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Conditions & Treatment

Feb 29, 2024

A Day in the Life of a Pediatric Heart Surgeon

Follow along with congenital heart surgeon Benjamin Peeler, MD, as he treats patients and works with his dedicated team.

Women's Health

Feb 27, 2024

5 Heart Attack Symptoms in Women That May Surprise You

Many people imagine a heart attack like they’ve seen in the movies, but women often suffer from more subtle symptoms, like neck pain or nausea.

Conditions & Treatment

Feb 19, 2024

Understanding Heart Valves and the Impact if One Malfunctions

What happens to your heart when you have a problem with one (or more) of your heart valves?

By José Tafur, MD

Conditions & Treatment

Feb 13, 2024

Important Signs and Symptoms to Know About Broken Heart Syndrome

Have you ever had your heart broken? It hurts, doesn’t it. But there’s actually a real medical condition called broken heart syndrome.

By Achal Sahai, MD

Conditions & Treatment

Feb 6, 2024

8 Symptoms of Heart Disease in Women

Some women with heart disease may have no symptoms, while some might experience vague symptoms that aren't typically associated with heart disorders.

By Michael Castine, MD

Conditions & Treatment

Feb 6, 2024

The Top Cause of Heart Attacks in Pregnant Women: SCAD

SCAD is a condition, that has the potential to cause devastating heart attacks in young or pregnant women. Know what SCAD is, who is at risk and the signs to look for.

By Salima Qamruddin, MD, MPH and Nadia Abelhad, MD

Conditions & Treatment

Feb 2, 2024

What Are the Unique Signs and Symptoms of Heart Attacks in Women?

Heart attack symptoms can display themselves differently in men and women. While chest pain is the most common symptom of a heart attack, women are more likely to suffer a heart attack with more subtle signs.

By Salima Qamruddin, MD, MPH and Merrill Stewart, MD and Nadia Abelhad, MD

Conditions & Treatment

Feb 2, 2024

9 Warning Signs of a Heart Attack from Your Body a Month Before

Heart attacks can happen suddenly or without notice. Warning signs may occur for many people hours, days or weeks in advance. Knowing these signs and symptoms can help you save your life.

By James Stephen Jenkins, MD, FACC, FSCAI, FSVM

Food & Fitness

Feb 1, 2024

Are Oysters High in Cholesterol?

If you like oysters, crabs and mussels, you’ll be happy to know that they can be incorporated into a heart healthy diet.

By Molly Kimball, RD, CSSD

Conditions & Treatment

Jan 31, 2024

Heart Attacks in Men & Women: What Are the Different Signs and Risk?

From cold sweats and extreme fatigue to neck and back pain, heart attack symptoms can manifest themselves differently in men and women.

By Nichole Polin, MD, FACC

Conditions & Treatment

Jan 25, 2024

Debunking the Top 6 Myths About Heart Disease

Heart disease myths range from who is most vulnerable, what you can and can’t do in terms of exercise and eating and what a heart attack looks and feels like.

By William Bennett, MD, PhD

Food & Fitness

Jan 25, 2024

6 Tips to Maintain a Heart Healthy Lifestyle

Fruits and vegetables, whole grains and limited sodium intake are some of the best ways to fight heart disease.

By William Bennett, MD, PhD

Prevention & Wellness

Jan 25, 2024

How to Keep Your Heart Healthy During Mardi Gras 2024

If you are on a low-sodium diet or prescription medication for high blood pressure, here's how to celebrate Mardi Gras safely.

By William Bennett, MD, PhD

Conditions & Treatment

Jan 18, 2024

Heart Murmurs in Adults: 9 Symptoms to Be Aware Of

Being told that you have a heart murmur can be scary, but most are not serious or cause for alarm. A cardiac murmur is simply a heart sound that is abnormal. The sound is created by blood flow moving through one of the valves of your heart.

By Blythe P. Craft, DNP

Conditions & Treatment

Jan 18, 2024

4 Surprising Signs of Congestive Heart Failure to Look Out For

Nausea, indigestion and stomach pain are just some of the lesser known symptoms of congestive heart failure.

By Michael Castine, MD

Food & Fitness

Jan 18, 2024

Live A Heart-Healthy Life With These 4 Easy Tips

The path to a healthier heart begins with you. Follow these simple lifestyle tips to give your heart a little extra love.

By Pavan Malur, MD

Conditions & Treatment

Jan 18, 2024

7 Top Tips for Living With a Pacemaker

A pacemaker is a small battery-operated device that helps the heart beat in a regular pattern. It is designed to only work when needed and replaces the heart’s natural pacemaker functions.

