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Tulsa resident Glenn Harris started experiencing heart problems when visiting Australia, which led to him needing a pacemaker and defibrillator installed immediately. Upon returning to Tulsa, Harris needed to find continuing care, which is when he contacted Oklahoma Heart Institute and started seeing Dr. Wayne Leimbach, medical director, and Dr. David Sandler, director of electrophysiology.…

Rick Humdy has been an Oklahoma State Trooper for 20 years. After working as a helicopter crew chief in the National Guard, Humdy applied for patrol school. When going through health screenings in 2016 for his new position, Humdy learned that he had atrial fibrillation, or AFib. Shortly after, he started seeing , director of…

Randall Hargrove was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, or AFib, in mid-2017. After being referred to Oklahoma Heart Institute, his problems were soon resolved. “I was originally seeing another physician when I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation,” said Hargrove. “Soon after, I was referred to Dr. David Sandler, electrophysiologist at Oklahoma Heart Institute, by my primary care…

Leading an active, healthy lifestyle has great benefits when it comes to cardiovascular issues, but what about the practice of yoga in relation to atrial fibrillation, or AFib? We talked to Dr. David Sandler, director of electrophysiology at Oklahoma Heart Institute, to learn more. “When it comes to yoga, the main message is that the lifestyle…

A healthy lifestyle is something we should all strive to maintain, especially those living with diabetes. Staying on track with a good diet and exercise regimen and keeping blood sugar levels regulated is vital for diabetics. As we continue to celebrate National Nutrition Month, we spoke with Chelsea Reed, Registered Dietitian with the Center for Diabetes…

While living a healthy lifestyle is a major component in keeping a strong, healthy heart, it isn’t the only one. Did you know that a good night’s rest is just as beneficial to your heart health? People who don’t sleep enough are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease, which is why professionals recommend eight hours…

February 11-17 is Cardiac Rehabilitation Week. This is a week where we recognize the contributions of the staff in the Cardiac Rehabilitation Center at Oklahoma Heart Institute. These staff members work with patients to help reduce the effects of heart disease. To learn more about the cardiac rehabilitation program, we spoke with Tom Guhr, health…

A few weeks ago, Franklin Wall was at work when he started experiencing chest pains. “I was on my way to a meeting and about half way down the hall, my chest started hurting,” explained Wall. “By the time I got to the meeting, I was still in pain. I sat down and was fidgeting…

For the first time in 14 years, a new set of blood pressure guidelines have been released by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology. Previously, high blood pressure was defined with a reading of 140/90 or higher. Now, individuals with readings of 130 over 80 are considered to have high blood…

The holidays are a time of celebration, but for some, it can be very stressful. In the midst of the holiday hustle and bustle, it’s easy to neglect our own self-care. For those with heart problems, it is an especially sensitive time of year. Research shows that deaths from heart attacks peak during December and January.…