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Heart Health

Is Your Heart Trying to Tell You Something?

Posted February 24, 2026

AFib signs and symptoms you shouldn’t ignore Your heart’s rhythm plays a critical role in keeping blood flowing efficiently throughout your body. When that rhythm is disrupted, it can be a sign of an underlying condition that deserves attention. One such condition – atrial fibrillation (AFib) – is common, often overlooked, and associated with serious complications, including stroke and heart failure. Understanding the signs, symptoms, and risk factors of AFib can help you...

What’s Changed in Blood Pressure Care – and Why It Matters

Posted February 17, 2026

Blood pressure has a way of creeping up when we’re not paying attention. Subtle shifts in temperature, diet, stress and activity level can quietly push numbers higher, even for people who feel otherwise healthy. If you already live with high blood pressure, you may find yourself paying closer attention to your numbers and reinforcing healthy habits like staying warm, choosing low-sodium foods, keeping active and drinking plenty of water. But here’s something you might not...

Pulmonary Embolism or Heart Attack? How to Recognize the Symptoms

Posted February 03, 2026

Some medical conditions can feel like they come on suddenly and can also be a frightening experience. Two conditions that fit that description are pulmonary embolism (PE) and heart attack. Understanding these two conditions and their symptoms can help you know when it’s the right time to act fast and seek emergency care. What is a pulmonary embolism? In the simplest of terms, a pulmonary embolism is a harmful blockage in an artery of the lungs caused by a blood clot. While...

Get Your Fitness on Track: Summa Health answers your top questions about fitness trackers

Posted October 09, 2025

Looking to take control of your health and fitness goals? Wearable fitness trackers are changing the way we move, monitor progress, and stay motivated—whether you’re just starting out or already active. In this blog, Summa Health answers your top questions about fitness trackers and shares expert tips to help you maximize their benefits for a healthier lifestyle.

Understanding Myocarditis After COVID-19

Posted May 12, 2025

As we continue to navigate the long-term effects of COVID-19, one condition that has raised concerns is myocarditis – an inflammation of the heart muscle. While rare, COVID-19-related myocarditis has been observed at significantly higher rates compared to pre-pandemic levels. Here’s what you need to know about how COVID-19 can affect the heart, its symptoms, risks and how to protect yourself. How Does Myocarditis Affect the Body? When you have myocarditis, your heart muscle...

"Life's Essential 8": Habits to Boost Your Cardiovascular Health

Posted February 24, 2025 by Brianna French, M.D.

Maintaining good cardiovascular health can help you enjoy a longer, healthier life. Cardiovascular health refers to the overall well-being of the heart and blood vessels, ensuring they function efficiently to circulate blood, oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. Strong cardiovascular health reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke and other serious conditions. Heart disease remains a leading cause of death worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. In the...

Atrial Fibrillation [Podcast]

Posted February 17, 2025

Join us for a discussion on atrial fibrillation (AFib) with Dr. Meet Patel, a cardiologist specializing in cardiac electrophysiology at Summa Health. We explore the causes, prevalence, and traditional treatments of AFib, and discuss a new treatment method called pulsed field ablation (PFA), which offers a safer and faster alternative to traditional ablation techniques.

7 Simple Steps to an Accurate Blood Pressure Reading

Posted February 17, 2025 by Israel Cajigas, M.D.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, can be a silent disease — without any warning signs or symptoms — and many people may not even realize they have it. But without treatment, high blood pressure can greatly increase your risk for a heart attack and stroke. Monitoring your blood pressure is the only way to know if you have high blood pressure. That’s why it’s important to check it regularly — at every healthcare visit and between appointments at home — to be proactive...

Want to Quit Smoking? Boost Your Success with Smoking Cessation Programs and Nicotine Replacement Medication

Posted June 03, 2024 by Nicole Piriak, RRT, CTTS

It’s never too late to quit smoking or nicotine use — no matter your age or how long you’ve been using tobacco or vaping products. Believe it or not, you’ll reap the health benefits within the first day of quitting. In just 24 hours after quitting, your risk of a heart attack decreases. Within three months after quitting, your circulation, lung function and stamina improve. The health benefits continue to get better the longer you go smoke-free: After one year: Your...

Cardiopulmonary Health and Rehabilitation [Podcast]

Posted April 17, 2024 by Danielle Greiner, Clinical Exercise Physiologist and Bianca Grover, Fitness Specialist at the Summa Health Wellness Center

Join Bianca Grover, Fitness Specialist at the Summa Health Wellness Center and Danielle Greiner, Clinical Exercise Physiologist, to discuss Cardiopulmonary Health and Rehabilitation.

How Low Can You Go: Is Low Blood Pressure Dangerous?