By Blythe P. Craft, DNP

Prevention & Wellness

Jan 11, 2024

Cold Weather and Heart Attacks: 3 Things to Know

Cold weather can cause your arteries to constrict, which can mean your heart has to work harder due to a rise in blood pressure and pulse.

By Michael Castine, MD

Prevention & Wellness

Nov 29, 2023

Holiday Heart Health: 5 Tips for a Safe Season

Don't mistake heart issues for indigestion. Prioritize your health this festive season by learning to recognize warning signs of a heart attack.

By Carl (Chip) Lavie, MD, FACC, FACP, FCCP

Conditions & Treatment

Oct 5, 2023

5 of the Best Ways to Lower Blood Pressure

Want to lower your blood pressure? You can take all five of these steps yourself. And Ochsner is here to help.

By Melissa Marcombe, NP

Conditions & Treatment

Aug 15, 2023

Solving Leg Discomfort: Is Your Pain a Signal of Peripheral Artery Disease?

Peripheral arterial disease is atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries, which causes narrowing of vessels that carry blood to the legs and feet. If your vessels are blocked, that means your body isn’t getting the blood and oxygen it needs to function.

By Achal Sahai, MD

Conditions & Treatment

Jul 20, 2023

6 Helpful Tips for Traveling with a Pacemaker

If you have a pacemaker or a surgically implanted defibrillator it’s important to take precautions before jetting off for your summer vacation.

By Paul Rogers, MD, PhD

Conditions & Treatment

Apr 25, 2023

How Do I Know If I Am Having a Heart Attack?

Heart attacks aren’t the same for everyone. Learn about the range of symptoms.

By Ryan Boehm, MD

Prevention & Wellness

Apr 25, 2023

6 Surprising Everyday Habits That Hurt Your Heart

Sitting more than five hours a day, drinking excessively, not sleeping enough and too much stress have all been linked to higher rates of cardiovascular disease.

By Achal Sahai, MD

Conditions & Treatment

Feb 7, 2023

Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD): What is it and Who Needs One?

Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs) or “heart pumps” support heart function and assist in blood flow to the body.

By Aditya Bansal, MD

Conditions & Treatment

Feb 2, 2023

Do I Have Heart Disease? 5 Sneaky Signs to Know About

Being diagnosed with heart disease can be scary and unexpected. Not all signs or symptoms of heart disease are clear or obvious like a heart attack or irregular heartbeat. Some symptoms can be misleading or mistaken for something else.

By Ryan Boehm, MD

Conditions & Treatment

Jan 27, 2023

Everything to Know About the Pediatric Cath Lab

Ochsner Health's pediatric cath lab can diagnose and treat heart problems in children.

By Ivory Crittendon, MD

Food & Fitness

Dec 19, 2022

Avocados Can Lower Heart Attack Risk

Incorporating avocados into your diet on a regular basis can help to protect against heart disease and improve overall health. You may be surprised to hear eating one serving of avocado a week can lower the risk of heart disease. A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association noted those who ate avocado regularly, substituting the fruit for foods with high fats like butter and cheese, had a lower risk of heart disease than those who rarely ate avocado in their diet.

By Salima Qamruddin, MD, MPH and Nadia Abelhad, MD

Prevention & Wellness

May 2, 2022

Scheduling Cardiology Appointments Post Hurricanes

Ochsner Cardiology is dedicated to protecting our community post any natural disaster. We have a few changes to our appointments due to the recent hurricane.

By Jonathan Bonilla, MD

Conditions & Treatment

Mar 11, 2022

What is Coronary Artery Disease?

Coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease in the United States. It can also be one of the most difficult to predict.

By Russell Reed, MD

Prevention & Wellness

Mar 2, 2022

What is a TAVR Procedure?

TAVR is a minimally invasive heart valve replacement procedure for those at increased risk for complications with traditional open-heart surgery.

By George Antoun, MD

Conditions & Treatment

Feb 21, 2022

Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease: How to Manage

Every seven minutes, a child in the United States is born with a bicuspid aortic valve, so it is by no means an uncommon occurrence.

By Thomas W. Young, MD

Conditions & Treatment

Jan 21, 2022

Pulmonary Hypertension Symptoms

Patients with pulmonary hypertension may have symptoms that are common to other diseases.

By Kimberly C. Thompson, DNP, APRN, AGACNP-BC

Conditions & Treatment

Jan 11, 2022

Chest Pain in Kids: Is It Cardiac?

Both adults and children can have chest pain. But it’s important to remember that kids are not just small adults, and the causes of chest pain are much different.

Conditions & Treatment

Jan 11, 2022

How Congenital Heart Disease Can Affect Neurodevelopment in Children

Neurodevelopmental issues can arise from many factors like genetic issues, abnormal blood flow, and as side effects from the surgical procedures these patients undergo.

