Locations
Office
Tampa, FL
My office hours
Thursday: Closed
Show moreInsurances accepted
All Care Insurance Services
Aetna
Blue cross blue shield
Cigna
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Medicaid
United healthcare
Office
Tampa, FL
About
Bio
Eric Toloza, MD, PhD, is an Associate Member and a Thoracic Surgeon at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, FL. He performs surgery to treat lung esophageal cancer, mesothelioma, mediastinal masses, metastases to the lungs, and malignant pleural and pericardial effusions. Dr. Toloza's basic science research interests have included using gene therapy to treat various thoracic cancers. He has also studied the use stem cell therapy and gene therapy to treat asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, and emphysema. His clinical research has included the study of nutritional and exercise effects on cachexia of cancer and chronic heart failure. Dr. Toloza is currently interested in thoracic oncology outcomes research and how surgical care pathways or a patient's tumor genomics profile affect outcomes. He is also interested in developing minimally-invasive surgical techniques, including robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surigcal procedures. Dr. Toloza has consulted for companies such as Genzyme, Ethicon, Closure Biomedical, Covidien (formerly US Surgical), Atrium, Denver Biomedical, I-Flow, Cardinal Health, Neomend, and Intuitive Surgical.
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.
Thoracic Surgery
Languages spoken
English
Doctor Q&A
318 Answers
114 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Not always: Would only recommend antibiotics if you develop fevers, shaking chills, or colored (green or beige) or bloody sputum. If blood sputum, would also rec... Read More
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5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Hyperthyroid: High levels of all three of these, tsh, t3, (liothyronine) and t4, is due to the pituitary gland causing too much tsh, which causes the thyroid to mak... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Walking: The easiest and safest exercise is walking, but consult with your cardiologist before starting an exercise program and periodically afterwards.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Type of BP med: An ace inhibitor, or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, is a type of blood pressure medication to control high blood pressure.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Help heart health: Any atherosclerosis caused by smoking is usually not reversible, but any blood vessel narrowing due to nicotine can be improved by stopping smoking.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
No: But sleeping positions (on a wedge or with the head of the bed elevated) can help gerd and possibly avoid surgery ...
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Can improve: If reflux was resulting in aspiration pneumonitis, then nissen can reduce the reflux, which will allow the lungs to potentially recover and your breat... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Atherosclerosis: Triglycerides is essentially fat, which can cause atherosclerosis along with cholesterol and cause blockage in the coronary arteries that feed heart m... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Yes: Blood pressure is also affected by your peripheral blood vessels and can be high even if you have a low pulse rate.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
No: Can be due to murmurs or other arrhythmias ...
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Tamponade: Can lead to cardiac tamponade, which is squeezing of the heart by too much fluid, so that the heart cannot expand and fill wth blood and so the heart ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years agoMerged
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Several: Usually some combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Several: They can help you with different breathing techniques depending on your problem, e.g. Emphysema ... They can help you use your breathing medications c... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Yes: Energy drinks usually contain stimulants that can cause heart arrhythmias.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 53-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Depends: Probably only if you get stuck in traffic and have to breathe exhaust fumes excessively ...
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Depends: Could be gastro-esophageal reflux disease (gerd), or acid reflux. Could be angina. Could be neuropathy from a pinched nerve coming out of the thorac... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Four: Mesothelioma can occur as pleural (in the lung cavity), peritoneal (in the abdominal cavity), or as pericardial (in the heart sac). There are four ty... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Depends: Epithelioid can be treated with combination of surgery, chemo, and radiation ... Other types usually just with chemo ...
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Yes: A collapes lung can cause a heart attack either by lowering your oxygen levels or by causing a tension pneumothorax, which can prevent circulation of ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Or heart problem: Should consult with your doctor and possibly get a stress echocardiogram and pulmonary function tests (with diffusion capacity, dlco). The stress ech... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 28-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Possibly: If the stomach acid is aspirated (inhaled) into the lungs, then your lungs can be damaged by the acid ...
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Yes, definitely: Yes, of course, you should get checked out if you cannot breathe properly.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Biofeedback: Biofeedback techniques can help you relax and slow down your breathing ...
