Cardiologist Answers Heart Questions From Twitter | Tech Support | WIRED

Cardiologist Dr. Sunil Rao answers your questions about the heart from Twitter. How do you measure your maximum heart rate? Is broken heart syndrome real? What is cholesterol? Can low dose aspirin help prevent heart attacks? Answers to these questions and many more await-it's Heart Support.
Check out www.PracticalClinicalSkills.com for lessons, quizzes, and heart and lung sounds.
Director: Lisandro Perez-Rey
Director of Photography: Constantine Economides
Editor: Richard Trammell
Expert: Dr. Sunil Rao
Line Producer: Joseph Buscemi
Associate Producer: Paul Gulyas; Brandon White
Production Manager: Peter Brunette
Casting Producer: Nicholas Sawyer
Camera Operator: Anne Marie Halovanic
Sound Mixer: Sean Paulsen
Production Assistant: Noah Bierbrier
Post Production Supervisor: Christian Olguin
Post Production Coordinator: Ian Bryant
Supervising Editor: Doug Larsen
Additional Editor: Paul Tael
Assistant Editor: Billy Ward
00:00 Heart Support
00:10 What heart rate is too high?
00:52 Why does the heart "skip a beat?"
01:38 How do EKGs work?
02:47 Can you hear a heartbeat without stethoscope?
03:04 Can you restart the heart with a defibrillator?
03:47 Is broken heart syndrome a real thing?
04:16 What happened to Damar Hamlin?
04:54 Why is resting heart rate still fast in those who exercise regularly?
05:39 What are signs of a heart attack?
06:29 Does low dose aspirin help prevent heart attacks?
07:16 What should I eat for breakfast?
08:18 How does COVID affect the heart?
08:39 What is less risky: stents or bypass surgery?
10:03 What is cholesterol?
10:52 How does the human heart do its thing?
11:41 How does HRV impact our health?
12:34 What is a heart murmur?
13:12 How do pace makers work?
13:56 How do genetics influence risk of heart disease?
14:42 Is there a correlation between gum health and heart health?
15:02 What diet is best for reversing heart disease?
15:27 How do alcohol and cigarettes affect the heart?
16:10 Why is high blood pressure during exercise a good thing?
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[@jopo7996]

Dr. Rao just kept the information flowing. He didn't skip a beat. It's like he knows this stuff by heart.

[@C2-J0]

staaaaahhhppppp

[@jaccrazy21]

Hahaha 😝 😂

[@NancySwass-jv4kp]

Funny

[@beepgoesbonk]

Always a pleasure to see these puns 😂

[@AllenJohn]

You beat me to it by a pulse.

[@tonictechz]

we're slowly completing the interviews for all of the organs in the human body

[@LeastTresCharLargo]

Spleen Support

[@LzaM-fp3ww]

COVID weakin the heart? What does the vape illness do?

[@Itsokaytoleaveyourdoginahotcar]

skin support when? Oh wait is that just a dermatologist

[@PonyBoy1776]

Just wanna give a shoutout to all our hearts for keeping us alive throughout the years

[@AtomizerX]

Truly the goat of all organs

[@LzaM-fp3ww]

They wanted me on blood pressure pills, I took 3 -4 cloves of garlic a day, A shot of apple cider vinegar, Blood pressure, lower than it ever have been:;) not everyone can have garlic& vinegar, depending on their medication....:)

[@ourcorrectopinions6824]

haha. nice one, pony boy.

[@Dasyati]

i shouted out to my heart once and it stopped to look back and wave. big mistake

[@Seanmmvi]

Did anyone else feel like their heart was going to explode while watching this?

[@Jmvars]

I was eating pizza and felt like throwing up, like I really should not be eating this pizza.

[@argentandrold5732]

I hate watching hearts beat for some reason

[@crispieebacon7855]

No

[@user-rw1ti1vm5i]

Yes. I shouldn't have watched this lol

[@vespertough]

Yes😮

[@Zerbey]

High blood pressure truly is a silent killer. I thought I was having migraines due to my IT job and too much screen time. Then one day I had the most blinding headache of my life and chest pains, I just knew something was off so went to the ER. By BP was 220/140! The doctor said it was a miracle I hadn't had a stroke already. With medication, back to the normal 120/80, and I can't remember the last time I had a migraine. Check your blood pressure often.

[@jakeaurod]

Same. My neighbor, who was studying to become a Physicians Assistant, wanted to practice on his neighbors. He was shocked at my BP, which was also 220/140. He told me to go see a doctor as soon as possible. I asked if he thought I should be in the hospital. He said he thought I should be dead. The following week I saw a doctor and started hypertension meds... at 26 years old.

