Anxiety and Heart Disease – Is There a Connection?

anxiety

anxiety

Anxiety attacks and heart attacks are often misdiagnosed by the person having them. They feel very similar and are both terrifying.

If you have experienced an anxiety attack you know that it is based in your heart center. You feel it in your chest often in the form of butterflies and even heart palpitations. You may even have an elevated heart rate level during times of raised anxiety and trouble breathing normally.

Anxiety is not healthy, especially on an ongoing basis. Stress can make you physically sick as well as emotionally. When chronic, anxiety can increase your risk for heart issues.

While normal types and amounts of stress are healthy and motivating, being anxious now and then is normal. If it becomes chronic that it may pose a negative threat to your wellbeing.

40 Million people in the USA experience anxiety yearly. Generalized anxiety disorder is defined by at least 6 months of excessive worrying or feeling anxious about unrelated events. Approximately 5% of adults meet the criteria for this disorder. The incidence is higher, coming in at 11% among those with coronary artery disease and 13% of those with heart failure.

It has not been established whether anxiety sets off heart disease or vice versa. It is known that chronic anxiety can change the way the body reacts to stress. This happens via hormones and physiological reactions meant to keep us safe – known as the flight or fight response.

If your fight or flight response is constantly engaged it can lead to heart issues as well as adrenal burn out which may, in turn, cause other endocrine system issues.

Confusing Anxiety for a Heart Attack

A panic attack is so very similar in feel to a heart attack people often mistake them. Upon a trip to the ER, you will receive a diagnosis of non-cardiac chest pain. As many as 1 in 3 people will experience this in their lifetime.

What Can You Do?

The best answer medical professionals have found so far is a combination of medication and talk therapy. A cognitive behavioral therapist will help you identify unwanted thoughts and establish what is anxiety based and what is something that genuinely needs to be looked at and considered.

Medications work as a temporary bandaid to allow you to get through tough anxiety-filled times while working through the root cause with a therapist or on your own using tools such as automatic writing, meditation, yoga, or other relaxation healing based activities.

The best advice is never to ignore chest pain of unknown source. It is far better to be safe than sorry. If you are in the Tampa Florida area and looking for a cardiologist we invite you to check out the physicians at Tampa Cardiovascular Associates. www.tampacardio.com 813-975-2800.

Elevate Your Health By Cutting Out The Sugar

sugar-tampa-cardio

sugar-tampa-cardioNot much was known about the dangers of sugars to the body until recent years.

The dangerous effects of a loaded sugar diet are becoming more widely known, however, many are still unaware. They still view candy, soda, cookies, cakes, pies, and other sweets all just like food. While there is other nutritional value to it, that sugar included adds up quickly.

“Sugar is bad”. We all keep hearing it but rarely do you get the explanation behind the statement. Let’s look into it and see why it’s been deemed “bad”.

Your dental health is likely to suffer


Sugar loves your teeth, but it’s a one-way relationship. Sugar sticks to your teeth and feeds the bacteria found there. Over time, teeth can decay and rot as a result.

You overwork your liver

Sugar is just plain bad for your liver. Excess sugar consumption has a similar effect on the liver as drinking mass amounts of alcohol. This is because of the high fructose content in sugar, which turns into fat, and after becoming lodged in the liver, it can often develop into non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Type II Diabetes, coming up!

High amounts of sugar in your diet can result in insulin resistance. Insulin resistance can result in an excess of glucose in the blood which is toxic. This can cause a number of conditions to develop, perhaps the worst of which is type II diabetes.

Cancer connection
Sugar feeds cancer cells. Numerous studies have shown that there is a connection between sugar in excess and cancer. Once again relating to insulin – sugar creates elevated insulin levels, creating an environment where the body can’t properly regulate the abnormal growth and multiplication of unwanted cells, thus, potentially leading to cancer.

It becomes an addiction

Sugar attaches to the same pleasure centers in the brain that result from doing heavy drugs and is equally addictive. It may be hard for people to practice moderation when it comes to junk food. Quitting cold turkey can actually lead to withdrawal symptoms. It’s best to ease it out of your diet if you are a big sugar fan.

Sugar contributes to obesity. If you eat a lot of sugar, you will have a higher tendency to become overweight. Fat gained from sugar consumption attaches around your gut, earning itself the nickname “sugar belly.”

Contributes to Heart Disease

That’s right. Consuming sugar excessively over time can lead directly to heart disease.
Heart disease is the #1 killer worldwide, and recent studies show that a diet high in sugar could be a major contributing factor.

My cause other issues

Sugar can raise your blood glucose and insulin levels

Sugar leads to obesity

Sugar can make you depressed.

