All throughout February, CTVS has been sharing ways to get heart healthy in honor of American Heart Month. One important piece of advice we are sharing comes from a special patient of ours, Chris Valdez, who says that you should never ignore troubling health symptoms, especially those regarding your heart, as it could mean a [...]
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease in the U.S., affecting approximately 18.2 million adults over the age of 20. It is a condition in which arteries of the heart become narrowed or clogged due to plaque build-up. If left untreated, this restricted blood flow to the heart can lead [...]
Heart valve issues such as regurgitation (where the valve doesn’t close tightly and leaks) or stenosis (narrowing) stemming from a congenital condition or damage due to age or a serious illness can require surgical repair or valve replacement. CTVS has spent more than 65 years treating heart valves and other cardiothoracic issues, and our board-certified [...]
Several months ago, Helen Garrison was suffering from dizzy spells she initially attributed to side effects from a new medication. Diagnostic tests later revealed she had an ascending aortic aneurysm and a leaky aortic valve. An aortic aneurysm is an abnormal bulge that forms in the wall of the heart’s most important blood vessel, [...]
Most people are aware of the importance of keeping your overall heart health in check--with regular exercise, eating a balanced diet, and maintaining good blood pressure. But what about your heart valves? They are the intricate structures deep inside the heart muscle that are essential for its proper functioning. If they are damaged or deteriorate, [...]
February is American Heart Month, and here is a story that is close to ours about a very special patient who is paying his good fortune forward. Dr. Jeff Zapalac (a retired orthodontist) started experiencing very mild symptoms that seemed to be affecting his heart, including difficulty breathing and exercising. While he initially attributed that [...]
February is the month we celebrate Valentine's Day along with the symbolic image of the heart and all the love it represents. It is also American Heart Month. At CTVS, we celebrate hearts every second of every day, and every month of the year. Taking care of them has been our passion for more than [...]
If you’re still thinking of a meaningful New Year’s resolution to adopt -- one that could save lives -- consider becoming an organ donor. This is the heartfelt plea of one of our remarkable patients here at CTVS. "One person has the ability to be an organ donor and to save up to eight lives," [...]
No one is more proud than us at CTVS when our physicians share their expertise and skills beyond our practice to improve the health and well-being of so many others. Dr. Jonathan Yang, one of our board-certified cardiothoracic surgeons, serves as surgical director of the advanced heart failure program at Heart Hospital of Austin where [...]
Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, happens when the upper chambers of the heart (the atria) beat irregularly instead of beating effectively to move blood into the ventricles. This irregular heartbeat, or arrhythmia, can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications. What are the surgical treatments for AFib? The two most common surgical treatments for [...]
