Heart & Vascular

James Chao is an athlete, so he knows how to strive for something better. A better time in the bike races in which he’s competed. A better level of fitness in his training. So when his energy started to wane, it is unsurprising that he wanted to address it right away in the best way … Read More

If you experience leg pain, your blood vessels may be the last thing on your mind, but the pain may be caused by issues with your circulation. “When and how you experience leg pain is a tell-tale sign of what is causing your pain,” said Antonio Covarrubias, M.D., a vascular and endovascular surgeon at Hoag’s … Read More

You may be one of the millions of people wearing a smartwatch that measures heart rhythm. But do you know what the gadget’s information means? And more importantly, do you know what to do if your watch alerts you to an irregular heartbeat? “If a patient notices that they are experiencing irregular heartbeats, that could … Read More

Robot-assisted surgery has become a more widespread procedure across multiple areas in medicine. Cardiac surgeons have adopted robotic techniques throughout the years due to the benefits the procedure provides. Such examples include reduced muscle cutting, no broken or displaced bones to gain access to the operation site, and reduced recovery time compared with traditional cardiac … Read More

Over dinner, Sonia Jamin’s dad cried tears of joy. When Sonia revealed she was pregnant with her second child, her father was so moved that he wept, laughed and bought wine for the entire restaurant. The following morning found her dad crying again. This time, though, he was terrified. “The next call he gets from … Read More

Diabetes. High blood pressure. A history of smoking. Each of these conditions raise your risk of carotid artery disease, one of the most common causes of ischemic stroke. “Carotid artery disease involves fatty plaque clogging the arteries in your neck that deliver blood to your brain,” said Emaad Farooqui, M.D. a vascular surgeon at Hoag. … Read More

Abi Basu and his wife traveled to India to perform a religious ritual honoring their deceased parents, but it was his own mortality that faced a terrifying threat. Multiple times on the journey, Abi lost his breath for several minutes. At night he awoke, gasping for air. He blacked out on a train platform. He … Read More

Photo: FinisherPix Gina’s heart “paused” twice while she was in the ER with one of the longest atrial fibrillation (Afib) episodes she had ever experienced. It was 2022, and a newly FDA-approved dual chamber leadless (wireless) pacemaker was available through a clinical trial in only a few select sites across the country. Thankfully for Gina, … Read More

Heather shares her story of surviving an aortic dissection and how she supports other survivors who have experienced the same.

Hear how Jean survived and thrived following an aortic emergency at the Jeffrey M. Carlton Heart & Vascular Institute at Hoag.