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
If too small: If too small, can migrate (move) or clot off more easily ... Usually not a problem with being too big ...
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Yes: By opening up a narrowing in the coronary artery ...
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Possibly: Pulmonary fibrosis is usually the result of chronic or recurrent inflammation of the lung, which subsequently leaves scarring in the lung, and can be ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Depends: Can feel like palpitations, lightheadedness, shortness of breath, chest pains ...
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Depends: High blood pressure can cause damage to the blood vessels of your organs and can cause strain to your heart ... Low blood pressure can result in not e... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Lower blood pressure: Diuretics make you urinate more, and so can make you relatively dehydrated and lower your blood pressure. It can also alter some of your electrolyies... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Reflex: Sighing is usually an involuntary reflex in which your brain is telling your diaphragm and other chest wall muscles to expand your lungs fully in orde... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 22-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Can be for you: Usually not a problem if not becoming more frequent ...
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Muscle spasms?: Most likely a muscle spasm from the sudden and very deep breath related to yawning ...
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Chest congestion: A chest cold usually refers to congestion extending into the upper airways, causing coughing or some difficulty breathing due to some narrowing of the... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Perhaps: Similar to sighing, yawning is a reflex to re-expand your lungs, which may have some of their air sacs not fully expanded due to periods of shallow br... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Not really ...: It may be your heart fluttering ... Or possibly be fluid in your airways that you feel on your chest, rather than your lungs per se ...
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Biofeedback: Usually with simple recognization that one is hyperventilating and either performing biofeedback techniques to get oneself to stop hyperventilating.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Depends: Could be her heart ... Could be simply fainting ... Could be dehydration ... Medications? ... Stroke? ... She should see her md ...
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Vasoconstriction: Usually due to vasoconstriction, especially when very cold ... But could be due to not enough oxygen in the blood, which could be due to lung problem ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Varies per person: But normal heart rate at rest should be between 60-90 and blood pressure should be between 90-140 systolic over 60-90 diastolic ...
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5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Avoid pollution: Minimize one's exposure to the pollution, either by staying away from the pollution, or else wearing a mask or respirator if one has to be exposed to ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
From airways: Wheezing is usually due to something narrowing the airways, either from congestion, asthma, bronchitis, or a tumor either compressing the airways or e... Read More
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5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Veins vs arteries: Vein grafts do not last as long as arterial grafts ... Usually less than 10 years for vein grafts ... Left internal mammary artery graft to left anter... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Cancer or motion: To ruleout esophageal cancer or motility disorders of the esophagus, such as achalasia ... May also need manometry studies ...
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Not necessarily: If the bronchitis develops an area of severe bronchiectasis, then surgery may be indicated to remove the area of bronchiectasis. But surgery will not... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Or your heart: Breathing heavily may be a sign of lung disease, but can also be a sign of heart disease, and need to be evaluated by your doctor.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Loose mitral valve: Mitral valve prolapse refers to the valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle of your heart is bowing far back into the left atrium when th... Read More
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5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
It could: Costochondritis can affect any of the cartilages that connect the ribs to the sternum (or breast bone), so can affect either side of the breast bone o... Read More
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5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
Possibly: Can be related to the bypass surgery, especially if your leg veins were used for the bypass ... But if persists or worsens, or if your leg is swollen,... Read More
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5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
No: Should see your md to get your heart and lungs checked out ... Reflux can also contribute to this, but would normally cause coughing as well ...
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Eric Tolozaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
No symptoms: Atrial fibrillation may not cause any symptoms, especially if the blood pressure is not affected ...
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.
2
Recommendations
378
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Toloza is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Toloza is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Thanks, I can not use nitroglycerin due to low blood pressure, but I did avoid the hot & cold, & quit drinking coffee. They all helped . I saw my GI & he was able to work me in to have a dilation done...Read More
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer or tip was very helpful! Thank you! I was very concerned it might be something serious.
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! Thank you very much.
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
University of California, Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine
Graduated 1991MD
Medical/Graduate school
University of California - Los Angeles
Graduated 1990MD
Medical/Graduate school
UCLA School of Medicine, CA
Graduated 1991MD
Residency
Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital
Residency
University of California Irvine Medical Center
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