By Diego Lara, MD, MPH

Conditions & Treatment

Jan 10, 2022

What is Aortic Stenosis?

Aortic stenosis is one of the most common heart valve disease problems. Here’s the 411 on what it is, plus treatment options to explore with your cardiologist.

By José Tafur, MD

Prevention & Wellness

Nov 15, 2021

Baby Aspirin for Adults: New Warnings

In 2018, studies began to suggest that aspirin therapy isn’t for everyone. Nonetheless, the notion that aspirin promotes heart health for everyone, particularly seniors, has lingered.

By Eirinn Elizabeth Erny, MD

Prevention & Wellness

Jun 2, 2021

Men’s Heart Health: An All-Ages Guide to Screenings

Here’s what to pay attention to in order to keep your heart healthy.

By Royce Yount, MD

Conditions & Treatment

Feb 28, 2021

What is a Cath Lab?

A catheterization laboratory, or cath lab, is a procedural hospital room where minimally invasive tests and procedures are performed to diagnose and treat cardiovascular disease.

Food & Fitness

Feb 15, 2021

Mediterranean Diet: 12 Tips For A Heart-Healthy Diet

The Mediterranean diet is a heart-healthy way of eating based on the traditional cuisine of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea.

By Pavan Malur, MD

Prevention & Wellness

Feb 13, 2021

5 Factors that Impact Your Heart Health

Your diet, whether or not you smoke, how sedentary your lifestyle is and your genetic history are all factors that impact your heart health.

By Ali Amkieh, MD, FACC

Prevention & Wellness

Feb 10, 2021

7 Easy Steps to Ideal Heart Health

Even if your genetic history is working against you, you can improve your heart health through exercise, improving your diet, managing your blood pressure and controlling cholesterol.

By Roland Bourgeois, MD

Women's Health

Feb 9, 2021

What’s Raising Your Blood Pressure?

We should be mindful of our blood pressure because it can cause substantial health problems including stroke, kidney failure and heart attack.

By Updesh Bedi, MD

Conditions & Treatment

Jan 28, 2021

Understanding Adult Congenital Heart Disease

These are the most common questions that both patients and family members have related to congenital heart disease in adultsT

By Thomas W. Young, MD

Conditions & Treatment

Nov 2, 2020

Heart Disease in Pregnancy

Some pregnant women with heart disease can face serious complications while they are expecting, and it can cause lifelong, adverse health effects in both the mother and child.

By Ivana Okor, MD and Salima Qamruddin, MD, MPH and Elizabeth R. Lapeyre, MD

Food & Fitness

Sep 10, 2020

Returning to Sports After COVID-19: Impacts on the Heart

We all know that physical activity increases your heart rate, but increasing your heart rate too high after COVID-19 can put a detrimental strain on your heart.

By David Leslie, DO

Conditions & Treatment

Apr 1, 2020

Do I Really Need an Amputation?

About 2.1 million Americans have experienced an amputation and more than 185,000 amputations are performed each year, according to the National Limb Loss Information Center.

Conditions & Treatment

Mar 26, 2020

Coronavirus Information for Heart Patients

What experts have observed concerning the coronavirus and heart disease patients including risk, symptoms, and what to do if you think you may have the virus.

By Sammy Khatib, MD

Prevention & Wellness

Feb 26, 2020

Heart Disease Prevention: Six Things to Do Today

You may have heard that heart disease is the number one killer in men and women in the United States, yet only 1 in 5 people believe that heart disease is their greatest health threat.

By George Yousef, MD

Conditions & Treatment

Feb 24, 2020

Does Good Oral Hygiene Mean a Healthier Heart?

You may have heard about research in the past that showed poor oral hygiene can lead to heart problems, because of increased bacteria in the bloodstream that increases inflammation in the body. Inflammation can lead to heart-related complications.

By Thanh Nguyen, MD

Conditions & Treatment

Feb 19, 2020

Low Blood Pressure

Inadequate blood flow due to low blood pressure could result in oxygen and nutrients not reaching key organs. For some, it causes no problems at all, but it can cause dizziness and fainting in others.

By Richard Pearl, MD

Health Trends

Feb 10, 2020

What is Interventional Cardiology?

Place your hand over your chest. Do you feel that? It’s your lifeline. Your heart beats about 2.5 billon times over the average lifetime. Heart health is important at every age.

Conditions & Treatment

Feb 7, 2020

What is Cardiac Amyloidosis?

Cardiac amyloidosis is when abnormal proteins build up and deposit into your heart. If left untreated, a patient may experience congestive heart failure.

By Rashmi Verma, MD

Conditions & Treatment

Jan 30, 2020

What is Single Ventricle Congenital Heart Disease?

