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Vascular Center at Oklahoma Heart Institute Offers Patients Multidisciplinary Approach to Vascular Disease

Vascular disease can be complex and require a collaborative approach from multiple specialists for the best outcomes. The circulatory system consists of a network of organs and vessels, which feed the rest of the body with nutrients, blood, oxygen and other gases and hormones. The vascular system alone accounts for nearly 100,000 miles of blood vessels, when stretched end-to-end, in adults. Understanding and treating conditions of the veins, arteries and capillaries requires good teamwork.

The Vascular Center at Oklahoma Heart Institute provides patients suffering from a variety of... Read More »

First in Oklahoma - TAVR with Edwards Sapien XT Valve

Oklahoma Heart Institute was the first in Oklahoma to use the Edwards Sapien XT valve for commercial use in a Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) procedure June 24, 2014. The team was lead by Drs. Kamran Muhammad, Paul Kempe, Wayne Leimbach, and Victor Cheng. Go inside the case to see how this valve will help more patients with severe aortic stenosis who are high-risk or inoperable. 

(Image courtesy of Edwards)

Changing Lives at Oklahoma Heart Institute - Gene's Story

Gene Swepston is no stranger to Oklahoma Heart Institute. The marketing vendor who supplies various items such as the cough buddy, was admitted to the hospital in February of 2014. He shares his story and why he returned as soon as he was able to volunteer and help other patients. 

 

Share Your Story - David Hubbard

David Hubbard, 50, pays close attention to detail. The associate-senior project manager with a local architectural firm easily recalls the month-long journey from hospitals, Emergency Departments, doctors’ offices and operating rooms that led to a tearful exchange between his wife, Pam, and Oklahoma Heart Institute cardiologist Dr. Kyle Zimmerman. “They hugged and cried a bit,” David adds. “He described it as an astonishing fourth quarter victory.”

It all started in March when David woke up in pain. “I thought initially I had slept wrong and was having a spasm, but soon I realized I... Read More »

The Facts - Men and Heart Disease

Heart disease is number one when it comes to leading causes of death for men in the United States. In 2009, more than 307,000 men died of heart disease, which adds up to 1 in 4 male deaths. Furthermore, heart disease is the number one cause of death in Oklahoma. About 9,426 people in Oklahoma died of heart disease in 2010.

So what does this mean and what can you do to improve your heart health?

Heart disease is an all-encompassing term for diseases that affect your heart. These diseases can include coronary artery disease (CAD), arrhythmias, heart infections and heart defects... Read More »

What Does the NBA Have to Do with Caring for our Patients?

In Oklahoma, we are relatively new to the game, but as our Thunder continue to move closer to The Finals, we seem to be getting the handle of the NBA. Even casual basketball fans are more than familiar with our hometown heroes Westbrook, Ibaka and KD. Without an NBA team to call our own in the recent past, many of us aligned our allegiance with teams regardless of geography – New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls or LA Lakers. 

Ever wonder what it’s like to live in the world of NBA players and trainers?  One of our physicians has been blessed to get a glimpse into this world on regular... Read More »

Tulsa Executive Shares Her Heart Disease Story for Go Red for Women

Marcia MacLeod, WPX Energy Executive, shares her powerful story for the 2014 Tulsa Go Red for Women luncheon May 9, 2014, discussing how heart disease was an unexpected interruption to her life and career. Marcia was referred to Oklahoma Heart Institute cardiac electrophysiologist Dr. David Sandler, who diagnosed her with the most common heart arrhythmia - Atrial Fibrillation. Learn how Marcia was able to get back to a healthy, active lifestyle and career through treatment for her AFib.

 

LDL Apheresis Treatment for Uncontrolled, Dangerously High Cholesterol

 

Diet, exercise and medication therapies are the first defense against high cholesterol, especially high LDL levels, for many patients. However, some people do not respond despite best efforts. Having dangerously high cholesterol levels can lead to heart disease, blockages and stroke. Oklahoma Heart Institute now offers patients an option, which has proven to lower cholesterol levels 73 to 83 percent – LDL Apheresis.

LDL Apheresis is a cholesterol-lowering technique that can help manage cholesterol in those who meet the following criteria:

... Read More »

Apple a Day - Fiber May Help Heart Attack Patients Live Longer

 

As the saying goes, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” While researchers have long known the health benefits of eating a diet high in fiber, new research points to one large benefit for heart attack victims – survival. The study of survivors of myocardial infarction found an increased fiber intake, especially of cereal fiber, resulted in a 31 percent decrease in the rate of all-cause mortality and 35 percent decrease in cardiovascular death. What is even more significant in this study, heart attack survivors can still reap benefits from eating more fiber after their heart... Read More »

Share Your Story – Melissa Futrell

At the age of 33, Melissa Futrell went to the Emergency Department when a bad headache wouldn’t go away. She had started to slur her speech and wasn’t sure what was causing her symptoms. She was diagnosed with a “complex migraine” and referred to a neurologist. Melissa started medication for the migraine, but also noticed her heart felt like it was tightening every once in a while. Her confusing health situation came up in a conversation with a good friend, whose husband is a cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon. Hearing what Melissa described, he thought Oklahoma Heart Institute... Read More »