My doctor says that I have to do a better job of watching salt intake, and take medication every day because my blood pressure is high when he checks it. I have no symptoms, and I feel really good, and just don't really want to take medication if I can avoid it. If I have no symptoms, then why should I be taking medicine?
Obviously, you don't know the facts about what doctors commonly call high blood pressure. They call it "the silent killer." The reason for this is that unless the blood pressure is very high, there are no symptoms associated with it.
Aortic Dissection
by Dean Heller MD February 10th, 2012 | Ask the Doctor
One of my favortie actors was John Ritter. I know he died suddenly of an aortic aneurysm while he was on the set of his show, and I heard his wife talking about the symptoms which seemed relatively vague. Is that usually the case with this medical problem? What should I be looking for? I am worried.
You are close; he actually died of an aortic dissection, which is a tear in the inner lining of the aorta. This is the largest artery in the body, which comes right off the heart and supplies blood to the entire body. It is frequently associated with an
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You are close; he actually died of an aortic dissection, which is a tear in the inner lining of the aorta. This is the largest artery in the body, which comes right off the heart and supplies blood to the entire body. It is frequently associated with an
HPV and Cervical Cancer
by Dean Heller MD February 3rd, 2012 | Ask the Doctor
My OB/GYN doctor told me that I have been exposed to HPV virus, and this puts me at risk for cervical cancer. How did I contract this, and what should I do about it?
HPV, or human papilloma virus, is a virus that is contracted through sexual contact. Men can carry this virus and remain asymptomatic. Not all women who are exposed will develop cervical cancer, so the most important thing is to follow-up with your gynecologist for regular exams, including a PAP smear. For those not exposed, there is a new vaccine which prevents you from contracting the virus, and thus can lower your risk of
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HPV, or human papilloma virus, is a virus that is contracted through sexual contact. Men can carry this virus and remain asymptomatic. Not all women who are exposed will develop cervical cancer, so the most important thing is to follow-up with your gynecologist for regular exams, including a PAP smear. For those not exposed, there is a new vaccine which prevents you from contracting the virus, and thus can lower your risk of
Pericarditis
by Dean Heller MD January 27th, 2012 | Ask the Doctor
I am 32 years old and had chest pain a few weeks ago that I thought felt like what people describe for a heart attack, so I went to the doctor. He told me it was not a heart attack, but it was inflammation around the heart due to a viral infection that I recently had. He treated me with medication, and I felt better for a week or so, but now the symptoms have recurred. Should I see another doctor; could he have given me the wrong diagnosis?
Your doctor probably told you that you have pericarditis. This is
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Your doctor probably told you that you have pericarditis. This is
