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Why do I need to take blood pressure meds when my blood pressure is normal?

May 5, 2022 1 Comment

Why do I need to take blood pressure meds when my blood pressure is normal?

One of the great aspects of my practice is working with various age groups and making them understand their cardiac assessment. I work with many facilities in terms of educating them about prevention. This question came from a person at Cypress Village rehab center and struck me as a question that most people share who are dealing with hypertension. One obvious answer is that your blood pressure is normal because you are taking blood pressure medications. This may sound simple but I come across many patients that discontinue theie blood pressure medications because they feel that it is normal. However, they usually get admitted to the hospital later on with hypertension urgency (systolic greater than 180mmHg or diastolic greater than 110mmHg). At times, it leads to hypertensive emergency when your blood pressure is elevated with symptoms of organ damage such as stroke, myocardial infarction, kidney damage, aortic dissection, and etc.. Therefore, it is very imperative to keep a log of blood pressure readings and to make sure your blood pressure remains normal which is <140mmHg systolic and <80mmHg diastolic and if your diabetic then <130/80mmHg.

Because I like to keep my patient’s very active and dealing with athletes in sports cardiology, I usually test my patients who have risk factors for hypertension on a treadmill. Most people have normal blood pressure readings at rest but when they are exerting themselves they become very short of breath and feel winded fast. One of the reasons is because they have an inappropriate hypertensive response with increased activity level. I may not place all of these patients on blood pressure medications right away but I am very aggressive in managing their blood pressure with diet, exercise, and perhaps even finding ways to reduce their mental or emotional stress load. So contact us and let us know how we can help you reduce your blood pressure. Also, let us know if you want us to come to your facility for a free education session and help live a full healthy life.

Cardiac Death is most common reason for deaths in Marathons.

May 5, 2022 No Comments

Cardiac Death is most common reason for deaths in Marathons.

Unfortunately, the most common cause of death of for runners in races is cardiac disease. Even though it is rare, people do not realize that this can happen to runners in any age range. Runners in Raleigh for example were fairly young in their mid 30′s with no prior extensive cardiac history. This always begs the question why does this happen to fairly healthy athletes. There are many reasons but I will comment on some of the most common reasons that I have witnessed when I supervise these competitive events.

First, like most competitive athletes they will do anything to get that competitive edge and do so in form of supplements. I am not talking about steroids but energy drinks before competitive events– such as red bull, rocket, amp, and etc. These drinks make you feel like they are giving you an edge by activating your sympathetic nervous system with epinephrine. However, that will not give you that boost your looking for physically. It might serve as a placebo or telling your mind that I can do this but really no competitive edge especially in a long competitive event such as a marathon. People who drink these energy drinks are at high risk for fatal cardiac arrhythmia’s that could lead to sudden cardiac death. Carb load the day prior if needed but please stay away from energy drinks.

Second, keep yourself hydrated. This is one most common reasons why people pass out or have syncope during a race. Furthermore, this can lead to cramps which either take you out of the competition or have a dramatic impact on your performance. With all the training you have done, you don’t want to be held back by something simple as keeping yourself hydrated with water. This does not mean sodas or energy drinks. Pure water is the best and Gatorade or Powerade will help replenish electrolytes.

Third and last point I would like to share with you is that before you start training or are planning to participate in a competitive event, make sure you get a physical check up by your physician. Just a simple history and physical by your physician can prevent catastrophic event such as death. Please give us a call or email us if you have any questions or concerns. We would be more than happy to see you in our clinic to make sure you have a fun and healthy active experience at any competition.

Testosterone Level and Heart Disease

May 5, 2022 No Comments

Testosterone Level and Heart Disease

Since there is so much attention being given to women’s cardiology, I thought I would let people know that men have a heart too and we are different as well. Also, this topic has been becoming a popular in the US. Most of the information that I will be sharing with you was presented by Dr. Kevin Billups who is the director of Men’s Health and Vitality Program and associate professor of urology at Johns Hopkins.

