Albert J. Hicks, III, MD, MPH | Source | University of Maryland Medical Center
Albert J. Hicks, III, MD, MPH
Dr. Hicks is a cardiologist and Section Chief of Heart Failure and Transplant and Medical Director of Cardiac Transplant at the University of Maryland Medical Center. He is also an Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine.
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On recent research showing a connection between a new class of weight loss drugs and the treatment of heart failure, Dr. Hicks said: "Anytime you have a medication that not just treats heart health but also treats other conditions such as obesity or diabetes, we find a benefit. This medication was looked at in individuals that had heart failure, they had elevated body mass indices, elevated BMI of over 30. It was found that with this medication, these patients had improved quality of life, they had improved exercise capacity, they had reduction in adverse events, which is huge."
The average person who has heart failure is misdiagnosed four or five times until the actual the diagnosis of heart failure. To be able to look someone in the eye and let them know that what they're feeling is real, and not only is it real but we can treat it at various levels, it is empowering.