Blog Archive
You don’t think much about your heartbeat until it does something abnormal like flutter. If you notice this strange sensation, you should make an appointment with our our expert team of board-certified interventional cardiologists, led by Muthu Velusamy, MD, FACC, ABVM at Cardiovascular Institute of America. You should never ignore...
Atherosclerosis is a common circulatory system problem that develops when a sticky plaque made of cholesterol, fat, blood cells, proteins, and calcium builds up on inner artery walls. It develops slowly and without symptoms, so you probably won’t know if you have it unless you get a blood test or...
The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered dramatic changes throughout everyday life — and in the medical community as well. Not only are providers across the country postponing elective procedures, but many are also encouraging people to avoid in-office appointments to reduce their risk of exposure to this highly contagious coronavirus.But what...
Have you ever experienced that post-walk sensation where your legs feel heavy, almost as if they’re dragging? It’s a common occurrence, and while it might be tempting to brush it off as mere fatigue, various factors 一 including vascular issues 一 contribute to this sensation. Read on as Muthu Velusamy,...
Your heart is one of the most important organs in your body, providing oxygenated blood so you can function. So when something is wrong with your heart, it causes a variety of issues and can be deadly. Early intervention is key to finding the problem; this is where a stress...
Angina, heart attack, heart disease — what does it all mean? Does angina mean a heart attack is imminent? Most angina attacks are short-lived, lasting only a few minutes. But it’s a serious warning that you are at risk for more serious heart-related events like a heart attack, cardiac arrest,...
Patients newly diagnosed with heart problems often have questions about what they should and shouldn’t do to keep their hearts beating. A particularly frightening event, such as a heart attack, can leave you wondering what’s safe and what’s not, especially regarding exercise. At the Cardiovascular Institute of America, our staff...
Nearly half of all adults in the United States have some type of cardiovascular disease, according to the American Heart Association's "Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2019 Update” and published in the journal Circulation. With 121.5 million people affected, heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the US. At Cardiovascular Institute...
Hypertension doesn’t present symptoms in the early stages, but its silent nature doesn’t make it any less dangerous. It’s linked to the number one killer in the United States: heart disease. Elevated blood pressure doesn’t just harm the heart, but it can harm any organ and tissue where blood vessels...
Your heart is an incredible organ that works tirelessly to keep you alive, pumping blood throughout your body day in and day out. But sometimes, the rhythm of this vital organ can get disrupted, leading to heart rhythm disorders, also known as arrhythmias. These conditions can range from mild and...
Over one-third of Americans suffer from a condition called varicose veins / venous insufficiency. For many of them, it’s a condition that’s largely cosmetic and that creates only minor symptoms, if any at all, beyond a twisted and enlarged appearance. Sometimes, though, varicose veins can be uncomfortable and even painful, and they could...
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a common medical condition that affects millions of people worldwide. While it’s well-known that hypertension can lead to various cardiovascular issues, its impact on the kidneys is often overlooked. In this blog, Muthu Velusamy, MD, and our team at Cardiovascular Institute of America in Tampa and...
Varicose and spider veins are visible or bulging veins that may appear discolored and can become uncomfortable. Sclerotherapy is an effective treatment for this issue. At the Cardiovascular Institute of America, Dr. Muthu Velusamy offers both visual sclerotherapy and ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy from locations in Tampa and Lutz, Florida. Which procedure...
High cholesterol is a dangerous medical problem that can lead to severe complications like a heart attack or stroke. If you have high cholesterol, changing your diet alone may not be enough to get your cholesterol under control. You may need medications to help you keep your cholesterol in check....
If you’ve ever fainted suddenly or had an irregular heartbeat, you know how scary these events can be. They could be isolated episodes, or they could be signs of an underlying condition in your heart. But what do you do when nothing shows up in tests at your appointment? The...
Heart arrhythmias cause your heart to beat too quickly, too slowly, or irregularly, disrupting vital blood flow through the heart chambers. Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of heart arrhythmia, projected to affect about 12.1 million people in the United States by 2030. Muthu Velusamy, MD, FACC, ABVM, and...
It has been estimated that around 6.5 million adults in the United States have peripheral artery disease (PAD). However, because of the insidious nature of the disease, the true count is probably much higher if undiagnosed cases are taken into account. At Cardiovascular Institute of America, with offices in Citrus Park, Tampa, and...
If you’re concerned about your heart health, one of the best things you can do is to get a diagnostic ultrasound. This noninvasive screening gives an actual picture of your heart and how well it functions. Diagnostic ultrasound can keep track of your heart health and any changes over time....
Most people know about medical screenings used in cardiovascular care, like EKGs that monitor heart activity or ultrasound imaging that obtains images of your heart and blood vessels. But there’s another type of imaging that many people don’t know about, one that can play just as critical a role in...
Are you a woman who is concerned about heart disease? While commonly thought of as a man’s problem, it’s actually quite common in women as well — the symptoms just tend to look different, so you may not know what to expect. The team, led by Muthu Velusamy, MD, FACC, ABVM at Cardiovascular...
Varicose veins are often regarded as a cosmetic issue, and while those bulging, twisted veins are unsightly, they’re more than just an eyesore. Varicose veins can cause cramping, achiness, and a sensation of heaviness in your legs. Untreated varicose veins can also increase your risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and leg ulcers....
Your veins return blood to your heart after it has traveled to the farthest regions of your body. The veins in your legs have the toughest job because they work against gravity to send blood upward from your feet to your heart. Fortunately, those veins come equipped with tiny one-way...
Heart conditions can be minor problems that we need to monitor over time, or they can be acute, life-threatening issues that require immediate and invasive treatment. To find out the type and severity of heart condition you may have, we perform some specialized diagnostic tests. Dr. Muthu Velusamy, our board-certified...
