Diet and exercise. When it comes to heart health, these two lifestyle habits are known to truly help – or hinder – the health of your heart. We’ve all heard about the benefits of eating healthy and being active, but did you know that sitting in a sauna has health benefits for your heart? It does!

For centuries, saunas have been praised for their health benefits. While in a sauna, a person’s body temperature increases, which means the heart rate increases, as well. The cardiac output is higher. If the heart rate rises, but the vessels of the body relax, resistance is lowered. Blood flow to the skin will increase and decrease to other organs.

In one study, saunas created a significant decrease in blood pressure in patients with high blood pressure. Saunas had the same results as blood pressure medications. Other studies have shown that a sauna is beneficial for congestive heart failure patients. Patients felt improved after using a sauna.

In a study done at the University of Eastern Finland, frequent sauna visits were associated with lower death rates from cardiovascular disease and stroke. Time in the sauna may keep the heart healthy and even extend a person’s life. Other studies have shown that regular time in the sauna may benefit people with risk factors for heart disease such has high cholesterol and diabetes.

Saunas are not recommended for patients with low blood pressure, unstable angina, or those who just recently a heart attack.

Schedule an Appointment with a Tampa Heart Valve Surgeon

If you have a history of heart disease in your family or currently suffer from heart disease, talk to a heart valve surgeon; you may be a candidate for heart valve surgery. Dr. Peter Mikhail is a heart valve surgeon who specializes in mitral valve surgery and TAVR. To book a consult, click our heart valve surgery page or call 727-312-4844. He is based in New Port Richey, Florida, and treats patients in the Tampa and Clearwater area.

Aortic stenosis is a form of aortic valve disease. With this condition, the aortic valve’s flaps (cusps) have thickened or become stiff and could possibly fuse together, which narrows the valve. Because of this, the valve’s opening is narrowed and blocks or reduces blood flow from the heart into the aorta and to the rest of the body. Aortic stenosis is also referred to as a tight aortic valve.

When the aortic valve is tight, there is greater stress on the heart and less blood going elsewhere in the body. When a person has aortic stenosis, the aortic valve does not open properly, so it is harder for blood to leave the heart.

If a person has a serious case of aortic stenosis, the stress placed on the heart can potentially lead to heart failure and death. If the heart is working harder to pump the blood out because of the stenosis, the heart muscle becomes thicker, which can lead to congestion and congestive heart failure.

Most people who develop aortic stenosis are older in age. Over time, the aortic valve just becomes damaged from wear and tear. The degeneration of the aortic valve leads to a build up of calcium, which makes the valve become less mobile, which is what restricts the valve from opening easily.

Mild aortic stenosis usually isn’t a problem, but severe aortic stenosis can have bad side effects that can lead to worse complications. When a person has severe aortic stenosis and is experiencing symptoms or signs of heart weakness, he or she should seek treatment. Some signs and symptoms of aortic stenosis include chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, passing out, and fatigue. Patients with severe aortic stenosis need treatment or they will not survive past a few more years.

A heart valve specialist can determine the severity of your aortic stenosis. A doctor can diagnose your aortic stenosis through listening for a murmur through a stethoscope, listening for a certain type of pulse, from an echocardiogram, and through a stress test.

Aortic stenosis must be treated through surgery. Medicine cannot treat this condition. A patient will need either an aortic valve repair or an aortic valve replacement. Not everyone is an eligible candidate for this surgery. To get this surgery, the benefits must be greater than the risks for the patient.

Dr. Peter Mikhail is a heart valve surgeon who performs TAVR and mini-AVR on his patients with aortic valve stenosis and aortic valve disease. To learn more about this surgery, click his aortic valve surgery page.

Looking for an Tampa Aortic Valve Surgeon?

If you have aortic valve disease, it’s time to talk to a heart valve surgeon to see if you are a candidate for aortic valve surgery. Dr. Peter Mikhail is a heart valve surgeon who specializes in mini-AVR and TAVR. To book a consult, click our heart valve surgery page or call 727-312-4844. He is based in New Port Richey, Florida, and treats patients in the Tampa and Clearwater area.

We all sweat, but we all sweat differently. Some people sweat more than others – and there’s nothing wrong with that! Unless, of course, you have a condition like hyperhidrosis, for which you should seek treatment to better manage your excessive sweating.

We can sweat in all areas of our bodies because we have about two to five million sweat glands. On average, a person will sweat 1.5 gallons per day. If you’re extremely active, you can sweat up to four gallons per day.

There are several different factors that affect how much we sweat.

• Exercise – Exercise produces sweat because your body temperature rises during your workout, and sweating is your body’s response to cool the body down. When exercising, people sweat differently depending on oxygen uptake, cardiovascular fitness and aerobic endurance.
• Genetics – The way you sweat can just be genetics. Your parents or siblings may have similar sweating patterns. Hyperhidrosis is a genetic condition.
• Weight – The heavier you are, the more you will sweat. People with excess weight feel hotter and it can take longer to cool the body down than for a slimmer person.
• Sweat gland placement – If you’re prone to sweating in a certain area, you may have a higher number of sweat glands there.
• Gender – Men usually have more active sweat glands than women.