Sugar contributes greatly to your overall mental health

Sugar can bring on anxiety
Sugar has even been related to memory issues especially later in life.

For further guidance please make an appointment with the onsite nutritionist available at Tampa Cardiovascular Associates by calling (813) 975-2800. Not only are our physicians dedicated to keeping your heart health at its best, but we’ll do anything we can to help you improve your everyday quality of life through important lifestyle choices. www.tampacardio.com.

Do You Take Aspirin Daily? – You Need To Know This!

aspirin-no-longer-recommended

aspirin-no-longer-recommendedCardiologists and General Practitioners are no longer recommending an aspirin regimen for the majority of the public.

For years aspirin has been the standard recommended protocol for seniors. Millions age 70 and up in the USA take one aspirin per day routinely as it was previously touted as the go-to answer by the American Heart Association as the best preventative measure to help protect against potential stroke and heart attack.

In a recent study which included 20,000 patients, the outcome contradicted previous results. The recommendation of 1 aspirin a day is no longer used for anyone who is not already at an elevated risk. This risk group includes those who have already had a heart attack or stroke in their past.

If you have had either a heart attack or stroke, stents inserted, or a propensity towards blood clots – aspirin can still be a lifesaver. If that isn’t the case there are better options.

“It’s much more important to optimize lifestyle habits and control blood pressure and cholesterol as opposed to recommending aspirin.” Said Dr. Roger Blumenthal, the doctor who co-chaired the new guidelines.

Aspirin – The New Findings

Anyone who is already at a risk for bleeding – someone who is on blood thinners, has diabetes, ulcers, heart disease, kidney disease, gastrointestinal tract issues, or is on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, or anticoagulants should not use aspirin at all. Not even just for a headache.

Aspirin – What is It?

It was discovered in1763 by Reverend Edmund Stone of Chipping-Norton, England. Aspirin is made from the chemical ingredient known as Salicylic acid made from the bark of the willow tree. 

A more natural approach 

Aspirin is used because it’s an analgesic.  An analgesic acts on the central nervous system to help alleviate pain. It is also an anti-inflammatory – when you can reduce inflammation, this also negates pain.

Salicylic acid, the same ingredient your aspirin tablets are made from, can be found right in your daily dietary intake. This is a list of foods that contain salicylic acid and can encourage your body to rely on a healthy natural alternative to aspirin in pill form.

Apples

Avocados

Blueberries

Broccoli

Cauliflower

Cherries

Chili peppers

Cucumbers

Currants (including dried currants)

Dates

Eggplant

Figs

Grapefruit

Grapes

Kiwi

Licorice (the herb, not the candy)

Meadowsweet (an herb)

Paprika

Peaches

Plums and prunes

Radishes

Raspberries

Spinach

Strawberries

Turmeric (the spice)

Willow Bark

Zucchini

If you are taking aspirin as a daily regimen preventatively consult your physician or cardiologist. Their recommendations very likely have changed thanks to modern research.

If you are in the Tampa Florida area visit www.tampacardio.com or call (813) 975-2800 to schedule a consultation.

Getting to Know Your Physician. They Make It Easy at Tampa Cardiovascular Associates!

Tampa-Cardiovascular-associates-tampa-bay-florida (1)

When it comes to choosing a doctor it’s important you find someone you feel like you can talk with and relate to.

Your heart is the very core of your being. Keeping it healthy is vital. That is why Tampa Cardiovascular associates were formed.  Our physicians are committed to providing the very best treatments, care, and diagnoses possible for all vein and artery related diseases.

All of our physicians maintain up to date board certifications and are Affiliate Associate Professors in the USF College of Medicine, Department of Cardiology, and Our office labs are certified by ICAEL, ICANL, and ICAVL.

Our advanced in-office testing includes a Phillips iE33 which allows us to perform 3D echocardiograms along with strain and speckle tracking. We also perform in house stress echocardiograms, nuclear stress testing (using a GVI nuclear stress machine which allows the patient the comfort of sitting up during testing), exercise stress testing, micro T wave alternans, electrocardiograms, Holter monitoring, event monitoring, tilt table testing, 24 hour blood pressure monitoring, and pacemaker/ICD checks.

You are in good hands with Tampa Cardiovascular Associates. Our staff consists of:

Dr. Asad Sawar

M.D., F.A.C.C.

Dr. Asad Sawar

Dr. Sawar joined the team at Tampa Cardiovascular Associates in 2009 and is currently a managing partner for the practice.

