Dr. Kulick received his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Southern California, School of Medicine. He performed his residency in internal medicine at the Harbor-University of California Los Angeles Medical Center and a fellowship in the section of cardiology at the Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiology.
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
A new test is available to diagnose coronary artery disease. In the past, noninvasive functional tests of the heart were used,
such as treadmill tests and
nuclear studies, to indirectly assess if there were blockages in the coronary
arteries. The only way to directly look at the
coronary arteries was
via a cardiac catheterization and coronary angiogram.
CT scans have been used to look at various anatomic
regions, but have not been useful for the heart because the heart is
continuously in motion. CT is very effective in looking at "static" areas, such
as the brain, abdominal cavity, and extremities. Most early CT scanners take 1-8
pictures (slices) a minute, much slower than the rate of the heart. Just as
taking a picture of a moving object with a camera results in a blurry picture,
conventional CT scans of the heart are not helpful. A new generation of CT
scanners which can take 64 pictures a minute is now available; with the use of a
little medication to slow
the heart rate to less than 64, CT images of the coronary arteries are now
possible.
How is CT coronary angiogram performed and what are the risks of the procedure?
This procedure use intravenous dye which contains iodine and CT scanning
to image the coronary arteries. While the use of catheters is not necessary
(thus the term "noninvasive" test applies to this procedure), there are still
some risks involved. In people allergic to iodine, pretreatment with medications
is necessary to prevent allergic reactions to the dye. In people with abnormal
kidney function and/or diabetes, the dye may worsen kidney function. Finally,
there is radiation exposure which is similar to, if not greater than, that
received with a conventional coronary angiogram. Nonetheless, this is generally
a very safe test for most people, but should only be undergone when ordered by a
physician familiar with the patient and their underlying medical condition.
Heart attack happens when a blood clot completely obstructs a coronary
artery supplying blood to the heart muscle. A heart attack can cause chest pain, heart failure, and electrical
instability of the heart.
Heart disease (coronary artery disease) is caused by a buildup of cholesterol deposits in the coronary arteries. Risk factors for heart disease include smoking, high blood pressure, heredity, diabetes, peripheral artery disease, and obesity. Symptoms include chest pain and shortness of breath. There are a variety of tests used to diagnose coronary artery disease. Treatment includes life-style changes, medications, procedures, or surgery.
Cholesterol is the most common type of steroid in the body. The treatment of elevated cholesterol involves not only diet but also weight loss, regular exercise, and medications. By understanding your cholesterol profile you can better manage your cholesterol levels.
Heart attacks are the major causes of unexpected, sudden death among men and women. A heart attack is also a significant cause of heart failure. Learn the risk factors for heart attack such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and other heart conditions. Lowering your risk factor, lifestyle changes, and in some cases medication are the most effective way of preventing a heart attack.
A heart attack is a layperson's term for a sudden blockage of a coronary artery. This photo essay inlcudes graphics, pictures, and illustrations of diseased heart tissue and the mechanisms that lead to coronary artery disease, and possible heart attack.
The heart is a very important organ in the body. It is responsible for continuously pumping oxygen and nutrient-rich blood throughout your body to sustain life. It is a fist-sized muscle that beats (expands and contracts) 100,000 times per day, pumping a total of five or six quarts of blood each minute, or about 2,000 gallons per day.
Your heart is an amazing organ. It continuously pumps oxygen and nutrient-rich blood throughout your body to sustain life. This fist-sized powerhouse beats (expands and contracts) 100,000 times per day, pumping five or six quarts of blood each minute, or about 2,000 gallons per day.
How Does Blood Travel Through the Heart?
As the heart beats, it pumps blood through a system of blood vessels, called the circulatory system. The vessels are elastic, muscular tubes that carry blood to every part of the body.
Blood is essential. In addition to carrying fresh oxygen from the lungs and nutrients to your body's tissues, it also takes the body's waste products, including carbon dioxide, away from the tissues. This is necessary to sustain life and promote the health of all the body's tissues.
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