Celebrating Heart Month
Columbia University surgeons and cardiologists came together this month on social media to celebrate American Heart Month, sharing heart-healthy tips and engaging in a heart drawing contest.
In the first video, with a nod to the Super Bowl on Feb. 11, several cardiologists “kicked off” with easy tips for improving and maintaining your heart health:
- Ajay Kirtane, MD, director of the Columbia Interventional Cardiovascular Care program and professor of medicine, recommends taking frequent steps during the day to get your heart pumping.
- Tamim Nazif, MD, director of clinical research for Columbia Interventional Cardiovascular Care and assistant professor of medicine, recommends making an appointment with your doctor if you’re experiencing chest pain, shortness of breath, or other health concerns.
- Megha Prasad, MD, director of the cardiorenal program and assistant professor of medicine, suggests swapping mayo for avocado to boost heart health.
- Prashant Vaishnava, MD, co-director of inpatient clinical services for Columbia Interventional Cardiovascular Care and assistant professor of medicine, recommends avoiding screen time before bedtime to improve sleep quality.
- Sahil Parikh, MD, director of endovascular services and associate professor of medicine, suggests taking a deep breath for stress reduction and to help your heart.
- Vratika Agarwal, MD, assistant professor of medicine, recommends scheduling a health screening to prioritize your heart health.
In the second video celebrating American Heart Month, physicians in the Departments of Surgery and Medicine put their creative skills to the test in an anatomical heart drawing competition. Each participant was given 30 seconds to view a sketch of the heart and two minutes to draw it from memory.
Khady Fall, MD, director of operations and program manager in imaging and physiology in interventional cardiology, received the most votes from viewers for her heart drawing; Mark Lebehn, MD, assistant professor of medicine, and Isaac George, MD, surgical director of the Heart Valve Center and associate professor of surgery and medicine, tied for second place.