Following a residency in Cardiology at the University of South Florida, Dr. Sawar completed a Fellowship in Interventional Cardiology at Yale University.  He holds 3 Board Certifications in Interventional Cardiology, Cardiovascular Diseases, and in Internal Medicine, and is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology (FACC).   Dr. Sawar is also a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University Of South Florida School Of Medicine. He has a keen interest in structured heart disease and is a senior member of the TAVR team which also performs MitraClip procedures. Dr. Sawar also performs Peripheral intervention, Vein intervention, Watchman procedure, Pacemaker Implant, Defibrillator Implant and performs complex angioplasty procedures of the heart.

Dr. Victor Feliz

M.D., F.A.C.C.

Dr. Victor Feliz

Dr. Victor Feliz was born in the Dominican Republic and grew up in Puerto Rico. He attended medical school at Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in Manhattan, New York. He completed a fellowship in Cardiology at the University of South Florida in Tampa after a fellowship in Geriatric Medicine. Dr. Feliz worked for several years at the VA medical centers in Tampa and Bay Pines. He is currently practicing at Florida Hospital-Tampa, Florida Hospital-Wesley Chapel and Tampa Community Hospital (former Town & Country). Dr. Feliz is Board Certified with the American Board of Internal Medicine in Cardiovascular disease, Internal Medicine and Geriatric Medicine. He has professional memberships with The American College of Cardiology, The Tampa Bay Latin American Medical Society and Colegio de Médicos de PR. He has special interests in Cardiac Catheterizations, Pacemaker, Echocardiography, and Venous Ablation. Dr. Feliz is fully bilingual in English and Spanish.

Dr. Vasco Marques

M.D., F.A.C.C, F.S.C.A.I, R.V.P.I

Dr. Vasco Marques

Dr. Vasco Marques went to medical school at Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal. He did his rotating internship at Hospitals Civas de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal. His cardiology fellowship was done at Hospital Universitario Pulido Valente, Lisbon, Portugal. He then came to the United States and did his residency in internal medicine at the State University of New York, Brooklyn. Following this, he performed his fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh in cardiology and also his fellowship in interventional cardiology at the University of Connecticut Medical Center. He currently practices at Florida Hospital-Tampa, and Florida Hospital-Carrollwood. Dr. Marques is Board Certified with the American Board of Internal Medicine and is also board certified in Cardiovascular Disease and Interventional Cardiology. He has professional memberships with The American College of Cardiology, American Medical Association, American College of Phlebology, American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography, and the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. He has keen interests in Cardiac Catheterizations, Interventional Cardiology, Thrombectomy (clot removal), Peripheral Vascular Disease, and Venous Ablation.

Whether you need a Vein Specialist or a Cardiology Specialist you have come to the right place. Our physicians would love to meet you and take a look at your case so that they can help you form the very best health plan possible. Make an appointment today www.tampacardio.com 813-975-2800.

Compression Therapy for Veins

Tampa cardiovascular associates, cardiovascular, cardiologist, dr sawar, Tampa cardiologists, felize, Cardiologist near me, dr cruz Tampa, Tampa cardiology, Tampa cardiologist, tampa heart and vascular associates, sad sawar, dr Elizabeth healy, cardiology Tampa, cardiologist in Tampa, cardiologist Wesley chapel, vein doctor tampa, vein specialist tampa, veins tampa, tampa vein clinic, tampa vein center

Tampa cardiovascular associates, cardiovascular, cardiologist, dr sawar, Tampa cardiologists, felize, Cardiologist near me, dr cruz Tampa, Tampa cardiology, Tampa cardiologist, tampa heart and vascular associates, sad sawar, dr Elizabeth healy, cardiology Tampa, cardiologist in Tampa, cardiologist Wesley chapel, vein doctor tampa, vein specialist tampa, veins tampa, tampa vein clinic, tampa vein centerVaricose veins can be an uncomfortable nuisance. Living with venous insufficiency or varicose veins you often experience a decrease in your normally active lifestyle due to pain. These conditions can cause a wide range of symptoms that make your legs the new unwanted focus.

Symptoms may include but are not limited to:

  • Visible veins that become dark reddish purple-blue in color and they can become raised or twisted
  • Redness
  • Swelling (edema)
  • Legs may ache
  • Legs may feel heavy
  • Legs may become painful
  • Itching
  • Ulcers may develop
  • Restless Leg Syndrome

Home recommendations: One of the most commonly used home remedies that have been shown to decrease the severity of symptoms is the use of compression.

How it works:

Compression assists the body by reinforcing the vein walls. This is very helpful with veins that are weakened or damaged wall. Proper pressure can be achieved by utilizing compression bandages as a wrap, compression socks (which only cover the bottom half of the leg) or compression hose which will encompass the entire length of the leg.