Sweating is a part of life and there are plenty of daily steps you can take to manage it –  antiperspirants (OTC and prescription), medications, surgery, Botox injections, and more.

Schedule an Appointment with a Hyperhidrosis Physician and Surgeon

If you’re concerned about the amount you sweat, talk to a doctor. A doctor can evaluate your symptoms and examine your body to determine if you have hyperhidrosis. You and your doctor can then come up with a treatment plan that will help you manage your sweat, so you can go about your daily activities without worrying about sweaty palms or armpit stains on your clothing.

Looking for a hyperhidrosis doctor? Dr. Peter Mikhail is a Tampa hyperhidrosis physician and surgeon with offices in Tampa and New Port Richey, Florida. To book a consult, click our Tampa hyperhidrosis treatment contact page or call 727-312-4844.

If you have armpit hair and you sweat a lot, you’ve probably wondered if your hair affects the amount that you sweat. Does the hair make you sweat more? Should I shave my armpits? No, don’t shave your armpits, unless you want! Shaving your armpits will not make you sweat less; however, shaving (or trimming) can help make an antiperspirant more effective. By having little to no hair, you can also help reduce the sweat stains on your clothing.

Your armpits expel sweat for several reasons: stress, anxiety, nervousness, and to cool you down when your body temperature gets high. Your body will produce sweat whether you have armpit hair or not. The amount you sweat depends on the eccrine and apocrine sweat glands in your armpits. These two types of glands produce sweat depending on your exertion and stress levels, so the amount of hair has no effect on the production of sweat.

Armpit hair can make the sweat stains on your clothes worse. Why? Your armpit hair holds moisture more than your skin. Also, the hair keeps the antiperspirant from being absorbed into the skin, so you likely will sweat more. With armpit hair, your underarms probably will get wetter and armpit stains will appear more quickly than if you trimmed or shaved the hair off.

Whether you shave or not, remember to fully dry your armpit area before applying antiperspirant. A wet armpit can block the aluminum in the antiperspirant from being absorbed into the sweat glands.

If you like your armpit hair, you don’t have to shave your armpit hair to prevent sweaty armpits. Instead, try trimming the hair. By trimming the hair, you will help the antiperspirant absorb better into the skin.

Having a hard time managing your sweat? You will sweat whether you’re shaved or not. If you have hyperhidrosis, this sweat is excessive and can disrupt your daily life. If nothing you do helps your sweat, it may be time to contact a doctor.

Dr. Peter Mikhail is a Tampa hyperhidrosis physician and surgeon with offices in Tampa and New Port Richey, Florida. Dr. Mikhail will look at your symptoms to determine if you have hyperhidrosis and will discuss the best treatment plan for you. To book a consult, click our Tampa hyperhidrosis treatment contact page or call 727-312-4844.

If you are a lung cancer patient, there’s a chance lung cancer surgery is possible for you, and it could save your life. If you are a candidate for lung cancer surgery, it is in your best interest to get the procedure. However, every surgery has its risks, but living with lung cancer also has its risks because it is a deadly disease. Millions of people die each year from lung cancer.

Following are a few side effects a patient may or may not experience after lung cancer surgery:

• Coughing may be difficult.
• The chest may be sore.
• You may develop a chest infection.
• You may feel shortness of breath.
• You may feel pain/burning/numbness/tingling in the upper back/shoulder/under breast/and abdomen.
• Your skin may be hypersensitive.
• You may experience constipation from pain medication.
• You may be extra tired.

Many of these side effects are entirely normal, while some are more concerning. Before your surgery, your doctor will discuss with you the possible side effects, so you will have a general idea of what to expect. However, if you are experiencing any pain, it is a good idea to mention it to your doctor to make sure what you’re experiencing is “normal”. The doctor will see you if he/she is concerned about your side effects.

Your doctor will help you through the post-op healing process.

Book an Appointment with a Tampa Robotic Lung Surgeon

Surgery can be scary, but lung cancer is scarier. Robotic lung surgery is minimally-invasive surgery, so your recovery time will be less. If you are a good candidate, robotic lung cancer surgery may be your best option to being cancer free.

Dr. Peter Mikhail is a robotic lung specialist and surgeon who performs robotic lung surgery to treat lung cancer. To learn more about robotic lung surgery, click Dr. Mikhail’s Tampa Robotic Lung Surgery page or call his office at 727-312-4844 to book an appointment or for more information. Dr. Mikhail has offices in Tampa and New Port Richey, Florida.

There are three different types of lung cancer: Non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer and large cell lung cancer. The type of lung cancer you have depends on the area of lung affected and its appearance.

In this article, we share with you a little information about the different kinds of lung cancer.

Non-small Cell Lung Carcinoma

Most lung cancers (80 percent) are non-small cell cancers. There are three subtypes of non-small cell lung cancer. Adenocarcinoma usually occurs in the outer glands of the lungs. It is the most common non-small cell cancer. It is often seen in women and non-smokers. Squamous cancer occurs in the bronchial tube linings. The lungs are often inflamed with this type of cancer. This type of cancer is found often in men. Bronchioalveolar cancer develops close to the air sacs but it is rare.

