TAVR, Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement, is changing the lives of patients living with severe aortic stenosis who are inoperable or high-risk for an open heart procedure to replace their aortic valve.  Since the first TAVR procedures performed in Tulsa at Oklahoma Heart Institute May 2, 2012, patients who have had this procedure have been cured of their…

At the age of 86, Margaret Lack knew it wasn’t just age that was making her short of breath and lacking energy. Diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis, Margaret was a candidate for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement to cure her aortic stenosis and greatly improve her quality of life. In her own words, Margaret shares how…

“I wasn’t ready to retire,” says 60-year-old WPX Energy Human Resources Executive Marcia MacLeod of learning she had a heart arrhythmia. Diagnosed with atrial fibrillation in 2011, MacLeod finally had a reason to explain why she had been feeling so tired and coming home early from work exhausted. “It was very debilitating to me,” she says. MacLeod…

You exercise regularly. You eat a healthy diet. Your stress level is under control. As far as you know, you are perfectly healthy. But do you know what’s going on inside your heart? Are you arteries clear and healthy or is a potential cardiovascular event hiding around the corner? 1 in 4 heart attacks strike…

Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) affects as many as 5 million Americans, making it the most common heart arrhythmia diagnosed. More than just an interruption in normal heart rhythm, AFib can have serious health risks including stroke and sudden cardiac death. Treatment for AFib can vary depending on the severity and regularity of episodes or symptoms, but may…

If a stroke is recognized and treatment begins within 60 minutes of onset, disability from the stroke is largely preventable. It is important for everyone to know the signs of a stroke and to act fast to help reduce the permanent damage from a stroke. First, let’s understand what a stroke is and why it…

More than 40 million Americans suffer from a sleep disorder, however as many as 70 percent may not realize they have one or have had an evaluation to begin treating their sleep disorder. As researchers continue to confirm strong connections between our quality of sleep and our overall health, Oklahoma Heart Institute is expanding sleep…

Sufficient sleep is increasingly being recognized as an essential aspect of chronic disease prevention, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). However, one in six Americans – roughly 40 million people – are living with a sleep disorder, which puts them at an elevated risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression, obesity and decreased…

KTUL-TV News Channel 8 Reporter: Kim Jackson The holidays can pull on your heart strings, literally. More people die from heart disease during December, according to numerous studies. So if you think you have heart illness, now is the time to listen to your body. Hospitals and doctors are seeing more patients because of colds…

Research shows Americans have more fatal heart attacks during the holiday season than any other time of the year. In fact, according to a study published in Circulation, the top three days for heart attacks are December 25, December 26 and January 1, respectively.  Regardless of where we live, researchers have found, we are more susceptible to…