by DrCiuffo | Mar 23, 2016 | Blog, Uncategorized
Understand Pulmonary Adhesion? Any form of adhesion within the body is generally not a great sign, but to break it down into easier terms – an adhesion consist of fibrous materials that have combined within the body. This is often indicative of an injury or some kind of damage to the region. When you speak about a pulmonary adhesion, this may become cancerous, or cause a great deal of pain and/or discomfort in the body. Depending on the root cause of the pulmonary adhesion in the first place will help surgeons and doctors alike figure out what the best treatment plan may be. The Build up Scar Tissue Scar tissue within the lungs can be caused by several factors. Some patients experience bronchitis annually, and/or pneumonia, which can lead to pulmonary edema. This may lead to scarring in the lungs, and can be very damaging especially over time. Additionally, there may be times where the lung lining can become separated from the muscle tissue surrounding the chest cavity which can be painful and a condition known as pleurisy. Treatment The best way to determine which course of action will best benefit the patient is often done by a tissue biopsy of the area to fully understand the root cause of the pulmonary adhesion in the first place. When it comes to breathing and persistent chest pain, it is greatly advised to speak with a physician as soon as you notice some irregularity. It is oftentimes better safe than sorry especially in catching something like a pulmonary adhesion. Usually these adhesions can be removed laparoscopically and require minimal downtime. If... by DrCiuffo | Mar 15, 2016 | Blog, Heart Surgery, Uncategorized
Proper Exercises Post Heart Surgery What exercises are recommended post heart surgery? Even though a procedure like heart surgery is very intense, it is extremely important to resume exercise to help aid the recovery process. There are particular exercises that have been doctor approved. General recovery time after a surgical heart procedure is between 6 and 8 weeks’ time, but everyone is different. Getting the proper amount of bed rest is highly suggested, but so is incorporating light and low-level activities. Sufficient Activities The number one, low-level activity that anyone can perform post heart surgery is walking, even if it is a slower pace. Never overdo your walking regiment, and if you are feeling pain – contact your physician. This light exercise with certainly help ensure that your muscles don’t atrophy from the bed rest and that your heart continues to be pushed a little in order to work out and help the body function properly. As you begin to heal, you will be able to pick up the pace and keep your body in motion; it will make you feel better all around because exercising releases endorphins. Weight training (very light) has benefits as well. It introduces aerobic exercise and allows the recovering patient to increases their range of motion. It also works muscles in a different form than walking. If the individual did not exercise a lot prior to the heart procedure, this is a great time to readjust their lifestyle and really not take anything for granted. Your physician may or may not suggest that you go to see a physical therapist, and this greatly depends... by DrCiuffo | Feb 12, 2016 | Blog, Heart Surgery, Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery, Uncategorized
Understanding Mitral Valve Repair? If you have never had any heart concerns, palpitations, aches or pains – consider yourself lucky. Unfortunately, many people across the globe cannot say the same. Heart attacks are one of the leading ‘killers’ in the world and oftentimes, people could avoid such issues if they payed closer attention to their diet and exercised more. It cannot be stressed enough that incorporating a little bit of movement throughout your day, drinking more water and avoiding unhealthy foods can make such a significant difference in your quality of life. What is Mitral Valve Repair? So, you have been told that you have a heart issue and now it is time to have a procedure done. Your heart surgeon mentions the term mitral valve repair, but are not one hundred percent sure what it is exactly and/or what the procedure entails. Mitral valve repair is actually a minimally invasive procedure (which should ease some anxiety) and it is to help repair or completely replace your Mitral valve. Your heart is broken up into a few different chambers, your blood naturally will flow from your lungs into your left atrium. From there, the blood will be pumped and flow into your left ventricle…the mitral valve is located directly between these two chambers of your heart. It is solely responsible for making sure that blood gets into your heart. Reasons Why Mitral Valve Surgery May Be Required If you have visited your physician and they are stating that you will need to have mitral valve surgery – reasons for this might be as follows: The mitral valve has become... by DrCiuffo | Dec 23, 2015 | Blog, Heart Surgery, Uncategorized
