Dr. Chiu-Yu Chen, PHD, MD is a pediatric cardiologist in Palo Alto, CA specializing in pediatric cardiology. She graduated from University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in 2011 and has 13 years of experience. Dr. Chiu-Yu Chen, PHD, MD is affiliated with Stanford Children's Health and LPCH MEDICAL GROUP DIV OF LUCILE.
725 Welch Road
Palo Alto, CA 94304
Heart Problems
The heart is one of the most important organs in the body. This smooth muscle expands and contracts rhythmically an entire lifetime, pumping blood to the lungs and then to every other cell in the body. When heart problems occur, it becomes difficult for the body to get the nutrients and oxygen it needs via the blood. So while there are a variety of illnesses and disorders that affect the heart, most of them cause weakness, exhaustion and shortness of breath. The most common heart conditions include heart disease, angina, arrhythmia, and valve disorders.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women. This includes coronary artery disease, heart attacks, congestive heart failure, and congenital heart disease. Some conditions, such as genetics, cannot be controlled. But there are many other things one can do to lower their risk for heart disease. Controlling high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, reducing or stopping smoking, exercising more and losing weight if needed, and eating a diet low in sodium can all protect the heart.
Angina is a squeezing type of chest pain that happens when the muscles around the heart don't get enough oxygen. It can be regular or infrequent. Usually, angina is caused by coronary heart disease. However, not all chest pain is angina. Chest pain can also be caused by a lung infection or panic attack, for example, so it is important to have any sudden pain checked.
Arrhythmia is the word for when the heart beats too fast, too slow, or irregularly with skipped beats. It can feel frightening, and depending on the type it can be dangerous, but in most cases arrhythmia is not serious and can be treated. It is very common, especially in older adults.
Heart valve problems can happen in any one of the the heart's four valves that keep blood flowing where it needs to go. Babies can be born with problems in their heart valves, or valves can be damaged by infections. The valves can stiffen and become less mobile, or they can stop closing properly and 'leak' when the heart beats. Valve problems can usually be repaired surgically.
Dr. Chiu-Yu Chen, PHD, MD graduated from University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in 2011. She completed residency at University of Washington Affiliated Hospitals. She is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics - Pediatrics and has a state license in California.
Medical School: University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (2011)
Residency: University of Washington Affiliated Hospitals (2014)
Board Certification: American Board of Pediatrics - Pediatrics
Licensed In: California
Dr. Chiu-Yu Chen, PHD, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:
Dr. Chiu-Yu Chen, PHD, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 1 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Chiu-Yu Chen, PHD, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Palo Alto, CA.
My son is a patient of Dr. Chen's. He was born with a single ventricle and all of our care up until November of last year was in SoCal where we live. Over the last year, we became very familiar with Stanford and Dr. Chen as my son's care was transferred to Stanford at the time when he was in full congestive heart failure and needed a heart transplant. We didn't know anyone at Stanford, but trusted our referral source. Dr. Chen saw him the first day of clinic visits we had and immediately hospitalized him to get him stabilized (this was after multiple hospitalizations at our usual hospital and all attempts to remedy with pharmaceuticals, including at home IV failed). Within the week, my son had a ventricular assist device placed to get him well enough to undergo transplant. After 3 months at Stanford, he was able to come home, a much healthier teenager, while we waited for him to be listed for transplant. From the start, Dr. Chen was also keeping an eye on his liver, as well, due to his underlying anatomy. He was listed and within 2 weeks had a double transplant - both heart and liver. The thing about Dr. Chen and Stanford in general is that they work as a cohesive team. When you have one amazing doctor taking care of your critically ill child, you actually have an amazing team of them and Dr. Chen certainly deserves her place in that group. She's caring, understanding, present, extremely knowledgeable, and she knows her limits which I always appreciate. I could write a similar review about many of the cardiologists, hospitalists, surgeons, etc., at Stanford. It's been by far the best experience that we've ever had with a hospital. I'm very happy to say that our son had his double transplant in March 2021 and he is a thriving young adult now! We truly owe our son's life to Stanford and to Dr. Chen.
Dr. Chiu-Yu Chen's medical specialty is pediatric cardiology. Dr. Chen's areas of expertise include heart transplant and cardiomyopathy. After attending the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, she completed her residency training at a hospital affiliated with the University of Washington. She is professionally affiliated with Stanford Children's Health.