Locations
Ventura Heart Institute
Thousand Oaks, CA
About
Bio
MD from University of California - San Francisco (Regents Scholar, elected AOA as a junior). Internal medicine training at UCSF Hospitals. Cardiology fellow at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA. Board certified Internal Medicine, Subspecialty Cardiovascular Diseases; Staff Associate Lipid Metabolism/Molecular Diseases at National Heart Lung and Blood Institute/National Institutes of Health; Science Project Officer, Cardiac Diseases Branch/Division of Heart and Vascular Diseases/National Heart Lung and Blood Institute/National Institutes of Health; Staff Cardiologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center jointly in Department of Cardiology and Department of Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery; now Director of Ventura Heart Institute and Principal Investigator - Cardiovascular at Westlake Medical Research (Principal Investigator on over 160 clinical trials (phase 1b, 2, 3); Consultant and lecturer to the healthcare industry as well as the Ventura County Health Care Agency on development and deployment of cardiovascular disease management, clinical research, and information technology to improve quality of care and patient outcome. TED talk on how medical advances are validated (YouTube). Curator of Sermo's Cardiology Hub. Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Infermedica (artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve clinical decision making).
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
Clinical Lipidology
Internal Medicine
Preventive Medicine
Licenses
United States: California
Languages spoken
English
Doctor Q&A
290 Answers
1 Agree
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
May not be a problem: Some people feel their heart beat, even when it's beating normally, like in a quiet environment. If there are episodic irregular beats, for whatever ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Yes, with moderation: No issues with moderation unless the underlying cause was an alcohol cardiomyopathy.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Modestly: The amount of exercise required to actually and statistically significantly increase hdl-c is considerable and certainly beyond that required for card... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Not directly: The sensation of palpitations is fairly common and steroids (depending on the type, potency, and route of administration) have many possible adverse e... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Not necessarily: Fluttering in the chest, depending on one's sensitivity, may reflect some irregularity in the heart rhythm. Those may be normal for any given person,... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Depends on severity: Progressively restricted opening of the mitral valve, measured by serial echocardiography, results in higher pressures in the lung circulation and red... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Most common method: Cardiac output is basically the amount of blood the heart pumps over a unit of time, usually measured in liters per minute. When divided by the heart... 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. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Not much if AOK: If the ablation is routine and uneventful (and you are otherwise healthy), and planned often on a friday, patients have not missed work except for the... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Lifestyle first: Weight loss and exercise are best, without doubt. Pharmacologic choices are many, but selection best left to physician and often constrained by insur... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 23-year-old male asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
May be nothing, or..: The sensation of irregular heart beats may be entirely benign, or a harbinger of more serious cardiac conditions. That the symptoms are rare and pres... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Not sure of question: Any first responder operating in good faith is likely protected by good samaritan clauses as long as care is transferred to formally trained individua... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Insidious: Chronic uncontrolled high blood pressure may produce no symptoms until a heart attack, stroke, heart failure, dementia, peripheral arterial disease, o... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Problem if symptoms: Low blood pressure is not usually a clinical problem unless accompanied by symptoms like faintness, dizziness or impaired levels of consciousness. Th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 16-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
None unless severe: Bundle branch blocks are disruption of the normal conduction system of the pumping chambers of the heart. There is redundancy and difficulty in knock... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Some, plus drugs: Depending on the cause & severity of the arrhythmia, relaxation techniques (medication, yoga, tai-chi) may be useful. Some anti-anxiety medications c... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Depends: It depends on the cause and if there are reversible factors. If it is severe and/or progressive, getting to a heart failure specialist is critical, b... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Depends: First is confirming the diagnosis, then sorting out the many causes (looking for reversible ones). Symptoms can be controlled with diuretics, but the... 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. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Potentially serious: If the fluid is in the (intact) sac surrounding the heart, the buildup can cause a pressure driven cut off to blood trying to get back to the heart (t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old male asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Urgent intervention: "time is muscle" is the mantra. Given a true mi, getting to a facility that can diagnose & manage an acute mi is critical. Initial anti platelet/ant... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Some; not usually: Modern treatment has changed the game completely, but requires seeing a heart failure specialist. Also strongly dependent of cause of heart failure, e... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Aerobic: Regular aerobic exercise, at least 3-4 times per week, that truly conditions the cardiovascular system is required. This means maintaining target hea... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Bothersome, not bad: Msg is a flavor enhancer, hence its value to restaurants. The problem is that some people have exquisite sensitivity with palpitations, tingling, sho... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Chest, not heart?: Presumably you are having chest discomfort, which may or may not be cardiac in origin. Chest pain can indeed be cardiac, but chest wall (musculoskele... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 27-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Perhaps not: Many metabolic changes occur during pregnancy, most of which resolve by a few weeks to months after delivery. They may be indicators of subsequent ri... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Probably not: Apprehension and fear drive blood pressures up when seeing doctors (nb: "freaking out"). Follow BP away from the office. If still persistently eleva... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