[@senri329]

Had a somewhat similar experience. Was working and had the most excruciating headache in my life so far that lasted for about 10 minutes IIRC. It was then that I started taking my medication regularly and never had headaches since.

[@Itsokaytoleaveyourdoginahotcar]

Glad it went smoothly for you or smooth enough.

[@RBzee112]

Check your fasting glucose and A1c. High blood sugar causes your blood vessels to stiffen, which makes your BP rise.

[@Zerbey]

@@RBzee112 My blood sugars are fine, just had my annual physical and they checked all that, but thanks for the suggestion!

[@lmo7724]

I had a heart attack a year ago and went into ventricular fibrillation in the ER. The doctors did CPR and then used the defibrillator to shock me back to life. Shout out to electricity and the interventional cardiologist ❤ for saving my life.

[@justayoutuber1906]

Do Amish allow the use of defibrillators?

[@VNavale]

You are really lucky to be alive. Ventricular fibrillation is fatal without immediate medical attention and defibrillator.

[@coltenwhite7494]

@lmo7724 I have a question what did you see in that time span?

[@lmo7724]

@@coltenwhite7494 I had a dream that I was surrounded by clowns. I believe that I was just starting to wake up and it was actually the uniformed staff that were surrounding me when they took out the breathing tube.

[@JillKnapp]

I'm really happy they fixed you up and that you're ok. ♥️

[@Oxibase]

This presenter did such a great job of keeping the medical jargon to a minimum to keep all of the content very accessible to those not versed in the language of medicine. Well done!

[@FcoEnriquePerez]

What I'm so glad is that he did mention there's good and bad cholesterol. Is infuriating when people think that all cholesterol is bad and are scared of food that do nothing but good.

[@12thDecember]

I wish someone had asked about panic attacks and why it feels like you're having a heart attack, because I would love to hear his explanation for it. Other than that, the questions were great and his answers were thorough but easy to understand. Dr. Rao seems to be a super nice guy, and his patients and colleagues are lucky to have him.

[@rjrnj1]

Think of the "Flight, Fight, or Freeze response." Your heart beats like a heart attack because during an anxiety attack, the primordial part of your brain senses danger (real or not) and releases adrenalin to prepare you to flee, right, or freeze. A quick release of adrenalin will cause your heart to beat so fast, we (yes, I, too, have anxiety) we feel like our heart will beat out of our chests. Hope this helps.

[@12thDecember]

@@rjrnj1 Thank you ♥

[@Doctors_TARDIS]

People do die of a broken heart. The husband of one of the Uvalde teachers died of a broken heart a few days after the school shooting.

[@harjitkumar917]

that's true. i've heard a lot of stories about old couples who die just weeks or months apart. even if the one who was left behind (initially) didn't have any disease.

[@lgao]

This is so sad. 😢 RIP

[@nijego]

Idk thinking about my heart kinda freaks me out. There's something creepy about this beating machine that can just randomly stop working and end your life. It makes you remember how extremely fragile your body is actually. Whenever I think about it I feel like I'll have a heart attack now

[@michete]

True but also remember how resilient the body is and practically self-healing in a lot of ways!

[@KMBence]

Sooo real😭😭😭

[@Jmvars]

What freaks me out is your heart needs to keep going non-stop for 70+ years (in developed countries). When you eat, sleep, exercise, your heart needs to keep going or you die. To me it's become so absurd that I just no longer think about it. It just keeps on beating and I'm cheering it on.

[@she-hulkSMASHES]

Huh, I was actually marveling at how intricate and complex our bodies are, and how everything is connected to keep us alive.

[@KristenRowenPliske]

@@she-hulkSMASHES I’m an RN & I am still amazed at all the mysterious, marvelous, interesting & gross things our bodies can do!

[@coinbot174]

That's the first time he's ever worn that jacket.

[@chiragnk602]

Smooth af. Very good delivery

[@cobracommander4378]

This doctor is very good

[@tateschell4761]

I love how cardiologists always refer to pacemaker batteries being so small. I’m NOT a small person- 200lbs and 6’1, I got my pacemaker at 19 (I’m 21 now) and that thing feels massive inside your body. The one I have is even considered a new and small model (Medtronic Azure). I’m an avid rock climber, and I frequently have to skip routes because my pacemaker literally limits the way I can move. It slips around under my skin when I change clothes. You can see it through my skin. It might feel small outside of your body in your hand, but when it’s under your skin, it makes a huge impact on day-to-day function, especially for an active, younger person. Think of having a tiny shard of glass in your foot. Metrically, it’s a small item, but it causes MASSIVE pain and discomfort, and SEVERELY limits your bodily function. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. With pacemakers come leads, which are thick, long metal wires that extend deep into your thoracic cavity. They are literally screwed into the tissue of your heart. They shock you. You can feel it. In some people, the leads sit on nerves that stimulate your diagram and cause non-stop hiccuping, coughing, and abdominal twitching. It’s uncomfortable and high risk. There’s so much more to it than just a battery.