Compression wear such as hosiery has been shown to help improve blood flow as well as reduce swelling. They may also help reduce the formation of blood clots. Compression garments should only be worn while you are up and mobile, usually in 8 hour time periods. Be very careful lounging around in them or laying down at night as too much compression can actually be harmful as it may cut off circulation further.

Compression hose and socks should fit snuggly but comfortably. They are made in a variety of compressions from mild to tight. The higher the number, the firmer the fit. If you feel like you are starting to lose circulation remove them. 

At Tampa Cardiovascular Associates Vein Clinic they often recommend patients try compression as an at home addition to other treatments offered.

Want to learn more? They would love to talk with you and see how they can help benefit your vein health. If you are in the Tampa, Florida area give them a call at (813) 975-2800 or visitwww.tampacardio.com online to learn more about the practice and their physicians.

How Diet Can Hurt or Heal Your Heart

heart healthy diet

heart healthy dietHow much thought do you really give to what you are feeding your body? Many of us don’t give all that much thought. We buy food based on the fact that we enjoy it.  The problem is that many of the foods we love the taste of do not contain the nutrients our bodies need in order to function.

While there is a lot of grey area as far as whats “good” and “bad” to eat for your body and for heart health in particular, we have broken it down to some of the most common “food bombs” that can contribute to bad heart health as well as several health-boosting foods which help the body build and heal itself when eaten as part of a balanced diet. Let’s dive in!

Foods that can be damaging to your heart health (there are many out there, we are highlighting some of the worst offenders)

Canned Fruits – Yes, surprise! Fruit made the list. Fresh is a different story, but canned peaches and other fruits contain more than double the sugar of a fresh peach.

Extra Butter Movie Popcorn – Ok, we all know this stuff isn’t health food but how bad could it really be? Well? Pretty bad! It contains 7 x more trans fats than the daily allowance.

Cinnabon cinnamon buns – Oh my are the every tasty. They, however, contain your entire day’s worth of fat…. so If you are going to indulge and eat one, track your macros!

Taco Bell Salad – Though it has the word “salad” which equates to healthy, it has a shocking amount of fat equal to 37 strips of bacon.

Lunchables – contain more sugar than a child should have in an entire day.

Biscuits & Gravy – A southern favorite here in Florida! But beware this dish contains more than 2/3rds of a days worth of sodium.

And the winning worst offender we found goes to the popular chain PF Chang’s. Their signature dish PF Chang’s Pan Fried Noodles (which admittedly are scrumptious) contains a whole day worth of calories for a large man, 1 and a half days worth of fat, and more than 3 days worth of sodium. Goodness!

Now that we have that behind us lets take a look at what would be far better to consume. Whats healthy and helps our bodies, minds, and hearts work at full capacity giving us lasting health.

Salmon, kidney beans, oatmeal, almonds, flax, broccoli, walnuts, carrots, tuna, asparagus, almond milk, dark chocolate (yes folks we said chocolate!), sweet potato, spinach, brown rice, blueberries, cantaloupe, oranges, and Xango juice!

These miracle foods help do everything from prevent hardening of the heart, to aiding in the prevention of irregular heartbeats, improve brain function and blood pressure, lowers blood sugar as well as cholesterol, and even break down carcinogens and free radicals.

There is no contest. Healthy is the way to go. Eat Clean, feel good.

If you are in the Tampa, Florida area and need more health advice in relation to the heart we would love to see you at Tampa Cardiovascular Associates. Visit us online at www.tampacardio.com or call any time (813) 975-2800.

Heart Problems – Signs Not Readily Visible

heart problems

heart problemsMost people when they hear the words heart problem begin to think immediately of a heart attack.
They may imagine someone grasping at their chest and falling to the floor. The truth is that you can experience symptoms that would lead a cardiologist to look further into your state of health and not even realize it yourself that it could potentially be a heart-related issue.

Warning signs

#1Dizziness – could be caused by a heart rhythm abnormality or even a heart attack. Make note of it and if it keeps happening, get it checked out. This could signify a drop in blood pressure or reduced blood flow to the brain and should be taken seriously.

#2 Memory Loss – If you feel more forgetful than usual and even family or friends begin to notice it could be a symptom. Restricting the blood flow to the brain can cause injury to brain cells resulting in memory loss.

#3 Pain – Not in the chest – jaw, neck, arms, elbows and even shoulder pain can point to a heart problem. This is known as referred pain. It is caused when the nerves in the directly pained area get overwhelmed and cannot handle any more.

