Unveiling Myocardial Bridges: A Hidden Cause of Heart Disease with Jeff Holden, a patient activist, author of “
Imperfect Heart: Stories of Myocardial Bridges,” and host of the “
Imperfect Heart” podcast. Jeff shares his harrowing personal journey with myocardial bridges, a congenital heart condition often overlooked by the medical community. Despite experiencing unexplained cardiac symptoms and undergoing multiple medical tests, Jeff was only diagnosed after a provocative test at Stanford revealed severe vasospasms and a myocardial bridge. Jeff emphasizes the importance of awareness and proper diagnosis of this condition, which can mimic common cardiovascular diseases but requires an entirely different treatment approach. The discussion highlights the need for increased recognition among primary care physicians and cardiologists, the diagnostic challenges, and the impact of this often-ignored condition on patients' lives. This episode aims to educate listeners and promote better understanding and management of myocardial bridges in the medical community.