Baptist Health Heart & Vascular Care

10/09/2026

Eating healthy, exercising and still have high cholesterol? Your habits may not be the whole story.

Genetics can play a major role in how much cholesterol your body produces and how efficiently it gets rid of it. That means some people may still have high levels despite making healthy choices.

Dr. Tarak Rambhatla, clinical cardiologist, explains why this happens and when medication may become part of managing your cardiovascular risk.

Sometimes, doing everything “right” still means needing a little extra help.

Dr. Tarak Rambhatla, clinical cardiologist and the director of inpatient cardiac services at Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute.

10/05/2026

Can dehydration affect your blood pressure? Yes, and it may cause it to go in either direction.

Dr. Ian Del Conde, cardiologist and vascular medicine specialist, explains that dehydration can initially lower blood pressure as blood volume decreases. But as the body compensates, blood vessels can constrict, which may cause blood pressure to rise.

Staying properly hydrated is one part of supporting healthy blood pressure, along with regular exercise, reducing sodium, managing stress and maintaining a healthy weight.

Dr. Ian Del Conde, director of the Vascular Medicine Program and the Resistant Hypertension Clinic at Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute.

09/29/2026

At 25, Danny Cruz was healthy, active and thinking about training for an Ironman. Then, a sudden pain in his chest turned into a life-threatening emergency.

Doctors discovered an acute Type A aortic dissection that required immediate open-heart surgery. Dr. Bradley Taylor, cardiac surgeon, repaired the damaged portion of Danny’s aorta while preserving his natural aortic valve.

Today, Danny is running, playing pickleball and working toward getting back in the water, with his Ironman goal still very much in sight.

This World Heart Day, Danny’s story is a reminder of just how quickly a heart emergency can change a life, and what it can mean to get that life back.

Dr. Bradley Taylor, board-certified cardiac surgeon and chief medical executive at Christine E. Lynn Heart & Vascular Institute, as well as chief of cardiac surgery for the Palm Beach Region and chief of quality and outcomes of Baptist Health Heart & Vascular Care.

09/29/2026

For World Heart Day today, leaders with Baptist Health Heart & Vascular Care share the five things cardiologists wish you’d start doing in your 30s that can help stave off heart disease later in life. https://baptisthealth.net/baptist-health-news/five-things-cardiologists-wish-youd-start-doing-in-your-30s

09/29/2026

Elliott Landman needed triple bypass surgery and scheduled consults with six area heart surgeons. After seeing Bradley Taylor, M.D., at Baptist Health Heart & Vascular Care, he canceled the other five. See why he entrusted his care to Dr. Taylor—and how he’s doing today. https://baptisthealth.net/baptist-health-news/from-triple-bypass-to-full-speed-one-patients-seamless-road-to-recovery

09/28/2026

ChatGPT has three morning habits it says could support a healthier heart, but do cardiologists agree? Dr. Tarak Rambhatla, cardiologist with Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, weighs in on the AI generated recommendations and what can actually make a difference for your heart health in PARADE Magazine.

Because it's always nice to have a medical professional weigh in.

09/28/2026

Is leg pain normal or a circulation issue?

Not all leg pain is just sore muscles. Sometimes it's a sign of a circulation problem that needs attention. Baptist Health Vascular Surgeon explains how to tell the difference, the warning signs you shouldn't ignore, and what can happen if you do.

Watch the full podcast on YouTube.

