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Leg cramps are common and can happen for plenty of reasons. A strenuous workout, dehydration, muscle fatigue, or even sitting in one position for too long can leave your legs aching or cramped. But when cramping repeatedly appears during walking or exercise and improves after you stop, it may be telling you something about your […]

“Improve your circulation” is common advice for symptoms such as tired legs, swelling, cold feet, or discomfort after sitting for long periods. Walking more, staying hydrated, elevating your legs, and wearing compression socks may be useful in the right circumstances. But when symptoms are caused by vascular disease, the problem is more specific than circulation […]

“LVH” on an EKG means the test detected an electrical pattern that can be associated with left ventricular hypertrophy, or thickening of the heart’s main pumping chamber. However, an EKG cannot confirm that the heart muscle is actually thickened, and the finding does not automatically mean you have heart failure, permanent heart damage, or another […]

Summer heat affects every cardiovascular system, but several aspects of female physiology can influence how women respond to high temperatures. Reproductive hormones affect body temperature and blood vessel function, the menstrual cycle can subtly alter heat regulation, menopause brings important changes in cardiovascular risk, and pregnancy requires major adaptations in circulation. Women are also more […]

Seeing the words "abnormal EKG" on a test result can be unsettling, especially when you are not sure what the finding actually means. An electrocardiogram, commonly called an EKG or ECG, records the heart's electrical activity and provides information about heart rate, rhythm, and how electrical signals move through the heart. An abnormal result does not […]

Leg pain can have many causes, and the type of movement that helps depends on what’s causing the pain in the first place. Peripheral artery disease (PAD), venous disease, and peripheral neuropathy can all cause pain, aching, cramping, heaviness, numbness, or tingling in the legs, but they affect the body in different ways. Exercise can […]

Summer in Oklahoma often brings prolonged periods of extreme heat, with temperatures frequently reaching the upper 90s and triple digits. Combined with high humidity, these conditions place additional demands on the cardiovascular system. While anyone can be affected by extreme heat, people living with heart or vascular disease are more likely to experience symptoms or […]

Feeling your heart skip a beat can be alarming. For some people, it happens only once in a while. For others, the sensation is more frequent, causing them to wonder whether they're experiencing something harmless or a sign of a more serious heart condition.  Heart palpitations are one of the most common reasons patients seek cardiovascular care, but not all irregular […]

Feeling dizzy after spending time in the heat or experiencing a racing heartbeat after a long workout is often brushed off as a sign that you need to drink more water. In many cases, that instinct is correct. Dehydration can affect nearly every system in the body, including the cardiovascular system, and may contribute to symptoms that […]

For decades, Steve Chrisman built a life around baseball. The former University of Tulsa Baseball Hall of Famer started playing at age 7, eventually becoming a junior college All-American and helping Tulsa finish as national runner-up in the 1969 College World Series. “God gave me the ability to be accurate,” Chrisman said. “I was the […]