Last year, stroke cases were down nearly 40% due to fear of going to the hospital amid the pandemic. Yet there were still more than 159,000 deaths reported due to this common and sometimes deadly medical emergency that occurs when blood supply to the brain is blocked or a blood vessel in the brain bursts [...]
According to the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network, the number of organ transplants performed in 2020 was 39,034. That number decreased from 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and strict mandates placed on many surgical procedures for a large part of the year, including transplants. With a renewed sense of hope and a gradual return [...]
CTVS has been the “go-to” expert for vascular disease in Central Texas for more than 65 years. Vascular disease and vascular health are often unfamiliar to some people. What part of the body or system do they refer to? Is it the same as cardiovascular health? What type of doctor treats vascular conditions? The vascular [...]
BestLife recently shared a survey revealing the most popular New Year’s resolutions for 2021. The first one was to exercise more (and lose weight). A commitment to working out is a resolution that we at CTVS can whole “heartedly” get behind, because exercise and its countless benefits to the heart are near and dear to [...]
Stroke strikes roughly 13 million people each year in this country, and unfortunately around 5.5 million people will die as a result. That’s approximately one out of every 4 adults who are affected. Today stroke also is the leading cause of disability worldwide. A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is disrupted resulting [...]
Because of its commonly recognized respiratory symptoms -- heavy coughing and difficulty breathing -- the most severely damaged part of the body following a bout of COVID-19 was thought to be the lungs, until now. A small study recently conducted in Germany and profiled in JAMA-Cardiology reveals that the effects of COVID-19 on the heart following [...]
Smartwatches can track everything from steps taken to sleep habits, and now they may even be able to detect a dangerous heart condition. A recent study from the Cleveland Clinic suggests that smartwatches (specifically the Apple Watch 4) were able to identify instances of atrial fibrillation (AFib), or an irregular heartbeat/arrhythmia. The research was conducted [...]
Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States according to the American Stroke Association. Most strokes are caused by a buildup of plaque that cause blockages in the brain, and how quickly you receive treatment plays a large part in your ability to recover. CTVS board certified vascular surgeon Dr. Mazin Foteh [...]
In the United States, someone suffers from a stroke every 40 seconds while someone dies every four minutes (according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention- CDC). This makes stroke one of the leading causes of long-term disability in our country. Yet in a survey (conducted by the CDC), only 38% of people polled [...]
Social distancing is a new concept for many of us right now during our citywide shelter-in-place due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19). But for those who are organ transplant patients, social distancing and self-isolation is all too familiar. April is Donate Life Month, and we at Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons (CTVS) in Austin hold a special [...]