Single ventricle heart disease is when one side of the heart does not form properly in utero. There are many variations of single ventricle heart disease.

By Jessica Mouledoux, MD

Conditions & Treatment

Jul 23, 2019

Top Apps for Heart Health

There’s an app for almost anything these days – including for your heart health! And the best part is you’ve got plenty of options to choose from based on your personal health goals and your phone’s operating system.

By Samy Abdelghani, MD

Conditions & Treatment

Feb 13, 2019

6 Things to Know About Congenital Heart Disease

Heart mom Lacie Patterson discusses what she wish she would've known when her son Dylan was diagnosed with congenital heart disease.

By Lacie Patterson

Conditions & Treatment

Feb 11, 2019

What Is a Congenital Heart Defect?

Did you know congenital heart defects are one of the most common types of birth abnormalities?

By Benjamin B Peeler, MD

Health Trends

Feb 11, 2019

How Does Being in Love Affect the Heart? (Video)

Can love have a physiological effect on the heart? Cardiologists Nichole and Glenn Polin, MDs, explain.

By Nichole Polin, MD, FACC

Health Trends

Dec 12, 2018

Can Saints Football Stress Affect Your Heart?

Think about the last time you watched a game…was your heart pounding? As the stakes are getting higher, so are our heart rates.

By Samy Abdelghani, MD

Food & Fitness

May 30, 2018

Can Cardiorespiratory Fitness Lower Your Cancer Death Risk?

Cardiorespiratory fitness (also known as aerobic fitness) contributes to your overall heart heath. But what about reducing your risk of dying from cancer?

By Carl (Chip) Lavie, MD, FACC, FACP, FCCP

Conditions & Treatment

Feb 23, 2018

Pacemaker helps this Ochsner patient 'live hard and live well'

With the help of a pacemaker and his cardiology care team, Billy Freiberg is no longer just keeping pace.

Prevention & Wellness

Feb 1, 2018

Meet Your Circulatory System

Your circulatory system works as a team to keep your blood pumping. Meet some of the main players, see what could go wrong, and discover what you can do to maintain a healthy circulatory system.

By Merrill Stewart, MD

Conditions & Treatment

Nov 30, 2017

Managing Hypertension During the Holidays

The holidays can cause concern for those monitoring medical conditions like hypertension and heart disease.

By Carl (Chip) Lavie, MD, FACC, FACP, FCCP

Conditions & Treatment

Sep 27, 2017

A child's journey through congenital heart surgery

When Michelle Keehn went in for an ultrasound, she discovered that her son, Declan, would have a congenital heart defect. In this three part video series, follow their journey from the beginning, through surgeries and beyond.

Health Trends

Feb 8, 2017

Mother of Baby with Heart Defect Gives Hope to Others

Lacie's son Dylan was born with a life-threatening heart defect. Today, she helps shine a light for other heart families like hers.

Conditions & Treatment

Feb 3, 2017

A Little Warrior: Logan's Story

Logan was born with holes in his heart. Read the story of his care at Ochsner, which healed his heart and saved his life.

Prevention & Wellness

Jul 5, 2016

Safeguard Your Heart This Summer

Get tips to keep your heart safe this summer.

Conditions & Treatment

Jun 2, 2016

New Heart Device Keeps Ochsner Outdoorsman in the Hunt

Learn how Dr. Jenkins, FSCAI, and his team at the Ochsner Health Heart and Vascular Institute dramatically improved their patient’s quality of life with a simple procedure.

Conditions & Treatment

Feb 23, 2016

Five Questions to Test Your Heart Knowledge

How well do you know your heart? Answer these five questions below to find out how much you know about your heart and how to take care of it.

Conditions & Treatment

Feb 10, 2015

How Cancer Treatment Can Affect Heart Health

When dealing with cancer treatment, the last thing on your mind is likely the heart, but it is important to know that many cancer treatments can have immediate and long-term effects on the heart.

Conditions & Treatment

Oct 22, 2014

Making Cardiac Caths Easier for Patients

Over 80 million adults suffer from a form of heart disease. With today’s prevalence of heart disease, many adults will need coronary care or intervention in a hospital cardiac catheterization lab at some point in their lives.

By Bahij Khuri, MD

Conditions & Treatment

Aug 6, 2014

Sudden Cardiac Arrest: The Silent Killer

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is the leading cause of death in the United States for adults over the age of 40 with nearly 850,000 people considered high risk. It’s estimated that about 95 percent of sudden cardiac arrest victims die before ever reaching the hospital, which is why a new medical procedure is being hailed as a lifesaver.

Prevention & Wellness

Feb 7, 2014

Are You at Risk for Heart Failure?

Heart failure affects nearly 6 million Americans and is the leading cause of hospitalization in people older than 65