Good morning, Aortic Hope community! Today we're talking about something many of you know well: life after aortic surgery. Surgery is a major milestone, but it is not the end of the journey, more so it's the beginning of a new chapter. Understanding what surveillance looks like and why some people may need additional procedures down the road is an important part of this journey! Surgery Is Not the Finish Line For many patients, the day of surgery feels like the destination af

A Type A dissection involves the region of the aorta that attaches directly to the heart. Dissections in this region can quickly progress through the aorta and affect blood flow to the heart, brain, and arms. Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/aortic-dissection/symptoms-causes/syc-20369496 Welcome back, everyone! Today we'll be discussing one of the most serious emergencies in cardiovascular medicine, a Type A aortic dissection (TAAD). It happens su

Welcome to another Medical Monday! Today, we are going to be discussing the difference between open versus endovascular treatment options for AAA. As we reviewed in prior weeks, an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a bulging or weakening in the wall of the aorta along the abdominal region. This can become very life threatening very fast as stretching of the aorta puts it at an increased risk for sudden rupture or aortic dissection. As a brief review - major risk factors fo

Welcome back, everyone! After talking about thoracic aortic aneurysms last week, today we’ll be discussing abdominal aortic aneurysms. An abdominal aortic aneurysm, often called an AAA, is a condition that many people have never heard of, yet it can be serious if left untreated. The good news is that when it’s found early and monitored properly, it can often be managed safely. Here’s a simple breakdown of what an AAA is and what it means for your health. What is an abdominal

Cardiac MRI Welcome back to Medical Monday! In March, our blog posts are focusing on different modalities of cardiac imaging. So far, we’ve covered CT scans, cardiac catheterizations, echocardiograms, and more. For additional information, be sure to check out our previous posts. For those in the Aortic Hope community—patients, survivors, and families impacted by ascending aortic aneurysms and dissections—imaging is a cornerstone of cardiac care. It guides diagnosis, surgical

Welcome back, everyone! Today, we’ll be talking about one of the most prevalent heart procedures that people get in the hospital: a left heart catheterization. If your doctor suspects a problem with the blood flow to your heart, they may recommend a left heart catheterization (often called a “heart cath”). While the name can sound intimidating, this is a very common procedure that helps doctors diagnose and sometimes treat heart problems. What is a left heart catheterization?

🫀 Understanding TAVR (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement) What is TAVR? TAVR (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement) — also called TAVI (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation) — is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat severe aortic stenosis, a condition in which the aortic valve becomes narrowed and restricts blood flow from the heart to the body. Instead of open-heart surgery, TAVR delivers a new valve through a catheter (usually inserted through the femoral

Medical Monday: Mechanical vs. Bioprosthetic Valves What Patients with Aortic Valve Disease Should Know If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with aortic valve disease, one of the biggest decisions you may face is choosing what type of replacement valve is right for you. It can feel overwhelming at first, but this guide breaks it down in plain language so you can walk into your appointments feeling more confident and informed. First, What Does the Aortic Valve Do? Your aor

Good morning everyone and welcome to our next week of aortic valve education! This week we're talking about aortic regurgitation! What Is Aortic Regurgitation? Last week, Adham did a great job introducing us to the aortic valve and its different components (if you missed it, use this LINK) . He taught us to think of the aortic valve as a one way door between the heart and the rest of your body. Normally, this door swings open when your heart beats, letting blood flow forward

Good morning everyone and welcome to our first week of February posts! The theme this month will be aortic valve disease! Aortic Valve Anatomy To understand aortic valve disease, we must first understand what the normal aortic valve is and does! After blood gets oxygenated in your lungs it re-enters the heart and fills the left ventricle. With each heartbeat, the left ventricle will pump blood through the aortic valve into the aorta, which carries it throughout the rest of t

Credit: Forward Care Family Practice Hello everyone, and welcome to another Medical Monday post! I hope that during this chilly time, you all are snuggled up and cozy with a nice cup of hot chocolate because we have an important post today about the Flu season. The Flu season brings more than congestion, cough, and fever. For individuals living with aortic disease or a history of aortic dissection, viral infections can occasionally lead to inflammation affecting the lungs or

Medical Monday: Who's at Higher Risk for Aortic Disease? Welcome back to Medical Monday! Today, we're discussing something that may be pertinent to many of us: who is at increased risk for aortic disease? Anyone can develop problems in their aorta, but certain conditions greatly elevate the risk of issues we often discuss, such as aortic aneurysms, dissections, and problems with the aortic valve, and accelerate the age at which these may present, compared to someone without s

Welcome back to Medical Monday Today, we're exploring how doctors treat descending aortic aneurysms . This life-threatening condition requires precise, highly specialized care. When the descending thoracic aorta becomes enlarged and weak, it is referred to as a descending aortic aneurysm. The primary goal of treatment is to prevent rupture and restore safe blood flow. Currently, two main approaches are used for this condition: Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair (TEVAR) and O

Today we’re focusing on a serious—but, critically, a very treatable—cardiovascular condition: ascending aortic aneurysms. These aneurysms represent a localized dilation or bulge in the wall of the aorta, specifically the section that arises from the left ventricle of the heart and travels upward, known as the ascending aorta. Because the aorta is the body's largest artery and carries oxygenated blood under high pressure to the rest of the circulatory system, a weakening or ex

Welcome back, everyone! When people hear “exercise for heart health,” they often picture sweaty hours at the gym or pounding the pavement on a long run. But the truth is, you don’t need intense workouts to protect your heart. In fact, low-impact, moderate aerobic activity is one of the safest and most effective ways to maintain cardiovascular health—especially if you’re dealing with heart or vascular conditions. Why low aerobic exercise matters Your heart is a muscle, and li

Flu Season, the Heart, and… Myocarditis?! It’s flu season, cue the tissues, soup, and cozy blankets. But here’s something you may not...

Welcome back to Medical Monday! We hope everyone has been well and staying safe in the summer heat. Today, we will be continuing on our August theme of busting some common summer myths when it comes to cardiac surgery. Last week, we spoke about lifting weights after aortic surgery and today we will focus on a popular summertime activity – swimming. After receiving cardiac surgery, there are a number of precautions to follow to ensure proper healing, prevent complications, an

Good Monday Morning Aortic Hope family! It’s Medical Monday. Today, we’re talking about a gentle yet powerful tool in heart health: low aerobic exercise. If you've ever wondered whether something as simple as walking can actually benefit your heart—the answer is YES. Let’s break it down. https://thebekindpeopleproject.org/blog/2021/02/24/an-active-heart-is-a-happy-heart-lets-get-moving/ What Is Low Aerobic Exercise? Low aerobic exercise refers to light to moderate-intensity a

Welcome back, everyone! Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve had some great posts about the various types of surgeries that surgeons can...

When you hear about open-heart surgery or major aortic repair, one mysterious but life-saving device often enters the conversation: the...