Love Your Heart: A Cleveland Clinic Podcast Cleveland Clinic Heart & Vascular Institute

April is National Diversity Health Month. This year, the theme is Be the Source for Better Health: Improving Health Outcomes Through Our Cultures, Communities, and Connections. Dr. Lee Kirksey and Sherelle Tucker, Director of Community & Economic Development and Executive Administrator of the Center for Community Health Equity, discuss the importance of diversity in research and clinical trials and address some of the beliefs about participation. 

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of pregnancy complications. Dr. Deirdre Mattina provides an overview of high blood pressure (hypertension) in pregnancy and goals for management. 

Heart failure is a term to describe when your heart is not working as well as it should.  There are many myths and misconceptions around living with and managing heart failure. Dr. Amanda Vest, Section Head of Heart Failure and Transplantation Cardiology, helps sort heart failure myths from facts.

The possibility of needing heart surgery can be overwhelming. Dr. Lars Svensson, Chairman of the Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute, provides a brief overview of what to expect if you need heart surgery. Cleveland Clinic has an advanced cardiovascular surgery department that offers many resources to make this process easier. 

Having a mass in your chest can be a scary diagnosis.  Dr. Monisha Sudarshan provides an overview of what a mediastinal mass could be and what it means for your care.

In November 2023, the renal denervation procedure received FDA approval in the United States. This procedure works to lower blood pressure by cutting off the sympathetic nerves surrounding the renal arteries. Dr. Luke Laffin, co-director for the Center for Blood Pressure Disorders talks about this exciting new option for some patients looking to lower their blood pressure.