Locations
Office
Framingham, MA
About
Bio
Undergraduate at MIT, Harvard Medical School and post-graduate training at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Private practice internal medicine and cardiology. Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at Harvard
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
English
Doctor Q&A
101 Answers
6 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Mononucleosis: Any condition in which the spleen is enlarged can make it more susceptible to rupture when hit. In the typical adolescent/young adult who is involved ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Stiff arteries: A normal or high systolic pressure with a low diastolic pressure suggests stiff arteries. If you think of pumping blood into a solid pipe, the pressur... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Acid inhibitors: Plavix, (clopidogrel) especially when taken with Aspirin as it often is, can cause stomach bleeding. If this is a risk, you can lessen it by taking a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Usually none: The dose of radioactivity given is small, and the test is considered safe and harmless. If a woman is pregnant, the use of any radioactive material m... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
50-90: It depends on age - children normally have faster heart rates than adults. For adults, the "official" normal resting pulse is 50-90/minute. As a rul... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 60-year-old female asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
See your doctor soon: Palpitations can be harmless but annoying or potentially a dangerous rhythm problem. There is no way to tell these apart without an ECG taken while i... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Probably not: The normal resting pulse varies from 50 to 90, though generally toward the lower end. A resting pulse of 115 is unusual. You should be checked for ane... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old male asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Probably not: It depends on the type of stent used. If it was a coated stent, you should stick with your current program (i assume the clopidogrel is 75, not 70). I... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 63-year-old male asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
BP may be too low: I would not have given medicine for a BP of 131/82 to begin with - that is at worst high normal. The current BP is low enough that you might well get... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Possibly: The inferior mesenteric artery brings blood to the lower bowel. If it is partially blocked, this can cause abdominal pain. If it blocks completely, ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Risk: If an artery is 25-50% narrowed, you would generally not have any symptoms except under extreme exercise. However, the fact that it is partially block... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 23-year-old male asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Perhaps POTS: Neither coronary disease nor heart failure are at all likely. It sounds as if your blood pressure drops when you get up. This can be due to dehydratio... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 59-year-old male asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Body does it: There are 'clot dissolving' drugs which directly break up clots, but most traditional 'blood thinners' simply prevent additonal clot being laid down, ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 56-year-old female asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
None obvious: Glad to hear you are active - regular exercise is great medicine! not sure how much the supplements are needed, but will do no harm.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old male asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
No connection: If you have migraines, lowering your cholesterol with a 'statin' is unlikely to have any effect - positive or negative. Depending on how high the cho... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 23-year-old male asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
No, but not good: Inactivity contributes to high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, all risk factors for coronary disease, but it does not cause heart failu... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Start!: The old cliche applies here: the longest journey begins with a single step. You are not going to see dramatic changes in two weeks no matter what you... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Not entirely: Coumadin (warfarin) has numerous interactions with other drugs which in the majority of cases makes the inr too high and can cause bleeding. While th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old male asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Lungs, not heart: First, unrelated to mvp. The source is in the respiratory tract - either lungs or the throat or sinuses. I'd suggest seeing your doctor to have a goo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Not normal, not bad: Mitral valve prolapse, a condition in which the mitral valve (which prevents blood going back into the left atrium from the left vntricle) snaps back ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
911: Sudden onset of shortness of breath in a person who does not usually have this could be a serious condition (pneumothorax, pulmonary embolus, heart fa... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Listening: A heart valve that either leaks or is too narrow is usually suspected by a doctor listening to the heart with a stethoscope and hearing a murmur. Furt... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old female asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Many things!: The most worrisome cause of chest pain is, of course, heart problems, but the esophagus is a common source of chest pain, and some chest pains can ori... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years agoMerged
