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.
Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Angiotensin
converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, another class of blood vessel dilators,
often are given orally after a large heart attack to improve the healing of
heart muscle. Examples of ACE inhibitors include captopril (Capoten), enalapril
(Vasotec), lisinopril (Zestril and Prinivil), and ramipril (Altace). These
medications lower the blood pressure and reduce the workload of the heart,
thereby helping the damaged heart muscle to recover. They are especially helpful
in patients who have recovered from heart attacks but have high blood pressure,
heart failure, major damage to the left ventricle, and diabetes mellitus.
For additional information, please see the ACE
Inhibitors article.
Beta-blockers
Beta-blockers such as propranolol (Inderal), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol
XL), and atenolol (Tenormin)
usually are given early during a heart attack and are continued
long-term. Beta blockers antagonize the action of adrenaline and relieve stress
on the muscles of the heart. Beta-blockers decrease the workload of
the heart by slowing the heart rate and decreasing the force of contraction of
heart muscle. Decreasing the workload decreases the demand for oxygen by
the heart and limits the amount of damage to the heart muscle. Long-term administration of
beta-blockers following a heart attack has been shown to improve
survival and reduce the risk of future heart attacks. Beta-blockers also improve survival
among patients with heart attacks by decreasing the incidence of
life-threatening abnormal heart rhythms, for example, ventricular fibrillation.
Beta-blockers can be given intravenously in the hospital and then can be taken
orally for long-term treatment.
The side effects of beta-blockers are wheezing
(worsening of breathing in patients with
asthma), abnormally slow heart rate,
and exacerbation of heart failure (especially in patients with significant
damage to their heart muscle); however, in patients with chronic heart failure,
beta blockers have recently been demonstrated to be helpful in decreasing
symptoms and prolonging life. For more, please read the
Beta Blocker article.
Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition in which the heart's function as a pump is inadequate to meet the body's needs. A poor blood supply resulting from congestive heart failure may cause the body's organ systems to fail, leading to a weakened heart muscle and fluid accumulation in the lungs and body tissue. There are many diseases that can impair pumping efficiency and symptoms of congestive heart failure including fatigue, diminished exercise capacity, shortness of breath, and swelling. Treatments include lifestyle modifications, medications, heart transplant, and therapy.
Blood clots can occur in the venous and arterial vascular system. Blood clots can form in the heart, legs, arteries, veins, bladder, urinary tract and uterus. Risk factors for blood clots include high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, and family history. Symptoms of a blood clot depend on the location of the clot. Some blood clots are a medical emergency. Blood clots are treated depending upon the cause of the clot. Blood clots can be prevented by lowering the risk factors for developing blood clots.
Cholesterol is naturally produced by the body, and is a building block for cell membranes and hormones. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is the "bad" cholesterol, conversely, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is the "good" cholesterol. High cholesterol treatment includes lifestyle changes (diet and exercise), and medications such as statins, bile acid resins, and fibric acid derivatives.
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 failure is caused by many conditions including coronary artery disease, heart attack, cardiomyopathy, and conditions that overwork the heart. Symptoms of heart failure include congested lungs, fluid and water retention, dizziness, fatigue and weakness, and rapid or irregular heartbeats.
Heart disease, particularly coronary artery disease is the leading cause of heart attacks. Women are more likely to die from a heart attack than men. High cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, and high triglycerides are contributors to heart disease. Some of the common symptoms of a heart attack in women include chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, feeling faint or woozy, and more. Heart disease can be prevented by lifestyle changes and controlling high blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, and diseases such as diabetes.
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.
Fabry disease (Fabry's disease, alpha-galactosidase-A) is a genetic disorder with symptoms such as burning sensations in the hands, small-raised reddish-purplish blemishes on the skin, fever, decreases sweating, and GI difficulties. Fabry disease patients are at increased risk of heart attack, heart disease, kidney failure, and stroke. Symptoms of Fabry disease can be treated with medication.
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.
Biologic rhythms, or biorhythms, are how our bodies respond to the regular phases of the sun, moon, and seasons. A medical chronobiologist studies how the "body clock" or biorhythms affect diseases and how the body clock responds to treatment of diseases and conditions at different times of the day.
Cholesterol occurs naturally in the body. High blood cholesterol levels increase a person's risk of developing heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, TIAs, and more. In addition to medication (fibrates, statins, bile acid sequestrants, and niacin), lifestyle changes can be made to lower blood cholesterol levels
Vitamins and exercise can lower your risk for heart attack and heart disease. Folic acid, vitamins, and homocysteine levels are interconnected and affect your risk for heart disease or heart attack. Antioxidants and exercise also play a key role in heart attack and heart disease prevention. Lower your risk factors for heart disease and heart attack by lowering cholesterol, lowering blood pressure, diabetes prevention, and smoking cesssation.
Smoking increases the risk of heart disease in women and men. Nicotine in cigarettes decrease oxygen to the heart, increases blood pressure, blood clots, and damages coronary arteries. Learn how to quit smoking today, to prolong your life.
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