Ramin Ashtiani MD

A study published in 2012 in the "British Medical Journal" found no connection between heart disease and a diet rich in fried food. If you love such food, then Spain or another Mediterranean country may be the place to live. Mediterranean diets rely on olive oil to fry foods, which contains no trans fat.

Switching to smokeless tobacco or low-tar or nicotine cigarettes will not help you reach your heart health goals. In fact, stay away from second-hand smoke as well. Ask us for suggestions if you need help to quit.

Lots of fruits and vegetables are essential to promoting heart health. They will fill your appetite so that you eat less fatty foods and some include substances that may prevent heart disease. Keep them around for convenient snacks.

In addition to the three biggest risk factors--high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking--many other factors can increase one's susceptibility to heart disease. These include diabetes, poor diet, lack of exercise, excessive drinking, and obesity.

So what is coronary atherosclerosis? This is the hardening and narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the heart musclea condition that is the major cause of most heart attacks.

Do you know what a myocardial infarction, or an acute myocardial infarction, is? It's the medical term for heart attack, which happens when the heart's blood supply is interrupted.

The average healthy heart will pump about 2,000 gallons of blood through our blood vessels that measure about 60,000 miles themselves. A faucet would have to be on all the way for 45 years to match the amount of blood pumped by the heart in one lifetime.

Did you know that some of the biggest cardiovascular disease risks are factors you can control? By getting enough exercise, eating right and avoiding illegal drugs, you can greatly increase your heart’s health.

Do you know how a pacemaker is designed? It has two parts, the leads and a pulse generator. The pulse generator houses the battery and a tiny computer, and resides just under the skin of the chest. The leads are wires that are threaded through the veins into the heart.

The best way to avoid heart disease is to get moving. The risk of heart disease doubles in inactive people versus people who get regular exercise. Aerobic activity, like running, swimming, and biking, are the best choices for cutting your risk of heart disease.

Atrium in Latin means entrance hall and ventricle means little belly. The right and left atrium hold about 3.5 tablespoons of blood while the right ventricle holds a little more than a quarter cup.

Did you know the heart is simply a hollow muscle? It’s regular and constant contractions allow it to pump blood throughout the circulatory system. The heart muscle is found in every animal with blood vessels.

So what are the signs of heart failure? This includes shortness of breath, inability to tolerate much exercise, and a lack of energyall caused by the heart’s inability to pump enough blood through the body.