Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasan
Internal Medicine - Cardiology
Chicago, IL
20 years experience male
Locations
Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute
Chicago, IL
About
Bio
I'm a board certified cardiologist and physician-scientist. My clinical area of focus is Sports Cardiology—the cardiovascular care of athletes. My research area of focus is on applying nanotechnology approaches to understanding how high-density lipoproteins (HDL) work, with an ultimate goal of finding new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies leveraging the potential of HDL biology to protect against cardiovascular disease.
My clinical and research training has all been at Northwestern University. My undergraduate background is in Biomedical Engineering. I graduated from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in 2003, and continued on to pursue residency, fellowship, and research training there.
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.
Internal Medicine - Cardiology
Cardiology
Licenses
United States: Illinois
Doctor Q&A
162 Answers
21 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 50-year-old member asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Exercise you like!: In my experience the best exercise is the exercise that someone likes and sticks to. Whether it is swimming, walking, cycling, jogging, stairs, weight... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
It is possible: Unfortunately no medical test is perfect. There can be considerable overlap between how an athletic heart looks and how an abnormal heart looks on sev... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Yes: Systolic blood pressure is the maximum blood pressure found during the cardiac cycle, while diastolic blood pressure is the minimum pressure that's fo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
It's possible: Syncope caused by carotid sinus hypersensitivity could occur at any age, so it's possible that it could happen in a young male.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old male asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Increases risk of : cancer. Radiation can cause mutations in your genes in cells. If enough mutations accumulate in the wrong genes, you could get cancer. A CT of the cor... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
PM ICD: A pace maker is designed to pace your heart, to make it beat, and is usually used for slow heart beat problems. A defibrillator is used to shock the h... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Yes: The goal of bodybuilding is to build an aesthetically pleasing and (usually) bigger physique. The goal of strength training is brute strength, usually... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old male asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Could be many things: hi - your symptoms are broad and could be many things. Because you are young your symptoms are less likely to be related to coronary artery disease. B... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Depends: This depends on the cause. In general diuretics like lasix (furosemide) can help with peripheral edema.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Procedure for valves: Balloon valvotomy is a minimally invasive procedure to reduce obstruction caused by a narrowed heart valve. It is most commonly used for the mitral va... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 48-year-old male asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Depends: In my opinion there is no one correct answer to this question because it really depends on the underlying reason for kidney dysfunction. I note that i... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Possible heart dz.: It depends on how high the triglycerides are. Triglycerides in the 1000s put patients at very high risk for pancreatitis. Triglycerides in the 200-400... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
In general no: If the heart rhythm problem is any type of heart block (first degree av block, second degree av block, or complete heart block), cardioversion won't h... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
It's possible: In general the two conditions are separate. However it is possible that gassy pain is actually heart pain because the heart is not getting enough oxyg... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Pulled muscle: If you have pain in your groin muscle after running, it's possible that you pulled a muscle. Rest, ice, compression, and elevation (rice) may help you... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Heart valve problem: Rheumatic heart disease is a heart disease that some people get after developing rheumatic fever, usually as a child, and fortunately uncommon now in ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old male asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Dehydration?: You could also just be a little dehydrated.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Lower blood pressure: Sildenafil dilates blood vessels in the body and can lead to lower blood pressure, particularly in combination with other vasodilating drugs. If the b... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Depends: The most uncomfortable part about a right heart catheterization is in general the insertion of the "sheath" or the specialized IV through which the do... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
See below: An anomalous right coronary artery is one that is in a different location from its usual anatomic position. It can be different in two ways: 1) where ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old female asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
After in general: Protein supplements should be used immediately after finishing a strength training session for best results. Some people who have extremely long worko... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Right atrium: The first chamber it gets to is the right atrium.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Increase: Blood pressure tends to increase as we age.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Cushing's Reflex: There is a clinical entity called cushing's reflex where this physiology comes into play. This happens when there is a bleed in the brain. This leads ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Right and left sided: It depends on the context, but to me this sounds like doing both a left heart catheterization and a right heart catheterization. A left heart cath is ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 19-year-old male asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Probably: This sounds like a typical reaction to IV contrast. In the future should you need an IV contrast requiring study, notify your doctors so they can give... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Not necessarily: It could be but not necessarily. Other possible causes include it just being cold. Some people can have cold hands and feet normally in surprisingly w... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old female asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
