Carotid Artery Disease and Vascular Surgery

Written By: Sara Loch

The carotid arteries are the arteries that carry the main supply of blood to the brain.  They break off from the aorta (the largest artery in the body) a short distance from the heart, and extend upward through the neck.  There are four carotid arteries – one pair on each side of the neck.  If you have ever felt for your pulse in your neck, you were feeling for the carotid arteries.  These arteries are very important because the brain requires a constant supply of blood.  If these arteries become diseased, treatment such as vascular surgery may be necessary.

What is carotid artery disease?

Carotid artery disease that may require vascular surgery Washington DC is when these arteries become narrowed.  It is most commonly related to a condition called atherosclerosis.  Atherosclerosis is the buildup of plaque (deposits of fatty substances, cholesterol, and other material) on the inner lining of the artery.  It is usually a slow, progressive condition that you may have for many years without knowing it; however, it does progress rapidly in some people.  Your carotid arteries may be slowly narrowing for years with no indication that you may need vascular surgery DC until you have a transient ischemic attack (TIA), or a stroke.  These occur when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, often due to narrowed arteries or to pieces of plaque breaking away from the inner lining of the artery and obstructing blood flow.

In addition to vascular surgery Washington DC, treatment can include medication and management of risk factors.  Risk factors that you may be able to modify include: smoking, high cholesterol, lack of exercise, poor eating habits, and high blood pressure.

Vascular surgery Washington DC

Often following a diagnosis of carotid artery disease, treatment at a vascular surgery center Washington DC will be recommended.  For those who have only a short blockage in the artery, a vascular surgery Washington DC called carotid endarterectomy may be needed.  During this procedure, a surgeon at a vascular surgery center Washington DC opens the artery in the neck to remove the blockage.  Another option at vascular surgery hospitals Washington DC is a minimally invasive procedure where a very small hallow tube is inserted into the artery to help hold it open.  Visit www.medstarwashington.org/our-services/medstar-heart-vascular-institute/treatments/vascular-surgery to learn more about vascular surgery Washington DC.

A-Fib is Common Heart Condition

Written By: Sara Loch

Your circulatory system is made up of the vessels that carry blood throughout the body.  Veins carry blood to the heart,  then arteries carry oxygenated blood to all the organs and cells of your body.  For this to happen, the four chambers of the heart need to contract in an organized manor to efficiently pump blood from one chamber to the other, and then out into the body.  Sometimes, the signal that controls the contraction of the heart can become disorganized causing the chambers of the heart to contract irregularly and sometimes quickly.  This irregular heart rhythm is called atrial fibrillation (A-fib) and can be a serious medical condition.

Atrial fibrillation causes and symptoms

It is often unknown what causes atrial fibrillation, but any of the following things can increase the risk that you will need atrial fibrillation treatment Washington DC: older age, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, heart valve defects, lung disease, obstructive sleep apnea, or coronary artery disease.  Atrial fibrillation is most common in people who are over 65 and is more common in men than in women.

Symptoms can be different for different people, but some signs that you may need atrial fibrillation treatment DC include:

• Heart palpitations
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Weakness
• Fatigue

Sometimes, atrial fibrillation has no symptoms or the symptoms may occur briefly then go away.  Diagnosis will start with a physical exam and discussion of your symptoms, but often also includes tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG).  This test is used to study the heart signal and rhythm.  Other tests may include an echocardiogram, cardiac stress testing, and blood work.

Atrial fibrillation treatment Washington DC

A-fib treatment Washington DC is specific to each case.  If the underlying cause is known, A-fib treatment DC will focus on that.  If the cause is not known, A-fib treatment Washington DC can include: anti-coagulation medicine (blood thinners), medicine to slow the heartbeat, and medicines to treat heart failure.  A-fib treatment Washington DC can also include lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking and being physically active.  If these treatments are not successful, atrial fibrillation treatment DC can include a procedure to block or isolate the signals causing the irregular heartbeat.  You can learn more about atrial fibrillation treatment Washington DC at http://www.medstarwashington.org/our-services/medstar-heart-vascular-institute/conditions/atrial-fibrillation/.

Change Your Lifestyle Before Bariatric Surgery

Written By: Sara Loch

Bariatric surgery is surgery to assist with weight loss, but it is not for everyone who is overweight.  Your doctor will want to discuss your lifestyle and try to identify areas where you may be able to make changes to try to lose weight without surgery before recommending you for bariatric surgery Washington DC.  There are two main reasons for this:

1. Bariatric surgery Washington DC is a serious procedure and should only be considered as a last resort. If other treatments may help, those should be done first.
2. Weight loss surgery Washington DC can be very effective, but will not work without committing to lifelong changes. You must prove that you are capable of these changes before surgery.
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Changes needed before bariatric surgery Washington DC

With or without surgery, weight management Washington DC requires lifestyle changes.  This can be very difficult if you have had a lifetime of unhealthy eating.  You may not even know what constitutes “healthy eating” or have any clue how to prepare healthy meals.  For some people, prepackaged, processed foods are the only foods they know.  Even with weight loss surgery DC, you will be unsuccessful in your weight loss endeavors if you do not change the way you think about food and learn how to make healthy choices.  You will need to avoid sugary, high-calorie drinks and learn to choose foods that that are nutritious and low calorie.  This can require very drastic changes for some people, and meeting with a nutritionist can help.

In addition to healthy food choices, an active lifestyle is needed for healthy weight management Washington DC.  You must devote time 5-7 days a week to exercise.  Sometimes meeting with a trainer can help get you motivated and teach you how to exercise.

Before you can be recommended for bariatric surgery Washington DC, your doctor will want you to demonstrate that you can make these lifestyle changes.  You may find that the changes are enough and that you are losing weight that way; or you may find that you do need the help of weight loss surgery DC.  You can learn more about bariatrics and weight management DC at http://www.medstarwashington.org/.