Episodes

EP295: Bitter Sweets

Welcome to my podcast. I am Doctor Warrick Bishop, and I want to help you to live as well as possible for as long as possible. I’m a practising cardiologist, best-selling author, keynote speaker, and the creator of The Healthy Heart Network. I have over 20 years as a specialist cardiologist and a private practice of over 10,000 patients. Dr. Bishop discusses heart health and the importance of controlling blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol. He then reports on two recent studies. The first found that some dark chocolate bars contained potentially harmful levels of heavy metals like lead and cadmium. The second study surprisingly discovered that the artificial sweetener aspartame may increase anxiety-like behaviors in mice and possibly even affect their descendants. This indicates aspartame's effects may not be as harmless as previously thought and more research is needed. Read more

EP294: What Is A Cardiac Arrest?

Welcome to my podcast. I am Doctor Warrick Bishop, and I want to help you to live as well as possible for as long as possible. I’m a practising cardiologist, best-selling author, keynote speaker, and the creator of The Healthy Heart Network. I have over 20 years as a specialist cardiologist and a private practice of over 10,000 patients. Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart's electrical system malfunctions, causing an irregular heartbeat. This requires immediate CPR and defibrillation to restore a normal rhythm. A heart attack is caused by blocked arteries and may lead to cardiac arrest over time. While some studies have found a link between mRNA vaccines and myocarditis or pericarditis, particularly in young men, there is no evidence these vaccines cause sudden cardiac death. For anyone experiencing chest pain, if there is any uncertainty about the cause, it is important to get it checked by a doctor to rule out a potential heart issue. Read more

EP293: Heart Rate Variability

Welcome to my podcast. I am Doctor Warrick Bishop, and I want to help you to live as well as possible for as long as possible. I’m a practising cardiologist, best-selling author, keynote speaker, and the creator of The Healthy Heart Network. I have over 20 years as a specialist cardiologist and a private practice of over 10,000 patients. In this episode, Doctor Bishop delves into the complex topic of heart rate variability and its implications for overall health. Doctor Bishop acknowledges that understanding heart rate variability is challenging but emphasizes the importance of exploring it further. Heart rate variability has been linked to the health of the heart, gut, and gas exchange in the body. It is influenced by the autonomic nervous system and can fluctuate over time. Doctor Bishop expresses optimism about the future of understanding and utilizing heart rate variability, especially with the help of wearable monitoring devices. Read more

EP292: Interview With Angela Peris Discussing Cardiac CT Results

Welcome to my podcast. I am Doctor Warrick Bishop, and I want to help you to live as well as possible for as long as possible. I’m a practising cardiologist, best-selling author, keynote speaker, and the creator of The Healthy Heart Network. I have over 20 years as a specialist cardiologist and a private practice of over 10,000 patients. Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem. Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year. Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it. The devastating fact in all of this is…  Every one of those cases could have been prevented. Read more

EP291: Cardiac Testing Explained - How Doctors Assess The Heart

This episode discusses various tests cardiologists use to evaluate heart health. Simple tests like blood pressure checks and listening to the heart are routinely done in the clinic. Electrocardiograms and echocardiograms provide further information about heart function. Stress tests while monitoring the heart can reveal issues during exertion. Blood tests for proteins can indicate if the heart is under strain. Magnetic resonance imaging and heart biopsies are also options but used less frequently. Coronary artery disease is a major killer, so evaluating risk factors is important for prevention. Read more

EP290: Undestanding Blackouts: Causes and Treatments

Blackouts can have many causes including heart issues, brain problems, low blood pressure, and nerves. The heart can cause blackouts due to valve problems, fast rhythms, or slow rhythms. The brain can cause blackouts from strokes or seizures. Low blood pressure, especially in older people or those on medication, can lead to blackouts. Simple faints from overheating or stress on the nerves are the most common cause of blackouts. Tests like echocardiograms and electroencephalograms can help determine the root cause. Driver's licenses may be held until the cause of blackouts is properly identified to ensure safety. Read more

EP289: Cardiovascular Treatment

Welcome to my podcast. I am Doctor Warrick Bishop, and I want to help you to live as well as possible for as long as possible. I’m a practising cardiologist, best-selling author, keynote speaker, and the creator of The Healthy Heart Network. I have over 20 years as a specialist cardiologist and a private practice of over 10,000 patients. Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem. Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year. Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it. The devastating fact in all of this is…  Every one of those cases could have been prevented. Read more

EP288: Chewing The Fat

This episode discusses the difference between white fat and brown fat. White fat stores energy and can cause health problems, while brown fat helps regulate temperature in young mammals through non-shivering thermogenesis. This process involves mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 that generates heat instead of ATP. Read more

EP287: Heart Attack vs. Heart Failure and the Role of AI

Heart attack occurs when an artery to the heart is suddenly blocked, depriving the heart muscle of blood and oxygen. Heart failure means the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs, causing fatigue and fluid buildup in the lungs and legs. Early detection of heart failure is important so medication can be started promptly. New AI tools show promise in speeding up diagnosis of heart conditions but privacy concerns must be addressed before widespread adoption. While AI could save doctors time, questions remain about data ownership and protection of patient information. While AI may revolutionize medicine, proper safeguards must be put in place to ensure patient privacy and integrity of care. Read more

EP286: Heart Anatomy and Function

The heart is the most important organ as it pumps blood to supply oxygen to cells and remove carbon dioxide waste. Blood returns to the heart through veins and is pumped to the lungs by the right side of the heart. In the lungs, blood releases carbon dioxide and takes up oxygen. Oxygen-rich blood then enters the left side of the heart which pumps it to the body tissues. The heart has valves to ensure blood flows in one direction. Each heart cell can generate its own electrical signal which coordinates the heart's pumping action. The electrical system acts like a timing mechanism for the heart's pumping function. Read more