About 6.5 million Americans age 40 and older suffer from peripheral artery disease (PAD), a serious medical problem that interferes with circulation and increases your risk of life-threatening complications. There are treatments for PAD, but its symptoms can be subtle, which means it’s not always easy to diagnose. As a top cardiologist...
Varicose veins are common, affecting slightly more than one-third of Americans, according to the Society for Vascular Surgery. Varicose veins, also known as varicosities, occur when your veins become enlarged, twisted, dilated, and overfilled with blood. These veins aren’t just unattractive — they can also be a sign of a more serious...
Lifestyle modifications can play a big role in safely lowering your blood pressure levels. For many people, regular exercise, stress management, and dietary changes are enough to see noticeable results with your blood pressure. Dr. Muthu Velusamy and our team at Cardiovascular Institute of America in Tampa and Lutz, Florida, often encourage patients...
Hypertension — or high blood pressure — is a serious problem that causes your heart to work harder than it should to circulate blood throughout your body. Unfortunately, this condition affects the blood vessels and puts you at risk of heart disease, and it also increases your chances of such...
Everyone has swollen legs and feet now and then, but if you’re experiencing this discomfort regularly, you may have a medical issue that needs attention. Experts estimate that some 40% of Americans have chronic venous insufficiency, or CVI. Without treatment, it can lead to complications. Dr. MuthU Velusamy at Cardiovascular...
The first pacemakers were invented in the 1960s, but the procedure didn’t have long-term success. Pacemakers have come a long way since, with over 1.5 million successful procedures performed each year. Pacemakers are simple, yet highly specialized medical devices that help regulate your heartbeat. Your pulse and the pace of...
To say that your heart is hard-working would be a gross understatement — each day it beats 100,000 times and pumps 2,000 gallons of nutrient- and oxygen-rich blood throughout your body. Any disruption in this system has the potential to lead to problems, and an arrhythmia certainly qualifies as a...
Blockages in blood vessels are normally thought to occur only in the major coronary arteries. However, the plaque that builds up and causes blockages can cause problems in any blood vessel. Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is the name for when this buildup occurs and narrows the peripheral arteries ( arteries...
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for Americans, regardless of gender or race. Coronary artery disease is the most prevalent type of heart disease. Thankfully, cardiac care can help you avoid the complications of untreated heart disease. As a board-certified interventional cardiologist, Dr. Muthu Velusamy is experienced when...
When you have varicose veins, you may feel embarrassed to wear shorts, which can be a real problem when you live in Florida. But varicose veins are often more than just a cosmetic issue. It’s important to pay attention to varicose veins to see if they are a sign of...
More than 800,000 Americans have a heart attack each year, and about 20% of those are “silent” heart attacks, meaning people didn’t realize they were having a heart attack. Yet even though a heart attack is “silent,” it doesn’t mean damage didn’t occur. If you’re at risk for heart disease...
Despite advances in medicine over the past two decades, heart disease remains the leading cause of death. Heart disease claims the lives of 655,000 people in the United States each year, and it’s largely preventable. Premier cardiovascular disease specialist Muthu Velusamy, MD, and the team at Cardiovascular Institute of America...
Non-healing wounds, called ulcers, can occur when your body experiences conditions like poor circulation or high blood sugar. Even repeated injury at the same spot can create a chronic wound. Nearly 6 million Americans deal with wounds of this type every year. When the normal healing cycle fails, you may...
About one in five adults in the United States have, or will develop, the bulging, contorted leg veins known as varicose veins. Varicose veins aren’t just unsightly, they’re dysfunctional. Dr. Muthu Velusamy, our vein specialist at Cardiovascular Institute of America, can help you feel more comfortable with your varicose veins...
A healthy, adult heart beats between 86,000 and 144,000 times a day, caused by the expansion and contraction of your arteries to promote the circulation of oxygen and blood throughout your body. If you notice any odd symptoms, such as fatigue or lightheadedness, you should consider having a stress test...
Peripheral artery disease is the leading cause of amputation in the United States. According to Johns Hopkins, over 80% of the amputations performed in the U.S. are due to vascular disease, including blood clots, peripheral artery disease, and complications from diabetes. However, peripheral artery disease usually doesn’t have to end...
If you suffer from a leg ulcer, you should seek treatment immediately. Choosing to ignore it puts you at risk of developing serious health issues, such as cellulitis, osteomyelitis, septicemia, venous eczema, and even malignancy. Dr. Muthu Velusamy and our team of varicose veins specialists understand venous insufficiency and the...
Simply stated, chest pain can be alarming. It can show up in different ways, such as a sharp, stabbing sensation or a dull ache. Your pain can travel too. It might go up your neck, into your jaw, down your back, and down one or both of your arms. Your...
Vein issues affect almost 2 in 5 people in the United States at some point in their lifetime. They happen when the one-way valves in your veins stop working and can’t keep your blood flowing fully toward your heart. Instead, the blood can start to pool up behind the valve,...
Heart disease affects about as many American women as it does men, but only about half of women understand their risk of death involved with heart disease. Women have different symptoms than men, and the risk factor rises after menopause and as you get older. At Cardiovascular Institute of America...
Your arteries are your blood’s network for delivering oxygen throughout your body. As such, you need these passageways to remain open and free-flowing. If cholesterol, plaque, fat, or other substances build up in your arteries, you can develop atherosclerosis, which is a narrowing of your arteries. A total blockage can...
When the highly contagious SARS-Co-V-2 virus began to spread in December 2019 and the disease it causes, COVID-19, grew into a pandemic within a few months, we had to start making severe adjustments to protect not only our own health, but the health of others as well. This respiratory illness...