Locations
Office
Houston, TX
My office hours
Thursday: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
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Practice website
Insurances accepted
Aetna Life Insurance Company
About
Bio
Attended University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston where he won the John Wallace prize in Cardiology in 1998. He received his internal Medicine training at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston and his Cardiology training at University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston. Throughout his training, Dr Tavackoli has been heavily involved in clinical, benchmark, and animal research and has published in several peer reviewed Journals. Dr. Tavackoli’s main interest is the well being of his patients achieved through prevention and the health maintenance. He is interested and certified in performance and interpretation of nuclear cardiac studies, echocardiograms (both transthoracic and transesophageal), Cardiac catheterization and permanent pacemaker implantation. He is also highly interested in treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, lipid disorders and malignant hypertension. Dr Tavackoli is board certified in internal medicine and cardiology and is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology. He is a clinical assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine.
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Cardiology
Languages spoken
Persian
Doctor Q&A
292 Answers
22 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 34-year-old member asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
None: These terms are used interchangeably.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
It depends: A heart valve operation, like any procedure has risks and benefits. The task is to determine the risk vs. Benefit of the said procedure and proceed w... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Lung V-Q scan: Ventilation scanning involves the patient breathing in a radiotracer while perfusion scanning involves injecting the radiotracer through an iv. The pr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 50-year-old member asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Yes: A large number of patients will have a short period of depression post-operatively after heart surgery in general. I don't think we really understand... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Not easy: Unfortunately, our understanding and treatment of right heart failure is not at the level of left heart failure. One has to be careful with fluid man... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Multiple: Perhaps the most common offending etiology in aortic stenosis in the us is atherosclerosis. Just as this can affect the arteries in the body, it can ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Perhaps: Labetolol can cross the placental barrier, so perhaps more frequent monitoring is warranted.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Depends: Primary pulmonary hypertension is a pretty rare disease fortunately. Again, fortunately, over the past several years we have had the introduction of ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 50-year-old member asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Yes: It certainly can be. Chest pain that is exertional in nature should be investigated by a stress test and if there is some suspicion or an abnormal ek... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old member asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
See your doctor: You should see your physician and have this checked out. Generally, any pain that persists for months should be investigated, this is perhaps never m... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Depends: Right bundle branch block (rbbb) in and of itself is likely not a detrimental issue, however if it happens in the setting of a heart attack, it porten... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Arrhythmia: Tachycardia is a general term applied to any fast heart rate including tachyarrhythmias. A tachyarrhythmia specifically implies a form of arrhythmia ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Yes: However, one has to ask why is Methyldopa being used? If the person is pregnant or has the potential of becoming pregnant, they should not be on diova... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old female asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Depends: It depends on your sex, but in general as we get older the incidence of heart disease goes up. While at age 50, men have more heart disease than wome... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old male asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Probably around 60: Depends on how athletic vs. Sedentary you are. The more athletic you are, the lower your heart rate would be at rest; so a "normal" heart rate is rea... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 57-year-old male asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Yes: Hopefully that is not your true blood pressure, I have never seen a BP that high in 15 years' worth of medical practice; the answer to your question i... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Should not be: First degree heart block in an otherwise healthy heart, does not usually cause any symptoms or problems.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Possibly gastritis?: It is possible that you have gastritis or irritable bowel, either way you should see a pcp or if you can bypass them, a gastroenterologist.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Atenolol: Atenolol is not a blood pressure medication and should not be used for this purpose. Get your doctor to change it to a real blood pressure medication... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old female asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Should not: It really should not affect it. You may have some tachycardias, but overall, should be ok. It generally does not affect the health of the baby.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Other muscles: Ck-mb can be elevated in muscular damage of any kind, ck-mb is also present in the musculoskeletal system's muscles. You can also get heart ck-mb ele... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old member asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Depends: It depends on the anti-arrhythmic. Different anti-arrhythmic drugs work differently, most however aim to affect the chemical balance of the heart tis... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Shortness of breath: I am not sure that i understand your question, but if you're asking what it feels like, i would have to say it usually generates a feeling of shortnes... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Possibly: Hytrin (terazosin) can lower your blood pressure and give a fatigued feeling. Other than through that mechanism , I am not aware of such a side effec... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
