This study found that in people with a left ventricular ejection fraction of 50%, the outcome was similar for single, double, and triple vessel disease regardless of whether the patient received bypass surgery or medical therapy.
Coronary artery surgery study (CASS): a randomized trial of coronary artery bypass surgery. Survival data.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Heston Achieves #1 National Rankings on HealthTap
HealthTap.com has recognized me as the #1 physician in the U.S. for the topics of "Perfusion Scan" and "Health Statistics." I am also #1 in the Seattle, Washington area (this extends up to Bellingham) for the topics of "Diabetes", "Diabetes Risks" and "Heart Diseases."
These rankings are arrived at in part by participation on their website answering patient questions. This is a quick way to ask physicians and other medical professionals quick and basic questions on health care topics. You can view my latest rankings and questions I've answered at http://www.healthtap.com/heston
These rankings are arrived at in part by participation on their website answering patient questions. This is a quick way to ask physicians and other medical professionals quick and basic questions on health care topics. You can view my latest rankings and questions I've answered at http://www.healthtap.com/heston
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Heston Family Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner
We have started preparing for Thanksgiving, and as usual we begin with a deep appreciation for all the gifts we have received from God, as demonstrated through all of the kindness others have given us over the years and in particular this last year.
There are so many people I am thankful for this year. My family has shown great kindness, in particular my wife and children but also my extended family, from the Hestons to the Wades to the Mercks and the Younkers. It is so nice to know that when the chips are down, that the family can and does come together to support one another. This year with the passing of my mother, the pain was softened and made bearable through the love from my family.
The people I work with have been wonderfully fantastic. At FCN and Peace Health St. Joseph's Medical Center, the doctors have always stepped up to help with challenging patients, and the nurses, techs, front office, and admin staff have once again this year gone above and beyond to support one another. We had one member of our team go through a profound personal tragedy, but once again, through the love from our team, this person has so far been able to manage and hopefully find some deeper meaning from the event. The Bellingham community is so open, friendly, and loving. I am deeply thankful for being part of such a loving community.
At Mountain Health Care, the Shoshone Community Health Clinic, and Shoshone Medical Center, I have been given the great privilege of being part of a deeply committed team of individuals who always go above and beyond to help the sick in north Idaho. These individuals have given me inspiration, and a deep humility. I am so grateful to work alongside these dedicated, highly skilled individuals that continue to bring cheerfulness and enthusiasm to their jobs.
This year I have also had the great pleasure of continued work with the International American University Medical College and College of Arts and Sciences. What a bunch of fun people. They make learning fun, and teaching even more rewarding. The students especially give me that great thrill of academic adventure, of learning valuable ideas that will improve people's lives.
My colleagues at Oakstone Medical's Practical Reviews in Nuclear Medicine once again have given me another year of intellectual challenges. This group of people helps keep strong my enthusiasm for learning the latest developments in medicine.
In the community where I live I am greatly blessed with knowing such kind and friendly individuals who not only do great work but also show a strong community spirit of volunteering. From Rotary to my church to my neighbors to the people at the stores where I shop, just about everyone gives me a smile, or a small encouragement, or a reason to laugh. The above-and-beyond attitude is alive and well, and I am thankful for that.
And finally, it has been a wonderful year of meeting new people online. Thanks to my editors at Yahoo! Contributor Network - they have really helped me write better. My Twitter friends always have interesting, thought provoking comments, and my Facebook friends continue to keep me entertained with great pictures and updates on some of the simple things in life, like a high school football game or a nice dinner. I've also just started getting to know people on the HealthTap community, and this has been an eye opening experience that has made me a better physician.
And of course, I am thankful to you, the reader, for continuing to stay interested and for giving me the feedback I need to become a better Internet physician.
Here's an outline of what my family will do this year to continue our Thanksgiving celebration:
Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner According to the Heston Family Tradition
There are so many people I am thankful for this year. My family has shown great kindness, in particular my wife and children but also my extended family, from the Hestons to the Wades to the Mercks and the Younkers. It is so nice to know that when the chips are down, that the family can and does come together to support one another. This year with the passing of my mother, the pain was softened and made bearable through the love from my family.
The people I work with have been wonderfully fantastic. At FCN and Peace Health St. Joseph's Medical Center, the doctors have always stepped up to help with challenging patients, and the nurses, techs, front office, and admin staff have once again this year gone above and beyond to support one another. We had one member of our team go through a profound personal tragedy, but once again, through the love from our team, this person has so far been able to manage and hopefully find some deeper meaning from the event. The Bellingham community is so open, friendly, and loving. I am deeply thankful for being part of such a loving community.
At Mountain Health Care, the Shoshone Community Health Clinic, and Shoshone Medical Center, I have been given the great privilege of being part of a deeply committed team of individuals who always go above and beyond to help the sick in north Idaho. These individuals have given me inspiration, and a deep humility. I am so grateful to work alongside these dedicated, highly skilled individuals that continue to bring cheerfulness and enthusiasm to their jobs.
This year I have also had the great pleasure of continued work with the International American University Medical College and College of Arts and Sciences. What a bunch of fun people. They make learning fun, and teaching even more rewarding. The students especially give me that great thrill of academic adventure, of learning valuable ideas that will improve people's lives.
My colleagues at Oakstone Medical's Practical Reviews in Nuclear Medicine once again have given me another year of intellectual challenges. This group of people helps keep strong my enthusiasm for learning the latest developments in medicine.