09/26/2026

A new study suggests that changes or disruptions in “deep sleep” may be linked to the buildup of tau, a protein associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Learn more in our weekly news roundup. https://baptisthealth.net/baptist-health-news/disrupted-deep-sleep-may-be-linked-to-early-alzheimers-related-memory-issues

09/25/2026

Most endometrial cancers are diagnosed in post-menopausal women but younger women can get them, too. John Diaz, M.D., with Baptist Health Herbert Wertheim Cancer Institute, discusses the one warning sign you should never ignore. https://baptisthealth.net/baptist-health-news/endometrial-cancer-on-the-rise-the-one-warning-sign-you-should-never-ignore

09/25/2026

While most headaches are harmless and related to stress, dehydration, migraines or tension, many people worry about whether a severe headache could signal something much more serious — such as a brain aneurysm. Baptist Health experts explain what brain aneurysms are, who is most at risk, and which symptoms should never be ignored.
https://baptisthealth.net/baptist-health-news/warning-signs-of-a-brain-aneurysm-many-people-miss

09/25/2026

When you’re sick and leaving the house sounds like too much, she gets it.

As we wrap up APP week, we want to say thank you to Amrita and all our advanced practice providers for showing up for patients wherever they are.

09/24/2026

One simple addition to your plate could make a difference for your heart health. Dr. Sergiu Darabant, cardiologist with Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, highlights one of the best foods to incorporate into a heart healthy diet in PARADE Magazine.

And you're probably not eating enough of it.

09/24/2026

You can be in your 20s or 30s, feel perfectly healthy and still have high cholesterol.

So, why are more younger adults being diagnosed with it?
Dr. Craig Hostig and Dr. Alvaro Martinez Jr., cardiologists, discuss how lifestyle habits and family history can contribute to high cholesterol, often without any noticeable symptoms.

The good news? Knowing your cholesterol numbers early gives you an opportunity to make changes that can help protect your heart in the long run.

Dr. Craig Hostig, and Dr. Alvaro Martinez Jr., cardiologists at Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute.

09/24/2026

That bulge that appears when you cough or lift something heavy? It could be a hernia, says Baptist Health general surgeon Benjamin Reed, M.D. Learn what cause hernias, when they need attention and how they can be treated. https://baptisthealth.net/baptist-health-news/understanding-hernia-repairs-what-every-patient-should-know

09/24/2026

After a uterine cancer diagnosis at the young age of 37, Adriana Velasco is grateful for the fertility-sparing treatment she received from John Diaz, M.D. and staff at Baptist Health Herbert Wertheim Cancer Institute. https://baptisthealth.net/baptist-health-news/preserving-the-dream-of-motherhood-when-treating-gynecological-cancer

09/23/2026

For some people, the underlying problem causing involuntary muscle contractions and abnormal movements or postures is dystonia, a neurological disorder often mistaken for stress or anxiety. Learn more.
https://baptisthealth.net/baptist-health-news/dystonia-neurological-disorder-often-mistaken-for-stress-or-anxiety

09/22/2026

Most of us know the warning signs of a heart attack. But there’s another heart emergency that deserves just as much attention: an aortic dissection.

It happens when a tear forms in the wall of the aorta, the body’s main artery, and it can become life-threatening very quickly.

So what does an aortic dissection feel like? One of the biggest warning signs is sudden, severe chest pain that may feel like it’s tearing and travel into the back or abdomen.

Dr. Ashok Kumar, director of aortic disease, breaks down what you need to know about this medical emergency and why there’s no time to wait.

Dr. Ashok Kumar, director of aortic disease with Baptist Health Heart & Vascular Care and professor of cardiovascular sciences at FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine.

09/22/2026

Plantar fasciitis is common, but treating the pain is only part of the picture. Dr. Jorge Gil, orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon, explains why identifying what’s causing plantar fasciitis in the first place can help guide the right approach to treatment.

09/22/2026

This APP Week and beyond, we’re celebrating the incredible advanced practice providers and nurse practitioners who bring expertise, compassion and care to every patient they meet.

Whether they’re answering questions, easing concerns or helping someone feel better, faster, their impact is felt every day. Thank you for caring for our community.

09/22/2026

Think you suffered a concussion? Recognizing the symptoms, knowing when to seek emergency care and following a gradual recovery plan is key, says Natalia Miranda, M.D., at Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute. https://baptisthealth.net/baptist-health-news/think-you-sustained-a-concussion-ten-signs-to-be-aware-of