A Deep Look at Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting There is a wide variety of surgeries surrounding heart issues and many people are not aware of the differences or what each issue may entail. Today we are going to focus on coronary artery bypass grafting and go into a little more detail about what it is and why it would be conducted. This particular type of surgery is intended to help increase the blood flow to the heart. Oftentimes patients may have poor blood flow due to bad eating habits, high cholesterol, clogged arteries, genetics, etc. Regardless of why – optimal blood flow levels are essential to the healthiest living for the patient. Maximizing Blood Flow and Oxygen Levels to Vital Organs We all know how incredibly important blood flow is to the human body, it carries oxygen to vital organs and helps us function properly. Without properly getting oxygen to these vital organs, there can be a wide variety of issues that arise. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is one of the most common heart surgery procedures performed to date. The main goals to be achieved from undergoing this type of procedure are: Improving pumping in the heart which may have been damaged during a heart attack Enhancing quality of life Reduction of angina and/or CHD symptoms Longevity and increasing chances of surviving Affording people the opportunity to engage in more physical activities While these are just a few reasons mentioned above, you can see how effective the surgery is once the patient has healed properly. The end results of undergoing a CABG procedure are amazing to say the... by DrCiuffo | Dec 9, 2015 | Blog, Uncategorized
What to Know About Open Heart Surgery Any concerns surrounding your heart health can be very overwhelming, associated with feelings of being scared and concerns about risks associated with any type of procedure. Open heart surgery is a major procedure, yet is conducted on a regular basis. There are many different reasons why open heart surgery would be required, and heart surgery is performed on people of all ages. Open Heart Surgery Risks There are numerous risks that one can endure during open heart surgery. A list of which you can find below are some but not all of the risks to consider: Breathing Difficulty Heart Attack and/or Stroke Infection in the wound site (tends to affect patients that are overweight or have diabetes more) Kidney and/or Lung Failure Irregular Heart Beat Blood Clotting or Excessive Loss Open Heart Surgery Preparation Prior to undergoing an open heart surgery procedure, it is imperative that you let the doctor know any medications that you may be taking (even OTC medications,) vitamins and supplements included. Some things may interact with one another and it is very important for the doctor/surgeon to know everything prior to the procedure. If you are a smoker or take blood thinning medications – you may want to stop smoking and talk to your doctor about quitting the medication. There is no need for excessive bleeding or additional risk during a procedure that is already dangerous. The doctor may require for you to take bath or shower with a special soap in order to prepare for the surgery. This can greatly reduce the chances of getting infection during and... by DrCiuffo | Nov 19, 2015 | Blog, Uncategorized
Facts about Good and Bad Cholesterol Many people have heard about good and bad cholesterol but do not realize that both good and bad cholesterol act in different ways. The thing about cholesterol is that it is unable to dissolve in your blood so it travels through your bloodstream. When someone has very high bad cholesterol levels, it can start to block arteries and cause many health problems. Of course, a healthy diet and exercise can help minimize effects, but it is also good to know about the different good and bad cholesterol themselves. LDL Cholesterol = Bad Cholesterol LDL cholesterol is what any medical professional will tell you is considered the ‘bad’ cholesterol that you have to watch out for. This is what primarily contributes to build up and plaque within the arteries, which in turn makes them less flexible. Clots can begin to form putting a lot of undue stress upon your arteries making it increasingly more difficult for your blood to flow through your body, as it should. HDL Cholesterol = Good Cholesterol HDL cholesterol actually helps to remove bad cholesterol from the bloodstream. Think about how a scavenger moves and acts, HDL is comparable in the way that it virtually attacks LDL cholesterol and clears the path for free flowing blood. Close to 1/3 of bad cholesterol is carried throughout the body by HDL cholesterol which when balanced properly can help prevent heart disease and strokes. Triglycerides This is a term that you may hear about when visiting with your hearth physician and is a type of fat within your body. It is used primarily...
