Greetings from Dr. S. Russell Vester

I am thrilled to have this opportunity to post a regular blog on YourCity.MD. This is my first.  I am a cardiac surgeon. For more than a decade I have been the head of one of the country’s largest groups that performs virtually all procedures in the fields of heart, chest and vascular surgery. I am also a third generation physician. Both of my grandfathers and my father were physicians. It is my intent to use this unusually broad and long exposure to a huge portion of the medical world to help you understand issues related to your heart health in particular as well as your health overall. We will also from time to time address health care policy issues. This latter is a particular interest of mine. I have served on the Health Care Policy Reform committee for the Society of Thoracic Surgeons for a decade as well.

I am in the middle of my second term as President of my city’s chapter of the American Heart Association. Every once in a while I will ask for your support of this phenomenal charity. In exchange I will keep you up to date with their recommendations related to heart health and prevention of stroke.

Valentine’s Day is upon us. What could be a more appropriate time to start a blog related primarily to your heart’s health? Valentine’s Day is about recognizing relationships that are important to you, people you love. Few things could be more important to your survival than to have close personal relationships  you can depend on. These relationships help keep you happy and help you manage the many different stresses that are a part of every day life. The better you manage your stress, the lower your risk of heart disease. With the exception of all the candy that comes with it, Valentine’s Day is a holiday that is actually good for you. Have a happy one.