Posted February 27, 2023 by Smita I Negi, MD

Each time you visit a doctor’s office, your blood pressure is probably taken. This is one of the many vital sign checks that helps your provider keep tabs on your health. Just as some people are prone to heart disease based on their genetics and family history, blood pressure is an important predictor of future heart disease. While the risks associated with high blood pressure are well known, blood pressure that’s too low also can cause problems. Blood pressure is the force...

4 Ways to Balance Your Blood Sugar - No Prescription Required!

Posted December 05, 2022

Balancing blood sugar isn’t only for people with diabetes. Lowering blood sugar can help prevent a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is a growing problem in this country. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) estimates almost half of Americans battle high blood sugar on a daily basis. According to the ADA, about 11 percent of Americans have diabetes, while another nearly 35 percent have prediabetes. People with high blood sugar, known as hyperglycemia, are at an...

8 Common Myths About Blood Donation Debunked

Posted September 13, 2022

Donating blood is a life-saving gift. Every two seconds, someone in this country needs blood, according to the American Red Cross. While it’s a fact that your blood donation can save more than one life, you may be fearful of it because of several myths surrounding blood donation. Summa Health debunks 8 common myths about donating blood to ease your mind and encourage you to give this year. There is always a need for donors. Blood has a short shelf life, so maintaining...

Blood Clots What You Need to Know and How to Help Prevent Them

Posted August 23, 2022

When you cut yourself and injure a blood vessel, blood clotting is an important process that seals your wound and prevents excessive bleeding. Once your injury is healed, the body naturally dissolves the blood clot. Blood clots can also form inside the blood vessels without an injury and do not dissolve naturally. This can become life-threatening and cause long-term effects, such as breathing problems or chronic swelling. Any blood clot that forms in your veins or arteries...

A Guide To High Blood Pressure To Help You Lower Your Numbers

Posted May 23, 2022

Reviewed February 2025 There’s good reason why blood pressure readings are taken first at all routine doctor visits. Almost half of American adults have high blood pressure, known as hypertension, according to the American Heart Association. It’s a very common condition, especially as you age. Your blood pressure is determined both by the amount of blood your heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries. The more blood your heart pumps and the...

Atrial Fibrillation... What you should know

Posted October 25, 2021

Atrial fibrillation (also called AFib) is a chaotic, or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), at least 2.7 million Americans are currently living with AFib and it is estimated that by 2030 more than 12 million Americans will have AFib. With normal electrical conduction, impulses originate from an area in the top right corner of the heart...

7 Tips to living better with lupus

Posted May 31, 2021

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disorder where the immune system’s antibodies mistakenly attack the body’s healthy cells. Because it can affect nearly any organ in the body, symptoms vary widely and can include: Fatigue Fever Skin rashes, such as a malar rash that stretches across the cheeks and bridge of the nose (also known as a butterfly rash) Joint pain Mouth ulcers Hair loss Organ complications, such as inflammation in the lining of the heart, abdomen or lungs, and...

What is angina and how is it treated?

Posted March 22, 2021

In times of intense stress, does it ever feel like someone is squeezing your heart? Do you feel pain or numbness down your left arm? Does it seem like you get indigestion each time you exercise? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be suffering from angina. Angina occurs when the heart muscle does not receive enough oxygen-rich blood. The pain can be mild or severe and often follows exertion or stress. Angina is not a disease, but instead a symptom of a more...

The Effects of COVID-19 on Heart Health [Podcast]

Posted March 15, 2021 by Dr. Roger Chaffee

Listen to this episode of the Healthy Vitals Podcast featuring Roger Chaffee, MD.

The Modern Guide to Heart Health [Podcast]

Posted September 02, 2020 by Peter Bittenbender, MD

Dr. Peter Bittenbender shares his insight on the modern guide to heart health.

What Causes High Blood Pressure?

Posted August 13, 2019

Almost half of all adults in the United States have high blood pressure, but many are not aware of it. High blood pressure is dangerous and can be a silent killer if gone untreated. That’s why it’s so important to understand what causes it and how to keep it controlled. First – what is high blood pressure? In order to survive, your tissues and organs need oxygenated blood to circulate throughout the body. When your heart beats, it creates pressure that pushes blood through a...

Lowering Your Blood Pressure, Naturally

Posted October 12, 2018

Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) So you just found out that you have high blood pressure (HBP). Well, you’re not alone. Almost half of adults in the U.S. have it – and most don’t even know it. Fortunately, hypertension – the medical term for HBP – can typically be controlled with the right medication and lifestyle changes. In fact, lifestyle modifications like healthier eating and regular exercise may be able to do more than just help medication manage HBP....

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