A 28-year-old member asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Walk!: If symptoms are severe or you are in danger of amputation, re-vascularization by surgery or angioplasty is needed. For most, you need to reduce your ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Breathlees, confused: Symptoms depend on the speed at which it happens. A sudden drop in oxygen causes anxiety, breathlessness. A more gradual onset allows the body to adju... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Nothing to severe: Left bundle branch block (lbbb) is a pattern on the ECG that indicates that the heart's electrical waves are following an unusual path. It is common i... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old member asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Yes, but at a price: Daily Aspirin clearly reduces the risk of both heart attack and stroke, but also makes you more likely to bleed. If you have coronary disease, you are... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Inject radioactive: A perfusion lung scan is done by injectecting a low-dose radioactive tracer into a vein and taking images showing where blood flow is going in the lun... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Very little!: Rapid heart rhythm can have many causes. The most important difference is between those starting in the ventricles, v tach or v fib, which are often ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Any heart problem: Troponin is an enzyme released by damaged heart muscle. While the major cause is a heart attack, and large increases are usually due to this, almost ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Orlistat: Weight loss drugs tend to be only modestly effective, and most carry risks. Several have been taken off the market because of heart problems. Amphet... 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. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Medication: A slow heart rate can be normal in fit individuals at rest. Many medications, notably beta blockers, slow the heart rate. A slow heart rate can also b... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old female asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Might be heart attac: "crushing" chest pain has to suggest a heart attack first and foremost. It may not be, but that has to be considered promptly. Classically, heart pa... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old female asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Not add - ?subsitute: If you are overweight, you certainlly don't want to add anything sugary. While some evidence suggests dark chocolate decreases heart attack risk, it i... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old male asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
No: This sounds like musculo-skeletal pain, almost certainly unrelated to the heart, and would have no implications for future heart trouble.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
120/80: Textbook normal is 120/80. Lower is better. Cut-off for concern is 130/90. If you are high normal, losing weight, reducing salt intake and regular aer... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old male asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Central chest: 'textbook description' of heart-origin pain is heavy pressure in the center of the chest, under the sternum (breastbone). It may also be felt in the j... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old female asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Really enlarged?: Hard to answer without more info. First, why do you think your heart is enlarged? If this was from a chest x-ray, it could simply have been taken at... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old male asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Cut caffeine: First, a question: did you have a stress test? If these only happen when you have your heart going fast, a resting ECG might not help. If not, i'd re... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Generally yes: Once the insertion site has healed, there is no reason why you cannot swim or particpate in other water sports, assuming your heart function is health... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 58-year-old male asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Ribs, lung: It sounds as if you have had detailed cardiac testing and all normal. Sharp chest pain can be from rib or muscle in chest wall, an irritated surface ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
No: prevent new ones: The traditional 'blood thinners' prevent the formation of new clots, but do not dissolve existing ones. That is left to the body's own natural defenc... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Slow pulse, constipa: The most common side effects of verapamil relate to an excess of what it is prescribed for: a too-slow pulse and/or too-low blood pressure. Many peop... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged
A 23-year-old female asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Begin slow, supervis: Regular aerobic exercise is actually very good for patients with heart failure, and recent studies have shown it to be safe and increase well-being. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old male asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Just: Just start the conversation. You will find everyone has been thinking along the same lines.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Varies, but some: What you are describing is your basal metabolic rate - the number of calories you burn at rest. This will vary depending on your gender, age, heredit... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Lowers chol + TG: Niacin lowers cholesterol, raises the "good" HDL and lowers triglycerides - but at much higher doses than 250. You need to get up to 1500 mg/day or m... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
This is not reflux!: You are describing a different type of pain - acid reflux should not be made worse by breathing. I'd see your doctor and get re-evaluated.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old female asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Probably esophagus: Chest pain that only occurs when you bend over, and not when you run or carry things upstairs, etc, is very unlikely to be heart-related. It could be ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Edward Hofferanswered
Cardiology 54 years experience
Yes - or any drug: Questran (cholestyramine) is a old medication for lowering cholesterol by binding bile salts in the intestine, and thereby removing cholesterol from t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k 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
310
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Jan 20, 2013
Dr. Hoffer is a very fine doctor!!! I have been his patient for about 10 years now and I am very satisfied with him.
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Hoffer is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Hoffer is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! I've taken. Beta blockers. For it. Made more unpredictable occurrences ended up In wreck. IJust deal with it. Now circulation. Bad and veins blow.
HealthTap member
Thanks for your quick reply! What do you mean could be the source?!? Can you please comment?
HealthTap member
Thanks for your quick reply! I definitely learned something new. Enjoy your weekend. Bye!
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Harvard Medical School, MA
Graduated 1969MD
Awards
AOA at Harvard
Top Cardiologist , First Place, Massachusetts - Summer
2013
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions, provide medical advice, write prescriptions, and more.
Answer emailed
in 24 hours or less