More info: So i'm a little confused because an echocardiogram can't really see plaques. I can explain the concentric lvh: this means that the heart muscle is thi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Broad question: Valvular heart disease refers to problems with one of the four valves in the heart. It can lead to either narrowing or leaking, and depending on the v... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
See below: This refers in general to what the primary underlying problem is. Cardiac arrest means that the main problem was the heart, whereas respiratory failur... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Better than smoking: Nicotine patches used properly can be a safe and effective way to quit smoking. As far as we know, the most dangerous part of a cigarette when it come... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old male asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Low chance of clot: A d-dimer is really a pretty good test for ruling out the possibility of a blood clot in the legs. So the chances are a lot lower that you have a bloo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Sort of: Running long distances or at high training volume puts a large load on the body. During a long run of 2 hours plus, the body begins to run out of gluc... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old male asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Reasonably safe: Kidney dysfunction does pose an increased risk for surgery, as well as a slightly increased risk that after surgery dialysis will be needed, but a cre... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
See below: An innocent heart murmur is one which the doctor feels does not signify any underlying problem. A soft heart murmur can be a normal physical exam find... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
X-Ray Finding: This sounds like a report from a chest x-ray. Chest x-ray can detect whether a heart is enlarged or not. It can also look at the aorta and give a sens... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Depends on stage: If you are a beginning weightlifter (haven't lifted in six months), i would consider either stronglifts or starting strength, both googleable. These a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old female asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Depends: This really depends on the circumstances. Important factors to consider are what valve is involved, how abnormal is it currently, how enlarged the hea... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old male asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Through asthma: Acid reflux can lead to breathing in of stomach acid into the lungs. This can irritate the lungs and cause asthma type symptoms including shortness of... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Maybe: it is hard to say what your symptoms are from given a short description and not knowing your age -- so the most honest answer is maybe. In general ter... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Cholesterol: What you are referring to is high density lipoprotein cholesterol (cholesterol carried on particles called high-density lipoproteins) and low density ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Metabolic syndrome: This profile of high HgbA1c and low LD cholesterol is pretty typical for "metabolic syndrome" a syndrome characterized by glucose intolerance (diabete... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Not very common: People die suddenly (sadly) very commonly from heart attacks, but from myocarditis, which is inflammation of the heart, it is not very common at all.
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3.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 60-year-old female asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Perhaps: I don't have all the facts, clearly, but if the story is concerning for rapid progression in symptoms referrable to the heart, and especially if your ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Exercise!: As little as 30 minutes of walking 4 times a day can do tremenous things for heart health. If drug companies could make exercise a pill, they would! I... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 56-year-old female asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Fast heart rate: Sinus tachycardia just means a fast heart rate, above 100 beats a minute. Usually this is caused by a patient being in pain or being anxious from bein... Read More
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3.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old male asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Not very common: I have to say that patients do not often describe chest pain as prickly and going also to the back. What it is would depend on a further detailed hist... Read More
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3.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Adrenaline: when we are scared or nervous, epinephrine and norepinephrine are released into our body, which increases our heart rate.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Any age: Wolff-Parkinson-White is dependent on an extra band of tissue that one is born with. This could be totally asymptomatic for one's entire life, or it c... Read More
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3.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. R. Kannan Mutharasananswered
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 20 years experience
Scuba dive: The main thing we advise people if they have an ASD or VSD but are otherwise without symptoms is that they should not scuba dive. This is because when... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.2k 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
140
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Mutharasan is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Mutharasan is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Mutharasan is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Thank you, your quick reply made me feel good! Thanks doc. I was getting worried during exercise. Anxiety likely
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! Thank you so much! That's what I thought but I was just pretty nervous
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! All tests on my heart were normal. Proair & reflux seem to affect it.
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, IL
Graduated 2003MD
Residency
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Completed 2006
Awards
Northwestern University Searle Teaching Fellowship
Department of Medicine Teaching Award
Dixon Translational Research Grant Award
Affiliations
Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
American Heart Association
Publications
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