First of all, testosterone replacement therapy is only beneficial if you have low total serum testosterone level and signs of hypogonadism– such as ED, low sexual desire, low muscle mass, low energy, decreased mental concentration, high fat mass, anemia, and osteoporosis. So if you have one or more of these symptoms then I would definitely get tested.

Second, low endogenous testosterone levels do correlate with an increased risk for adverse cardiovascular events by endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. But this begs the question, “Does testosterone replacement reduce cardiovascular disease?” Short answer is no but it does make changes in blood pressure, glycemic control, and lipid fractions. There is a definite improvement in your quality of life. Most importantly, I would aggressively treat your risk factors in order to avoid a cardiac event in the future. Which brings up my third point.

Low T levels are usually associated with metabolic syndrome, obesity, alcohol, diabetes, and hypertension. So if your concerned about your T levels as well as your cardiovascular risks, please let us help you and do contact us. Since this is a highly discussed topic, feel free to write any questions or comments on this blog below, Facebook, or email me at info@cardiacvision.com.

Check out Cardiac Vision at Mario Butler Football Camp!

May 5, 2022 No Comments

Check out Cardiac Vision at Mario Butler Football Camp!

Please come join us this weekend June 20-21st for Mario Butler Football Camp. Not only will you get to see Dr. “J” Ahmed playing in a charity event basketball game against the Jacksonville Giants but you will get to meet many pro football athletes and celebrities, including the cornerback for the Buffalo Bills himself, Mario Butler. This is our way of educating family’s and the community regarding screening athletes, importance of preventative medicine, cardiac health/fitness, peripheral artery disease, and more. There will be free blood pressure checks. Come out this weekend starting friday night at Edward Waters College (1658 Kings Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32209), starting 7:30 pm on June 20, 2014 for the celebrity basketball charity jam. Visit mariobutlerfoundation.org for more information.

Isaiah Austin 2014 NBA prospect career ended due to Marfan’s, how do I know if I have Marfan’s?

May 5, 2022 No Comments

Isaiah Austin 2014 NBA prospect career ended due to Marfan’s, how do I know if I have Marfan’s?

These are the type of issues that sports cardiologists deal with in order to make sure that all athletes are healthy enough to compete at a high level. Genetic conditions like Marfan’s can go undiagnosed throughout an athlete’s career which makes them at high risk for having sudden cardiac death. Scientists and organizations can debate on the need for screening athletes but the fact remains that such an event as sudden cardiac death leaves communities and families traumatized and helpless. So how can Marfan’s Syndrome cause sudden cardiac death? Well, let me tell you briefly about Marfan’s syndrome and some of the symptoms that people need be aware of. Marfan’s syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects the connective tissues which can affect multiple organs. It equally affects woman and men with no geographic or ethnic bias. One of the most prominent features is that individuals grow above average height and can have slender limbs, long fingers and toes, and persons arms may be disproportionately long with thin wrists. It can seriously affect the eye and vision. Isaiah Austin did have issues with his eyes back in eighth grade and appeared to have lost his sight in one eye. But there is no one symptom that can diagnose Marfan’s. The most serious sign and symptoms associated with Marfan’s syndrome involves the cardiovascular system. Symptoms such as shortness of breath, palpitations, chest pain, back pain or shoulder pain can be linked to Marfan’s. There can be severe be regurgitation of aortic and mitral valve that can lead to heart failure. The most catastrophic event can be aortic dissection leading to sudden cardiac death and present as tearing sensation. This would be a surgical emergency. Therefore, it is imperative to diagnose Marfan’s early in order to monitor the size of the aorta and to look for aortic aneurysm throughout one’s lifetime. Women with Marfan syndrome, should receive a thorough assessment prior to conception and have imaging done throughout pregnancy to assess the aortic root diameter. Because there is no one sign or symptom that diagnosis Marfan’s syndrome, genetic testing is needed. If a family member has Marfan’s or you think you may have some of the signs and symptoms, it is definitely worthwhile to have yourself evaluated and discuss it with your physician. Please call us or make an appointment. As always, feel free to comment or email us with questions.