May not be related: Depending on where your pacemaker is placed and how long ago, and whether chest or arm motion affects the symptoms, the pacemaker may or may not be re... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Control BP: Morning headaches may be a symptom of not optimally controlled blood pressure, though patients have variable sensitivity to the bp. Night time BP mea... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Normal body fat: Cholesterol is a waxy, fatty chemical with bad press. It is a normal component of your cell membranes and a critical building block of many hormones ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 73-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Yes, but depends: The issue is why you may need to thin your blood. Aspirin is a good, relatively safe, inexpensive antiplatelet agent. Sometimes, though, antiplatele... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
None to many: Heart disease may exist silently for decades and still be lethal. Symptoms are for the lucky ones that then have an opportunity to sort them out befo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Possibly: Atherosclerosis, at least in developed societies, is a progressive process that can be slowed with aggressive preventive strategies. There is evidenc... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old male asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Needs evaluation: Although simple anxiety and panic attacks can cause the symptoms you describe, it is incumbent on your doctors to make sure that you are not having a ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Many mechanisms: Most causes may actually be unknown, but run in families. Diseases of the kidneys and hormonal imbalances can be he cause. More commonly, being over... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Possibly: Metered dose inhalers often have in them medications that open the airways in patients with bronchospasm, like asthma or copd. But an adverse effect ... 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. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Rhythm restoration: Assuming the problem is ventricular fibrillation, the chaotic and fatal cardiac arrhythmia, one must know there are hierarchies of pacemakers controll... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old female asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Do not worry: Changes in heart rate are actually quite common just as part of the physiologic adjustment to changes in position. If one is on certain medications or... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Varies: Assuming a true high cardiac output syndrome, patients may feel flushed with a fast heart rate. Most are transient situations, but some illnesses and... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
If excessive blood: If bleeding is severe and prolonged enough to compromise blood volume, then drops in blood pressure can be the result. Vasovagal episodes can produce... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Relax. Seek help.: Although some palpitations can compromise cardiac function enough to cause shortness of breath, most breathing issues associated with palpitations are... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Not usually: Pericarditis is inflammation of the sack surrounding the heart. Can be painful and life-threatening if associated with significant fluid accumulation... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
If severe, surgery: True, classical mitral stenosis is caused by rheumatic fever. Some types can be very aggressive causing compromised cardiac output & symptoms of mark... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Higher the better: Epidemiologically, the higher the hdl-c, the better, with notably reduced risk with hdl-c in excess of 60 mg/dl. The problem is that this is often ge... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Depends: Atrial fibrillation is a very common arrhythmia, often unclear in origin, but usually due to enlarged upper heart chambers (atria). High blood pressu... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Congratulations: In the absence of symptoms (dizziness, faintness, etc.), naturally occurring low blood pressure is not a clinical problem. Indeed, low pressure is a ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
If needed, ß-blocker: There are no medications that will "remedy" or reverse mitral valve prolapse. There are many symptoms associated with this very common cardiac condit... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Big topic!: Atherothrombosis is an ongoing process of injury and healing at the molecular and cellular level in the walls of the arteries. Classic risk factors l... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Outpatient or 1 nite: Usually small incision under local anesthesia, pacing leads put in position under x-ray guidance, small generator box placed into surgically created p... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Ah, marketing..: The soluble fiber component of oatmeal may yield single digit percentage lowering to total cholesterol. In that sense, it's good for cardiovascular h... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Change the generator: Small incision to access the generator box which has an integrated battery. Thus the whole generator is changed, not a separate battery, then the lea... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 62-year-old member asked:
Dr. Irv Lohanswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Marketing issue: Lovaza is a pharmaceutical grade omega-3 fatty acid compound, meaning precisely manufactured under stringent regulation. Fish oil products of all typ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k 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.
5
Recommendations
650
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Jan 17, 2012
he ansewered a question to a problem i have been needing an ansewer to for a while
HealthTap member
Sep 14, 2014
Dr. Loh answered an important question for me on Friday evening. Thank you!!
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Loh is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! I had it done at cedars 5 months ago and they say its not all solid until 6 months…2nd aortic valve replacement need to work out hard now am I ready?
HealthTap member
Thanks for your quick reply. I have Ben heard operated as open heart operation Sean's 2010-10/02 and I stel have problem. Thank you anyway.
HealthTap member
Thanks for your quick reply! I also hv sickle cell anaemia and my blood pressure is usually low. I was also diagnosed bronchiectasis 2011.
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
UC San Francisco School of Medicine, CA
Graduated 1972MD
Residency
UCSF MEDICAL CENTER
Awards
Most Influential, Second Place, Ventura Region, CA - Summer
2013
Top Cardiologist , First Place, Ventura Region, CA - Summer
2013
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