[@mgooding8]

Ugh. My partner passed away in December at 39 of an aortic dissection. In front of me. I had to watch this even though I really really didn’t want to.

[@VNavale]

Aortic dissection has a 50% mortality. Sorry for your loss. In the UK, where I live, now there is a screening program for aortic aneurysm.

[@whiskeywolfgang]

I'm so sorry for your loss. I wish you all the best in your healing 💕

[@Scents4em]

Oh heavens, I am so very sorry for your loss. Sending you warm thoughts ❤

[@mgooding8]

@@VNavale yeah, I’m in the US and he didn’t have insurance for a long time and apparently had high blood pressure

[@Jvaldes609]

[Incoming Dad joke] Glad the doctor had this heart-to-heart with us.

[@chaychabee]

Yeeeeeah I think this is one of those instances where being blissfully unaware of what’s going on inside my heart is probably for the best because now I’m super aware of my heart and that’s got me really anxious.

[@clavate]

Even though speaks super fast and all new information, he is extremely eloquent and easy to understand 😮

[@cjtzioumis686]

Excellent. Very clear and concise, really nice delivery.

[@alitzzy]

This actually had mostly great questions, I'm impressed. Great answers, as well. Thank you!

[@adzizi]

I love how he answers the questions in the best comprehensible way as possible.

[@missmina1]

That was great. I loved watching him answer all these questions. Please have him back.

[@loveforeignaccents]

Appreciate all the info; thanks so much!!

[@jadehamelin9825]

Love these videos ! Learning so much 🙌🏼

[@SoulPhoenixFire]

@14:35 Just had a SCAD (spontaneous coronary artery dissection) happen last December. I’ve been recovering ever since and going to cardiac physical therapy. It was sudden, unexplained, and the cardiologists at my hospital were baffled and fascinated by my case. 29 female with extremely high troponin, presenting symptoms of myocarditis (heart inflammation-but found only on one side of my heart),and no ekg problems really tripped them up. I did have HBP (controlled with meds) before, and now am on a massive dose of other BP meds + blood thinners. What a strange life! Keep your heart healthy all ❤️

[@diannepoole3395]

Just excellent ! Dr. Rao is great as a teacher !

[@x__junaid__x]

This was so much fun, didn’t want this guy to stop talking! Loved it ♥️✨

[@RobertEskew]

Excellent Q&A. Thanks. Dr. Rao is a keeper!

[@JillKnapp]

You definitely picked the right guy for this video. Thanks Dr. Rao! Really great questions and super-helpful, clear answers. He seems like a really solid dude. 👍

[@GigaChadow]

Love this kind of content! If you need a PT to do this kinda thing I would love to get involved! Regardless, keep up the great content!

[@TheSektor13]

Great lecture, very clean and understandable

[@ysitrim88]

Thanks Doc ! Very informative video

[@thehomeschoolinglibrarian]

My mom was diagnosed with a broken heart twice and the second time she died. Now she had also nearly died of the flu the year before and was a smoker starting when she was a teen,probably had anxiety and recently had dental implants put in due to gum disease. So don't smoke and take care of your mental health and your teeth. My mom was not that old being only a few months shy of 67.

[@garrettshelton5788]

This guy was the best at breaking down complex topics I’ve seen on here

[@cakeisavegatable]

We need to be taught more about psychology the fact that my psyche could cause heart issues is frightening

[@jugglingbeast]

This warmed my heart.

[@jakeaurod]

Cockles?

[@priyanshere]

Need more of this kind

[@douglasnelson3569]

Guys, you are knocking it out the park with this series! Thank you! :)

[@qendresashillova]

This was refreshing.

[@RoyMatzem]

Fantastic video. This made a lot impact me

[@KMBence]

Great job to the Dr! Would’ve loved to hear about low blood pressure !

[@bbvieiralove]

Very grateful for my cardiologist and my pacemaker. Got my first one when I was 18 and another when I was 32 ❤

[@austin65432]

This guy’s fantastic!

[@saleena9820]

thank u wired for ur educational videos❤

[@dragon_deeeez8158]

I had my second aortic valve replacement and a pacemaker installed recently 😂 the algorithm is getting serious!

