Blog

The Good Life Fan Favorite Foods for Game Day

Oklahoma Heart Institute cardiologist Dr. Mathew Good’s wife, Bethany, joins us on the blog today with their family’s favorite game day foods.

In the Good house, fall means OSU football. And the Broncos. And the Royals. And then starting each November, KU basketball. Can you tell we love our sports around here?  Our kids literally wake up on the weekend and ask which team shirt they need to wear that day. Cheering on our teams is definitely a family event. A perfect Saturday would be spent tailgating in Stillwater, but life, busy schedules and three little ones don’t always make... Read More »

Heart Attack more likely in Women with Diabetes than Men with Diabetes

Anyone living with diabetes is at an increased risk of heart disease, whether that be suffering a heart attack or stroke. However, new research finds that women who have diabetes are 40 percent more likely to have a heart attack than men who have diabetes. “Two studies presented at the European Association of the Study of Diabetes (EASD) meeting confirm what we have suspected clinically for some time,” shares Oklahoma Heart Institute endocrinologist Dr. Cristin Bruns. “What is even more astounding is that the increased risk appears to start as young as age 45.”   Dr. Bruns says, although it... Read More »

Cardiovascular MRI at Oklahoma Heart Institute Returns Football Player to Field Senior Year

“I’ve played football my whole life basically,” 17-year old William McKenney shares from his Tulsa home on a humid August afternoon. In just a few short hours, he will return to Booker T. Washington High School for six hours of pre-season football practice. “I love it. You’ve got to love the game to play it. I love the game.” The senior safety doesn’t mind putting in the work. After all, this is arguably the most important season of his career. “After high school I’d like to go on and if I get the opportunity to play college football and move onto the next level and play in the NFL, I’ll... Read More »

The Good Life - Beginning a Yoga Practice

September is Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month, as well as National Yoga Month. Previously on our blog, we have shared what researchers are finding with regards to how a regular yoga practice can help patients with AFib. Today, Bethany Good, Dr. Mathew Good's wife, joins us for another edition of The Good Life with an introduction to yoga for anyone who has been interested in starting a practice. 

Please join us Saturday, September 19 at Whiteside Park (4009 S. Pittsburg Ave.) in Tulsa from 9 to 11 a.m. for a free yoga session to celebrate World AFib Awareness Day. The... Read More »

Getting Back into Rhythm

Each September two observances coincide – Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Awareness Month and National Yoga Month. Recently, Oklahoma Heart Institute has recognized these opportunities with events to educate the public on the most common heart arrhythmia in the United States and the benefits yoga can have for those who suffer from AFib. Last September, as dozens gathered at Guthrie Green in Tulsa and rolled out their red yoga mats, Rex Wilson, 53, eagerly waited to learn more from Oklahoma Heart Institute cardiac electrophysiologist Dr. David Sandler. “My heart was not in constant rhythm,” Rex... Read More »

The Good Life: Back to School, Back to Routines

Oklahoma Heart Institute cardiologist Dr. Mathew Good and his wife, Bethany, share their tips and strategies for striving to live a healthy life with a busy growing family. Today, Bethany joins us on the blog to share how they plan for kids going back to school and schedules once again, getting busy.

As much as we love the lazy days of summer - splashing in the pool, roasting s’mores and family road trips - I find myself craving the routine and consistency of a school day now that Labor Day Weekend has officially wrapped. Whatever your kids’ ages, from little ones going to preschool... Read More »

When it’s Time to Lose the Weight

“I didn’t take it seriously,” admits Donnie Lord. “I thought, ‘that’s something I can deal with later.’” At 46 years old, Donnie thought he had more time to address his deteriorating health. “I was pretty unhealthy. I was overweight, out of shape. I smoked for 20 years – you name it.” The intersection of letting healthy living go by the wayside and a strong family history of diabetes and heart disease met Donnie head on in November of 2014. “I started having pressure in my chest that didn’t go away.” Donnie headed to the Emergency Department at Bailey Medical Center in Owasso, OK. Medical... Read More »

Can’t Tolerate Statins? New PCSK9 Inhibitor Drugs Hitting the Market

Three years ago we posed the question: “Can we wipe out heart attacks?” on our blog and made a case why the answer could be “yes.” At the time, we were learning more about the impact of the Dallas Heart Study on genetics and coronary atherosclerosis. Researchers determined from a pool of more than 6,000 people, that if you have very low LDL (bad cholesterol), you are unlikely to develop cardiovascular heart disease. Bottom line – 80 to 90 percent of all heart attacks could be eliminated (wiped out) altogether. Furthermore, what fueled this discovery – the existence of a gene mutation... Read More »

New Heart Failure Drug Shows Promising Results

While it may seem like there are new drugs coming on the market all of the time, that is not the case with the class of drugs for the treatment of heart failure. In fact, the last time the FDA approved a heart failure drug was in 2005. However, cardiologists now have a new reason to get excited about the treatment of heart failure patients with the FDA-approval of LCZ696, also known as Entresto, last month.  

After disappointing results from previous drugs in development, Entresto demonstrated reduced heart failure deaths and reduced hospitalizations due to heart failure in the... Read More »

A Living Legacy on How to Live in Your 100s

Saturday, August 8, 2015, Edith Ellis celebrated her 104th birthday.  She is the oldest patient of cardiologist Dr. Arash Karnama and one of the oldest patients at Oklahoma Heart Institute. Those are distinctions that don’t seem to get to Edith, however. In fact, she wears them with pride. She’s quick to recall the time she was recognized by an Oklahoma City publication for being the oldest realtor in the state at the age of 98. She beat out the next oldest by only a few months.

The dawn of her 80-year career actually began in health care. “When I graduated from high school, in... Read More »