Cardiology

Although recent years have brought about a greater awareness of the importance of diagnosing and treating peripheral arterial disease, pathology of the venous system has received little attention. Peripheral venous disease was first mentioned in the medical literature in 500 B.C., when Hippocrates described an association between leg ulcers and varicose veins. Despite longstanding recognition, understanding of issues surrounding venous hypertension and resultant venous incompetence has lagged.

Living with severe aortic stenosis or moderately severe/severe mitral regurgitation can make life difficult. Are you short of breath constantly? Do you have to miss out on events with family and friends because you don’t have the energy? Are you no longer able to do the things you used to enjoy? We know. Our patients were just like you.

Cardiovascular MRI at Oklahoma Heart Institute

• Over 15 years of study;  1st study was done 6/3/99
• 1st department of its kind in the United States
• 300 clinical studies performed in Year one
• Currently performing more than 3000 studies per year
• Have grown from one CMR technologist to three; and one CMR cardiologist to three
• Originally provided only outpatient services; now provide both inpatient and outpatient services

Cholesterol is a soft and waxy substance that exists in every cell in our bodies. There are two types of cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein (HDL) which is considered “good cholesterol” and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) also known as “bad cholesterol.”  If we get too much cholesterol, large deposits of LDL collect in our arteries which increases the risk of stroke, heart attack and heart disease. This is when doctors will advise that a change is made to diet, exercise or medication.

Cardiac computed tomography (CT) is an X-ray-based scan principally designed to show the inside of the heart arteries “noninvasively” – without having to put any equipment deep into the body.  Use of cardiac CT for patient care became mainstream in 2005 after several advances made the scan much easier to perform and boosted scan accuracy.  Technology of cardiac CT has improved year-to-year ever since, and more and more doctors are using it to help diagnose heart disease.