Providing independent clinical excellence since 2005
Recent scientific discoveries have aligned much like planets, leading to an inescapable conclusion among many physicians that glucose metabolism may be even more important than LDL cholesterol in the genesis of many modern diseases.
An article by Dr Edward Leatham, Consultant Cardiologist. As cardiologists, our primary focus is often on diagnosing, treating, and managing cardiovascular diseases, which is essential to healthcare. However, heart health involves more than just addressing immediate conditions—it also includes promoting […]
Mammalian hearts, including humans, feature two atria - the left and the right. These chambers serve as reception areas, collecting blood before it's dispatched to the ventricles. This system bears a resemblance to a turbocharger in an engine, where the atria boost the heart's efficiency, preparing it for a powerful contraction.
There are two main reasons left atrial thrombus forms then detaches to cause embolic stroke. The first is that during atrial fibrillation or flutter, a thrombus may develop in the left atrial appendage, which does not move as much as it does when in sinus rhythm. The likelihood of this occurring in any given year is low, correlated to the CHA2DS2-VASc score. The second reason is not related to CHA2DS2-VASc score
When clots from the left atrial appendage dislodge, they can travel to various parts of the body, including the coronary artery, which receives about 5% of the blood from each heartbeat, or the cerebral arteries, accounting for approximately 20% of each cardiac cycle's output
As only 10% of patients with high blood pressure are 'salt sensitive' (meaning that the blood pressure fails to fall in 90% of hypertensives when salt intake is greatly reduced), it seems plausible that consuming high levels of sodium from a young age can “programme” the cardiovascular system to maintain higher blood pressure later in life.
Statins are a mind boggling biological 'ruse'. When this medication is taken orally, it causes liver cells to become deficient in essential cholesterol, so they respond by increasing the number of cell surface LDL receptors, thereby enhancing their capacity to extract LDL particles from the blood, significantly lowering circulating LDL levels. Statins remain the most effective and well-known way that doctors can lower LDL levels to prevent or treat coronary heart disease.
This blog explores how individuals can conduct their own experiments to maintain a steady blood glucose and avoid potentially unhealthy glucose spikes above 7.8 mmol/L (140 mg/dL).
Diastolic heart failure (often referred to as 'Heart failure with preserved Ejection Fraction' or 'HFpEF') arises from ventricular stiffening due to age, hypertension, and various other rarer heart conditions. The aging component of this process is unavoidable, but maintaining optimal blood pressure through midlife is achievable and, if successful, should prevent additional left ventricular stiffening attributed to hypertension. By regularly monitoring blood pressure and using effective medication, we can help patients live longer with healthier hearts.
For a cardiologist, beta blockers are a commonly used medication, possibly because we live in a high stress world and patients come to us with symptoms that are often improved by moderating the biological effects of our own adrenaline on the systems it was designed to protect.
When clots from the left atrial appendage dislodge, they can travel to various parts of the body, including the coronary artery, which receives about 5% of the blood from each heartbeat, or the cerebral arteries, accounting for approximately 20% of each cardiac cycle's output
I feel passionately that medicine has to change due to rising costs, complexity and manpower issues. Doctors and influencers need to get patients to take charge of their own health. My job has morphed from 'fixing broken hearts' to, quite literally, preventing them from getting broken in the first place.