In the community where I live I am greatly blessed with knowing such kind and friendly individuals who not only do great work but also show a strong community spirit of volunteering. From Rotary to my church to my neighbors to the people at the stores where I shop, just about everyone gives me a smile, or a small encouragement, or a reason to laugh. The above-and-beyond attitude is alive and well, and I am thankful for that.
And finally, it has been a wonderful year of meeting new people online. Thanks to my editors at Yahoo! Contributor Network - they have really helped me write better. My Twitter friends always have interesting, thought provoking comments, and my Facebook friends continue to keep me entertained with great pictures and updates on some of the simple things in life, like a high school football game or a nice dinner. I've also just started getting to know people on the HealthTap community, and this has been an eye opening experience that has made me a better physician.
And of course, I am thankful to you, the reader, for continuing to stay interested and for giving me the feedback I need to become a better Internet physician.
Here's an outline of what my family will do this year to continue our Thanksgiving celebration:
Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner According to the Heston Family Tradition
Image Wisely
I just took the Image Wisely pledge to responsibly maximize the benefits of medical imaging. More information on this campaign can be found at http://www.imagewisely.org
Friday, November 16, 2012
Heston Named as a Top 25 Celebrity Doctor on Twitter
Symtrimics has named me as one of the top 25 celebrity doctors on Twitter, stating that "each doctor on this list is worth following, as they all offer information to the medical profession as well as to patients."
The full article is HERE and also on Scribd HERE.
Follow me on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/tomheston - health news
http://www.twitter.com/tomhestonmd - personal tweets
The full article is HERE and also on Scribd HERE.
Follow me on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/tomheston - health news
http://www.twitter.com/tomhestonmd - personal tweets
Monday, November 12, 2012
Most Valuable Player for St Louis University
The results are out, and Tom Heston MD is the most valuable player for St. Louis University School of Medicine on the HealthTap.com medical school competition. St. Louis University is in 72nd position in this international competition featuring medical, dental, osteopathic, and related health schools and universities. As of today, almost 100,000 people have been helped by the St. Louis University Medical School alumni through this competition.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
The ABC's of Good Health
Living a good, healthy life can be facilitated by following this simple "ABC" strategy.
A - ACTIVITY: stay active. Do things. Get regular exercise and take regular breaks if you have a desk job. Any activity seems to be helpful, including gardening, active housework, aerobics, yoga, calisthenics, or weight lifting. Identify activities that you really enjoy, then make it a habit of doing it regularly. Be an "EL-avoider" and take the stairs instead of the elevator whenever you have to go up 1 floor or down 1 to 2 floors. Don't park right next to the store when going shopping, but instead park further away so you get in a short walk there and back. Little things make a difference.
B - BLOOD PRESSURE: monitor your blood pressure and treat it if it is elevated. In most people, it increases slowly and without any symptoms. Usually, when the blood pressure increases slowly, as it does in most people, a person will not have any symptoms, no headaches, no blurred vision, no fatigue, no chest pain, and no palpitations. This means that it is important to get it checked regularly. In a way, blood pressure elevation can be thought of as a similar condition to gray hair or arthritis- most people get it as they age, and very few don't get it. The treatment of high blood pressure currently is usually very simple. There are so many alternative blood pressure medications that most people can go on one that doesn't cause any negative side-effects.
C - CHOLESTEROL: watch your blood cholesterol levels. If they are chronically elevated, your risk of an adverse cardiovascular event such as a heart attack or a stroke is increased. Again, just like blood pressure, an elevated cholesterol level is asymptomatic. You can have elevated cholesterol levels and not even know it. Now, there are some people who believe that cholesterol levels don't matter, I've seen the documentaries myself on Netflix. But the scientific evidence continues to grow and show that lowering elevated cholesterol levels with statin medications reduces the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events.
Want to improve your health and be as healthy as possible? Pay attention the these critically important issues: staying active, controlling your blood pressure, and controlling your cholesterol.
It's as simple as ABC.
A - ACTIVITY: stay active. Do things. Get regular exercise and take regular breaks if you have a desk job. Any activity seems to be helpful, including gardening, active housework, aerobics, yoga, calisthenics, or weight lifting. Identify activities that you really enjoy, then make it a habit of doing it regularly. Be an "EL-avoider" and take the stairs instead of the elevator whenever you have to go up 1 floor or down 1 to 2 floors. Don't park right next to the store when going shopping, but instead park further away so you get in a short walk there and back. Little things make a difference.
B - BLOOD PRESSURE: monitor your blood pressure and treat it if it is elevated. In most people, it increases slowly and without any symptoms. Usually, when the blood pressure increases slowly, as it does in most people, a person will not have any symptoms, no headaches, no blurred vision, no fatigue, no chest pain, and no palpitations. This means that it is important to get it checked regularly. In a way, blood pressure elevation can be thought of as a similar condition to gray hair or arthritis- most people get it as they age, and very few don't get it. The treatment of high blood pressure currently is usually very simple. There are so many alternative blood pressure medications that most people can go on one that doesn't cause any negative side-effects.
C - CHOLESTEROL: watch your blood cholesterol levels. If they are chronically elevated, your risk of an adverse cardiovascular event such as a heart attack or a stroke is increased. Again, just like blood pressure, an elevated cholesterol level is asymptomatic. You can have elevated cholesterol levels and not even know it. Now, there are some people who believe that cholesterol levels don't matter, I've seen the documentaries myself on Netflix. But the scientific evidence continues to grow and show that lowering elevated cholesterol levels with statin medications reduces the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events.
Want to improve your health and be as healthy as possible? Pay attention the these critically important issues: staying active, controlling your blood pressure, and controlling your cholesterol.
It's as simple as ABC.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Dr. Heston #1 National Rankings on HealthTap
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