If you’ve ever found yourself wondering whether a heart attack and heart failure are the same thing, you’re not alone. Many patients, even some caregivers, use the terms interchangeably. After all, both sound serious, both involve the heart, and both can be life-threatening. But here’s the truth: a heart attack and heart failure are not the same. They are very different events, with different causes, consequences, and treatment approaches. The difference is important to understand because it will allow you to make more informed choices regarding your own health or the health of someone you love. The Common Mix-Up: Why It Happens It's understandable why the terms become confused. Both illnesses involve coronary artery disease, and both may cause fatigue, shortness of breath, and hospitalization. But then the resemblance ends. A heart attack is typically something abrupt. It's almost as if it springs out of nowhere like a crisis. Heart failure, however, is a chron...

  When it comes to knowing your heart health, there's a whole lot more than cholesterol and blood pressure to monitor. One not-so-well-known but increasingly crucial metric is the coronary artery calcium (CAC) score. On initial glance, it may seem like another complicated medical term, but it can actually teach you a great deal about your likelihood of heart attack. But here's the surprise: more recent studies are refuting past assumptions. While doctors previously considered elevated calcium to be a warning sign, others now interpret it as evidence of stability. So, what exactly is the coronary calcium score, and should you be concerned if yours is elevated? What Is a Coronary CalciumScore? A coronary calcium score is a test result that is measured with a non-invasive CT scan to look for deposits of calcium in your coronary arteries, the tubes that bring blood to your heart muscle. These calcium deposits are an indication of atherosclerosis, a hardening and narrowing...

When you have heart disease, two things come to mind for most patients: pills and surgery. And for years, that's been the course of action, taking a pill every day or having you cut open with procedures like bypass or angioplasty. But what if there were something softer, something you could do more than once, and yet just as good at fixing your heart? That is where EECP (Enhanced External Counterpulsation) comes into the picture. It is non-invasive, risk-free, and, in contrast to most other treatments, can be reapplied. But patients would like to know, how often should I do it? Heart Disease: An Ongoing Battle But first, let’s understand heart disease. Heart disease isn't something you "fix" once and for all. It's not like treating a cold where a round of antibiotics clears it up. Instead, it’s a progressive condition; it continues to evolve over time, especially if underlying causes like high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, or poor lifestyle habits ar...