Small Cell Carcinoma
This type of cancer is the most aggressive form of lung cancer. It has small cancer cells which grow quickly and can affect several body parts. Only 20 percent of lung cancer patients have this type of cancer. Almost all small cell cancers are connected to smoking.

Large Cell Carcinoma
With large cell carcinoma, the cancer cells develop in the outer edges of the lungs. Cancer grows fast with this type of cancer. It can be removed with chemotherapy or by radiation therapy.

Schedule an Appointment for Robotic Lung Surgery in Tampa

If you have lung cancer, find out if it can be removed with minimally-invasive robotic surgery. Different stages and types of cancer have different treatment options.

Looking for a lung surgeon? Dr. Peter Mikhail is a robotic lung specialist and surgeon who performs robotic lung surgery to treat lung cancer patients. He will determine if you are a good candidate for this type of lung cancer surgery. To learn more about robotic lung surgery, click Dr. Mikhail’s Tampa Robotic Lung Surgery page or call his office at 727-312-4844 to book an appointment or for more information. Dr. Mikhail has offices in Tampa and New Port Richey, Florida.

When it comes to heart surgery of any kind many people are concerned that it will leave a visible scar. At Tampa Cardiovascular Associates we use a branch of interventional cardiology which focuses on specialized catheter-based forms of treatment.

The benefits are not only a lack of a visible outer scar but also far less pain accompanied by shortened recovery times. Unlike traditional surgery, a general anesthetic is not required so you do not have to deal with the potential side effects of going under. Most patients are medically sedated and a local anesthetic used with great success. Though the treatment depends on the patient, this minimally invasive form is ideal for many.

Interventional Cardiology is used in the treatment of coronary artery disease. Atherosclerosis, which is a hardening or clogging of the arteries with built-up cholesterol, can have a negative effect on not only the heart but also the brain, legs, and kidneys. A thorough evaluation and patient history are taken before we diagnose your condition.

The main treatments offered are known as Coronary Angioplasty and Coronary Stenting. During the procedure, a small inflated balloon inside the clogged artery widens the vessel. This improves blood flow. The balloon is withdrawn and the stent is left in place to hold the space.

Many patients report near immediate relief of symptoms and have been happy with the results.

Experience Counts

When trusting a Cardiologist to operate on your heart it is important to make sure your surgeon has the special expertise and credentials. The doctors at Tampa Cardiovascular Associates have the experience and knowledge you need for the very best outcome.

If you are in the Tampa Bay, Florida area and looking for an experienced Cardiology staff we invite you to take a moment and peruse our staff of physicians. Give us a call to schedule an appointment by calling (813) 975-2800. www.tampacardio.com.

Age isn’t always a deciding factor in who may or may not have an SCA or heart attack. Often very athletic younger men and women, seemingly out of the blue and in “perfect” health, can have an episode of SCA (Sudden Cardiac Arrest).

Years back there was a 17-year-old high school tennis team captain that passed away from an SCA. While instances like this are very rare, they are not unheard of. If you are young and seemingly healthy, there would generally be no reason you would have been to visit a cardiologist. The cause is usually a chronic heart condition that the person isn’t made aware of. That is until it happens and then its too late.

An SCA is different from a heart attack. The terms are often interchangeably used.

How they differ:

Heart Attack: During a heart attack the heart’s blood supply is blocked or reduced, causing injury to the heart muscle, and can result in death. The person is generally awake and can feel and report on symptoms of what they are experiencing.

SCA: In an SCA the heart ceases beating and blood flow through the body is completely stopped. In an SCA consciousness is lost after only a gasp or two for breath, and possibly a seizure. SCA is a leading cause of death among adults over 40. Over 1,000 incidents are reported nationwide each day. You must receive CPR within 5 minutes or death is certain.

It is not possible to predict when and where SCA could occur. Nor is it possible to predict in whom it may occur. The best option in preventing this type of event from happening is to maintain a heart-healthy lifestyle.

• Eat a healthy and well-balanced diet
• Be physically active and exercise regularly
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Do not smoke
• Do not drink alcohol in excess
• Do not use recreational drugs including stimulants and caffeine
• Panic and anxiety are also a potential cause so if you have panic attacks do everything you can to get them under control
• A sudden blow to the chest can also disrupt the hearts rhythm

Those with pre-existing conditions should also beware and check in with their physicians regularly. Predispositions include:

• Those with a history of previous heart attacks
• Those with a heart valve or rhythm disorders
• Those who have fainting spells
• Those with a history of heart failure
• Those with coronary disease

For many, SCA is the first indication that a heart condition exists. The problem is that only 10% who experience SCA will live through it.

If you are age 40 and up and have any pre-existing heart conditions or a family history of heart disease please check in with your physician at Tampa Cardio. While prediction is impossible, prevention is key. The physicians at Tampa Cardio are dedicated to keeping your heart healthy through evaluation, heart-healthy lifestyle tips, and treatment options that may be right for you.

Give the office a call today at (813) 975-2800 or visit www.tampacardio.com to learn more.