t matter if you come in first, middle of the pack or last, you can say ‘I have finished,’” she says of her love of running that has spanned for more than 20 years. “I enjoy the sense of achievement, self satisfaction and the opportunity to push beyond where... Read More »

Why Your Heart is Happy on World Gratitude Day

How does your heart feel today? If you’re running late for the soccer game, realized you forgot you’re in charge of snacks this week and spilt your coffee while getting in the car, then you’re heart is probably not feeling that great. However, if you happened to notice the morning sun light beaming through the kitchen window as you poured that cup of coffee and remembered you have an extra box of granola bars in the pantry for the soccer game, then you’re heart is feeling pretty good. How we view what is going on around us, researchers say can have a big impact... Read More »

World AFib Awareness Day

Saturday, September 14 cities across the country celebrated World AFib Awareness Day to shed light on the prevelance of AFib around the world and the impact the most common heart arrythmia diagnosed has on patients and quality of life. Oklahoma Heart Institute hosted as AFib and Yoga event in honor of this day. Dr. David Sandler led a seminar discussing prevention of AFib and the link to helping symptoms and episodes of AFib through yoga. Jennifer Skaggs, a local yoga instructor, led participants in an open heart yoga session. Take a look at World AFib Awareness Day at Oklahoma Heart... Read More »

Inside the Case: InfraReDx Coronary Imaging Detects Near Max Lipid Core Plaque

Today we are taking you inside a real case at Oklahoma Heart Institute. A patient in his 80s presented to the Emergency Room with an acute myocardial infarction (MI). He was a former smoker with no previous coronary disease. Angiography was performed which revealed a 90 percent blockage in a major artery, the Proximal left anterior desending (LAD) artery.

The doctors used the InfraReDx imagining system to better assess the composition of the blockage material and to also accurately determine the true vessel size and... Read More »

A Minute for Your Heart - Personalization Improves AFib Care

Oklahoma Heart cardiac electrophysiologist Dr. David Sandler talks about how different the treatment can vary for AFib patients and why individualization is key to successful outcomes.

Patients are often surprised that the recommendations we make differ from those offered to a friend with atrial fibrillation (AFib).  The explanation is that there are numerous treatment options that are best tailored to an individual patient.  The factors that go into these decisions (for example: age, weight, symptoms, frequency/duration of atrial fibrillation) can dramatically affect the success... Read More »

Share Your Story - Jennifer Skaggs

Jennifer Skaggs, 32, began experiencing unexplained fainting spells on a regular basis in her teens. These episodes impacted every facet of her life - ending her soccer career and taking away her car keys. It wasn't until Jennifer found Oklahoma Heart Institute that her fainting episodes began to be managed, occuring less frequently. Along with lifestyle modifications and beginning yoga, Jennifer started noticing a big difference in her health. Today Jennifer shares her story and how the doctors at Oklahoma Heart Institute and yoga have given her life back.

 

... Read More »