If needed: Sometimes nothing else will work, in those circumstances, it is a good starting point.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Dr. Debakey: Officially, dr. Rene favaloro published the first paper regarding coronary bypass surgery. However, the first operation was performed by dr.S debakey... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Yes: It is, but we almost never use it in the US any longer.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
See a doctor: Chest tightness and shortness of breath are concerning for coronary artery disease (blocked arteries of the heart) among other things, i would recomme... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Pressure measurement: Right heart catheterization is usually carried out to measure oxygen levels, intracardiac pressures, and cardiac output, as well as cardiac tissue bio... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Possibly: Hytrin (terazosin) can lower your blood pressure and give a fatigued feeling. Other than through that mechanism , I am not aware of such a side effec... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
?: If you're feeling ok and have no other risk factors for disease, there is really no need for a vap test here. The vap is usually used to risk stratif... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old female asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Bradycardia: Bradycardia in a person who is physically very active is normal. If you are performing aerobic exercise on a regular basis, do not worry about a hear... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 68-year-old female asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
A couple of weeks: Should not be more than a couple of weeks, if it is, you need to see your implanting physician.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 61-year-old female asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Not necessarily : Unfortunately, a lot of what an ECG machine reads is inaccurate; it also is true that a lot of ECG changes are non-specific, so your changes may or ma... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Say NO to Atkins: Atkins diet will make the lipid profile look better but the nature of your bad cholesterol much worse, so i would not go near it. The better choice t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old male asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Correct?: Your cardiologist is hopefully correct, but i would do a couple of things to be certain: first, i would check and make sure the BP in the arms and the... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old female asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Not always: While chest pain that reduces with activity is lesser likely to be due to coronary disease, a "change" in the pain is not an indication that the pain ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old male asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Keep: Keep to a low salt (less than 2 grams per day) diet.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
No: Not necessarily, this could be a lot of things, but most of the time high BP does not give you any symptoms, hence the name silent killer.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Possible: Possibly, but probably not. You need to have this checked out by someone who can examine you and see exactly where this cyst is located. If it is su... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 65-year-old male asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Not sure: Not sure what you mean by radial artery not functioning. Was there a failed attempt at radial puncture? Was the radial artery used as bypass graft? R... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Maybe both: That may be a result of both fever and dehydration. Fever, left untreated, will result in dehydration and they both (fever and dehydration) lead to t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Different : Atherectomy is not better than stenting, it usually is reserved for cases when a balloon angioplasty combined with stenting, or direct stenting can no... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Different things: It can be normal in a conditioned person (athlete), or it can be caused from pathology in the heart or the thyroid (hypothyroidism) gland. In your ag... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old male asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
No real number: We don't really consider absolute numbers unless they are very very low (like say 80/50), low BP is a BP that is low in number and produces symptoms, ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Likely so: "skipping beats" as the general population puts them, are manifestations usually of premature ventricular contractions which a person with a normal he... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Nope: Iron level of 3, with what units? If the blood test was done in the us, that is a very low iron level. What are your hemoglobin and hematocrit level... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Plaque?: No one really knows. The most common thought is that the area of the artery afflicted with even minor plaque is more prone to spasm because it loses ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
No: Unstable angina and nstemi are now bundled in the term "acute coronary syndrome", they are really different problems. In simple terms a nstemi is a h... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:

Dr. Shahin Tavackolianswered
Cardiology 25 years experience
Inflammation?: Do you have the right term here. While inflammation can affect any organ in the body, inflammation of a heart valve, other than that which leads to m... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
3
Recommendations
666
Thank you notes
Feb 27, 2013
I recommend this physician!
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Tavackoli is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Tavackoli is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
This made me feel good. Thanks! thank u very much im medical student searching arrhythmia and their treatment so your post made me very happy to understand this .........thank u
HealthTap member
According to 2 different cardiologist it is takosubo syn. So me I'm just going by what they say they kept him in cardiac intensive care Ty
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! I exercise 5 days a week for 30- 60 min.:-) Thank You for assuring me.
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine, TX
Graduated 1998MD
Awards
John Wallace Prize in Cardiology
Top Cardiologist , First Place, Texas - Winter
2013
Top Cardiologist , First Place, Texas - Summer
2013
Affiliations
Memorial Hermann Memorial City
American College of Cardiology
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