[@Scents4em]

Sending you wishes for improved health! ❤

[@k0pe1177]

This guys a good teacher

[@quickSilverXMen]

Thanks man

[@AthleticEducation]

13:46 my grandma had a pacemaker in her 70s. Lived into her late 80s. Only died a few years ago. Miss you grandma

[@ken67115]

I thought it Was Mike Epps on the Thumbnail

[@KuboF]

Very important episode of Tech Support! Thank you WIRED and Dr. Rao 🙏

[@maar5929]

My resting heartbeat used to be in the 90's. Due to migraines, I started a low tyramine diet, and now my resting heartbeat is in the upper 60's.

[@user-nd3dc1fl7j]

He's an excellent teacher.

[@blackfrost273industries4]

The nicotine to blood vessels thing is helpful

[@marinanjer4293]

Heart : (murmurs). Lung (who though the fight was over): TF you said??!

[@JayasuryaParthiban]

Wow, the flow you articulate informations regarding heart health is mindblowing. Hoping for more videos Doc Rao!

[@s.r6331]

The question in the thumbnail 😂

[@jonasdominguezrodriguez1143]

Love it ❤

[@alexithymia6288]

I just turned 27 and I've been dealing with mild hypertension for a little while now, mainly after I've had a lot of caffeine or alcohol or a very salty meal, and I can only really feel it for 30-60seconds after a hard sneeze. My mom and dad both have HBP, but surely I shouldn't be experiencing it this early...probably has a lot to do with my poor diet and general lack of exercise. What are some good foods and exercises to start looking at getting into?

[@wolfheart5408]

Humans are incredible too

[@MagneticTurtl]

2:21 Not the EKG being upside down 😭

[@Lily-ed2sc]

Yay! We are getting more experts on this show 😁

[@kykybabyk]

Future PharmD Student here, would love it if @WIRED did a Pharmacy support with a Pharmacist answering questions.

[@laibasayyed9627]

So good video.

[@steubenbreunden]

Please get an expert on the Mitochondria I'd really like to better understand how the Mitochrondia works.

[@RUBBER_BULLET]

Forget it, you're not a Jedi.

[@xaniella4859]

its the powerhouse of the cell

[@marktyler3381]

Foreign invaders

[@MrAminalCrackers]

Google it

[@PRM420]

The mitochondria is the the part house of the cell.

[@SeeNightingale]

I so agree with your heart rate recovery improving. My heart rate recovers now within 1.5 to 2 mins it's really amazing because I go VERY LONG periods without working out. The body is amazing and it remembers everything even if the brain doesn't bring it to thought.

[@phs125]

One important thing about cholesterol that most people don't understand. There's 3 different meanings to the word cholesterol. 1. The actual molecule called cholesterol. It's not harmful. It's a molecule produced by your body. And it has some functions. So any food item that says "zero cholesterol" means absolutely nothing. Your body will produce it anyway 2. HDL, LDL, and VLDL. There are lipoproteins. They are a complex thing which has one component in them being the actual cholesterol molecule. But that has nothing to do with them. HDL is good for your body, LDL Is bad for your body, and VLDL is very bad for your body. All made in your body in response to your diet. But for some reason, they're also called cholesterols. 3. The actual food items. There are some molecules in your body which will increase your blood levels of LDL and VLDL. Mainly, saturated fat, and trans fat. Most oily things have some saturated fat. Synthetic things like margerine have a lot of trans fat. These things will increase your LDL. and VLDL. and are harmful for your body. They are not at all cholesterols. But will cause issues in body...

[@DudeWhoSaysDeez]

He is a great teacher

[@Katiedora122]

As someone with multiple stents in my heart, this is the first time actually seeing how it works😅 I was born with Tetralogy of Fallot and needed open heart surgery to repair a hole and a blockage immediately, but when they were putting in a stent a year later, the balloon didn't inflate and I wound up needing another open surgery. I had successful stents put in when I was 3 and then 14 when I basically finished growing, and that thing has been hanging in there for about 20 years now. I got a killer heart murmur, though!!

[@Scents4em]

You are one tough person! I hope that heart keeps beating strongly for decades and decades more ❤️

[@StrongMed]

Dr. Rao, in general this was great. But why perpetuate the myth that the normal heart rate is 60-100 bpm??? There is no more pervasive myth in medicine which is so thoroughly contradicted by the available evidence! (If one needs to pick a single range for a normal resting heart rate in all adults, 50-90 bpm would be much more accurate.)

[@maibrown2755]

Man this guy is so cool!!

[@jasmineanahera]

I have something called POTS, so I have to have more salt/sodium. (My doctor said it was the only time they were going to prescribe me chips/crisps!) My dad has a genetic heart condition which has caused him to have multiple heart attacks. He’s had 4 stents and a valve replacement. And my mum had a ‘widow maker’ heart attack and lived to tell the tale. It’s been a crazy few years!

