James Frank

Caring.com Expert

About

James Frank is Assistant Professor of Medicine and Director of the Medical Intensive Care Unit at the V.A. Medical Center in San Francisco. He received his medical degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine and completed residency training in internal medicine and a fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. His primary clinical and research interest is critical care medicine, and he spends much of his time caring for elderly patients in the intensive care unit and working with their families.

James's wife, Stephanie Trelogan, is a senior editor at Caring.com. James and Stephanie are glad that their parents are still healthy and active, and their two young children take full advantage of this whenever their grandparents come to visit.

Recently Published on Caring.com

1. Tuesday November 18, 2008

   1. I have had COPD for 5 years and now have frequent shortness of breath- is it time for oxygen?

      Answer - Whether a person needs oxygen for COPD depends on whether he has pulmonary hypertension and what his oxygen levels are.

   2. At 34 years old, how concerned should I be about chest pain that goes into my arm?

      Answer - Chest pain should be evaluated by a doctor immediately, even in a young person.

   3. Does congestive heart failure happen quickly?

      Answer - Heart failure often develops gradually, but it can come on suddenly after a heart attack or viral infection of the heart.

   4. Can a bp averaging 142/90 be considered normal, if a person...

      Answer - A blood pressure reading averaging 142/90 is high even if someone has had it for years.

   5. Could swelling be a side effect of medications or the start of ascetis?

      Answer - Swelling after a heart transplant could be caused by many different things.

   6. What is the average life expectancy after a bypass surgery?

      Answer - Life expectancy after a bypass depends on the type of bypass and how old the person was when she had it.

   7. What could be the cause of my mother in law's low creatinine level?

      Answer - Low creatinine levels could be caused by many different things.

2. Thursday September 18, 2008

   8. Is a pacemaker a solution for arterial fibrillation?

      Answer - How to manage atrial fibrillation depends on a lot of factors, but it's usually controlled with medication.

   9. Are nausea and fatigue a sign that the end is near from congestive heart failure?

      Answer - What fatigue and nausea mean in end-stage heart failure.

   10. What can swollen ankles mean after a heart attack?

       Answer - What ankle swelling, shortness of breath, and coughing may mean after a heart attack.

   11. How do you determine which health issue is causing numbness in my mother's legs?

       Answer - Stenosis may be the cause of episodes of leg numbness, but more testing is needed to be sure.

   12. Are intimate relations safe after a heart attack?

       Answer - To find out if sex is safe after a heart attack, you need to talk to a doctor who's familiar with the case.

   13. What is a sheath and can it be fixed or does your port have to be removed?

       Answer - Your doctor needs to evaluate whether your port needs to be removed.

   14. What does it mean when a person has to get a ring in their heart after a triple bypass?

       Answer - A triple bypass and ring placement can be done at the same time, by open heart surgery.

   15. Is sporadic stabbing pain after an angiogram normal?

       Answer - Stabbing pains four weeks after an angiogram are not normal.

   16. Is there a procedure for elminating arterial fibrillation?

       Answer - Medications are usually the best way to control atrial fibrillation, but an ablation procedure is sometimes necessary.

3. Friday August 01, 2008

   17. What is a MUGA test?

       Answer - Explanation of MUGA test for assessing heart function.

4. Thursday July 31, 2008

   18. Is hospitalization or a clinic better for lymphedema treatment?

       Answer - How best to treat fluid buildup due to congestive heart failure.

5. Thursday May 15, 2008

   19. Is a large bruise from a stent closure be cause for concern?

       Answer - Bruising at the site of a stent closure should be evaluated immediately at the nearest emergency room.

   20. When you have 100% blockage on the right side, 80% on the left and they tell you that surgery won't work, what is the next step?

       Answer - Options for coronary artery disease when surgery can't be done.

   21. What drugs are used to treat cardiac problems and COPD?

       Answer - Beta-blockers can sometimes cause problems for people with heart problems and COPD.

   22. Does more frequent and longer lasting jaw pain mean a blockage is worsening?

       Answer - When jaw pain gets worse, it's definitely an indication that a blockage may be worsening.

   23. What could be the cause of my mother's weight loss?

       Answer - Gradual weight loss in a 92-year-old with heart disease could be due to many factors.

   24. My dad's palpitations have suddenly become allot more frequent.

       Answer - An increase in palpitation frequency calls for continuous monitoring.

   25. What is the best way to gauge how much exercise is too much?...

       Answer - Exercise should be fine for heart patients as long as it doesn't bring on symptoms.