#4 Sweating with no exertion can be a sign of heart disease. If your antiperspirant won’t work, it could be a sign. Heart issues cause an over stimulated nervous system and can kick in your fight or flight response. This can make you sweat even if you are not doing anything strenuous.

#5 Edema – do your shoes suddenly feel tighter than usual or are visibly swollen? This may also be accompanied by suddenly gaining weight for seemingly no reason. Fluid will build up in your extremities when the blood isn’t being pumped properly.

#6 Erectile Dysfunction – it can be a clear sign that his cardiovascular health needs a checkup. – Narrowing of the blood vessels may first present here. This may occur before any other symptom.

#7 No Energy to Work Out – you feel less energetic and more lethargic making it difficult to hit the gym and stay in shape. – When your heart isn’t in shape it is far less effective at oxygenating your blood and physical activity becomes much more difficult.

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms it is best to stay on the safe side and get checked out by your physician as soon as possible.  Though many of these symptoms can be explained in other ways it is always best to err on the side of proactive prevention.

If you are in the Tampa, Florida area please give us a call today at 813-975-2800 or visit online at WWW.TAMPACARDIO.COM. With three convenient locations, we are pleased to serve the greater Tampa, Florida area.

Do You Really Need an Amputation?

amputation limb salvage center tampa, fl

Check with Tampa Cardiovascular Associates Limb Salvage Center first!

amputation limb salvage center tampa, fl
If you are a diabetic being told that you may face losing a limb in the near future it is a terrifying statement to hear. Breathe and step back for a moment before agreeing.

A second opinion is always advisable. Tampa Cardiovascular Associates Limb Salvage Center would love to have the chance to consult with you before you make a life-and-body-altering decision that cannot be reversed.

We are a full-service cardiovascular association and one of our areas of specialty is taking care of nonhealing or hard to heal wounds. Diabetic injuries are often some of the toughest to treat. Open wounds can lead to infection and sometimes amputation. Last year alone there were over 80,000 amputations in the United States. We want that number reduced greatly.

Our goal is to salvage and save your limbs, even reattaching when possible. Our team of vascular surgeons are among the best in the world. Highly skilled and trained with years of experience. We view amputation as a very last resort in order to save the patient. We have found that over the years we are Abel to help most patients to successfully avoid amputative surgeries.

Before you agree to a possibly unnecessary and expensive surgery that will forever change your life please give us a call at Tampa Cardio Associates and allow us, and yourself, the opportunity to assess the situation and see what can be done.

The physicians and employees at Tampa Cardiovascular Associates are committed to providing our patients with the best available programs for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of artery and vein diseases. Our physicians maintain Board Certifications and are Affiliate Associate Professors in the USF College of Medicine, Department of Cardiology Our office labs are certified by ICAEL, ICANL, and ICAVL.

Guided by established rules laid out by the Wound Healing Society and the Society for Vascular Surgery we treat and manage wounds until they are healed. We resort to recommending amputation only if no other option is viable.

Give us a call at (813) 975-2800 or visit us online at www.tampacardio.com. You will be glad you did.

Chemoablation in Tampa Florida

chemoablation

chemoablationIf you are dealing with varicose veins you will want to see a qualified Vein Specialist for a proper diagnosis in order to know what your best options are for treatment.

When it has been determined that the traditional method of thermal ablation will not work for a patient, endogenous chemoablation becomes a consideration.

Sometimes referred to as ECA, Endovenous chemoablation is an outpatient procedure with no sedation required. How it works is that a chemical solution is injected into the damaged veins. That chemical destroys and breaks down the damaged veins allowing them to eventually reabsorb naturally into the body. The osmotic agent Hypertonic Saline has been used for decades to treat smaller varicose veins. It is now being used to treat larger veins as well.

The benefit of using chemoablation is that foam sclerosants give a visual mapped image allowing the doctor to stay the course easily with ultrasound guidance.

ECA is best utilized for veins that are inaccessible by laser or radiofrequency ablation.ECA is often the only option for patients who have formerly undergone vein stripping and still have areas where the vein is too gnarled and twisted to use heat ablation.

Let’s Talk Results

Treated veins begin to show fading within a few weeks though it may take a few months to see final results. Chemoablation can also improve related symptoms like aching, burning, cramping, swelling and more.

After Chemoablation

Get up, get active, and move. The more exercise you can do and the healthier you can eat – the better your results. Drink lots of water to keep your veins hydrated and the blood flow moving smoothly.

If you are interested in learning more we invite you to visit us online at www.tampacardio.com or call (813) 975-2800