[@JordanJVarghese]

2:47 Hearing your heartbeat (AKA pulsatile tinnitus) can be due to a number of underlying conditions, some of which can be life-threatening. If you are experiencing this symptom, please get evaluated by an otologist (ear doctor) before writing it off.

[@shetlandsheep3081]

When I had ovarian cancer it caused DVT and then pul embolism in the lungs, and then a blood clot reached my eye causing temporary partial blindness in one eye - and since that should be physically impossible it was only then that I learned that the hole in the heart babies have before birth didnt close up completely in my case - apparently thats not uncommon but it took 50 years to find out - I’m doubly lucky to be here 4 years later I reckon

[@BAHO2d]

I can't be the only one, who started to feel their heart beat while watching the video, right?

[@beverlydavidson6749]

I had a triple bypass . Stents were an options but surgery was better because I am immunocompromised due to transplant.

[@mainly_marvel]

brooo the ep of grey's with broken heart syndrome was so good

[@sarahfolger5232]

Thanks, doc! Vtach patient here. We don't get as much attention as the afibbers. 😂

[@Rrix36]

8:18 Ok Betty!

[@TheNorwoodCat]

Ironman triathlete and marathoner..... Was always peeved that my heart beat was lowest at 72. Now I understand that. Back then I was mad! LOL

[@justayoutuber1906]

I never run or go to a gym and mine is 62

[@travelnewbie]

I love these types of videos! I am learning so much about these topics.

[@dx243_]

1:31 him talking about heartbeats me: "rhythm doctor moment"

[@MikeSchinlaub]

My dad has a complete blockage somewhere around his heart. His heart actually grew a bypass around it, possibly when he was still very young.

[@lolacharel]

My adhd loves this guy 😂

[@eric_ovie]

I didn't expect him to sound like that 💀

[@brandonbrooks898]

When he said " @Bettyphuck9 asks.." That was kinda funny

[@B.H.56]

I took my BP while watching this - 100/60. Way less than it is in the doctor's office, which is why I am on meds.

[@h.Freeman]

Can a stent become dislodged?

[@nllzharry]

watching this with extreme heart anxiety. wish me luck

[@SOOKIE42069]

everybody in my family has extraordinarily high cholesterol regardless of diet and exercise regimen. My cholesterol is finally normal on statins but my triglycerides are still nuts. sadly it doesn't seem like there's a good medication for triglycerides

[@ravenpapa27]

Thanks for the resting heart rate check, mine is 80 BPM

[@WeddingVegetables]

Mine is around 40. Oops.

[@justayoutuber1906]

yikes. that is high

[@beetlejuiceisreal238]

​@@justayoutuber1906mine is 110???

[@halo3dia]

​@@beetlejuiceisreal238 did you check it after running or having a coffee? It can take a little while for the heart to settle down to resting, and a post-caffeine heart is not resting

[@beetlejuiceisreal238]

@@halo3dia i was walking around earlier, so I checked again while resting and it was somewhere between 80-90 :)

[@davidlape3325]

Was diagnosed with AFib. Fun times.😢

[@Scents4em]

I’m here today because of a group of superhero cardiologists who patched me up after myocarditis almost took me out (thank you COVID 🙄). The heart is an amazing organ! I do everything I can to care for mine now.

[@TURDFERGUSON135]

Obviously the cardio knows more than me so I’m not correcting just clarifying. Regarding defibrillation, it doesn’t restart the heart per se. Like he said you can’t shock a flat line. Only when it’s fibrillating. When it’s quivering like he said and we shock it. It’s not restarting it. It’s essentially stopping it and hoping the hearts regular pacemaker kicks in. Does not always happen.

[@halowaffles]

14:46 So what you're saying is dental insurance should automatically be tied into health insurance as one cost

[@MurseSamson]

Great takeaways as an RN. Answered a few outstanding questions and deeper meanings behind certain folk tales I've heard. Thanks for the discussion Doc 🫀

[@thebomb78]

I'm here 2 weeks after an aortic valve replacement. Got a mechanical valve ticking away inside my heart right now 😁

[@supermonster54]

I know a person who has had a hole in her heart since babyhood and I've always wondered how that works. Now that she's older it's closed though.

[@uchihaavenger2068]

Can we have medication support with a pharmacist?

[@saiken811]

Omg he looks like the actor who played the King of Dorne in GOT!

[@novy1198]

Ngl im kinda concerned why there wasnt a question about stinging heart, during the exercise or rest, many people have that