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Home > TX Providers > Interventional Cardiologists

Dr. Akira Nishikawa, MD

(2 Ratings)

Specializes in: Interventional Cardiology and Adult Cardiology

Keio University (1977)

Professional interests include: high cholesterol (hyperlipidemia), angiogram (angiography), hypertension (high blood pressure), and more.

5115 Fannin Street Suite 801
Houston, TX 77004

(713) 790-0841

Dr. Akira Nishikawa, MD is an interventional cardiologist in Houston, TX specializing in interventional cardiology and adult cardiology. He graduated from Keio University in 1977 and has 48 years of experience. Dr. Akira Nishikawa, MD is affiliated with Houston Methodist and HOUSTON CARDIOVASCULAR ASSOC INC.

Office Locations

Address:

5115 Fannin Street Suite 801
Houston, TX 77004

Some issues Dr. Akira Nishikawa, MD can help you with:

Angioplasty

Angioplasty is a common, minimally invasive procedure performed to restore blood flow in arteries and veins that have become narrowed or blocked. Age or illness can cause plaque to build up at certain spots within the veins and arteries, and if enough collects, it can restrict the flow of blood. Angioplasty uses a tiny balloon at the end of a small, flexible tube to inflate within the narrowed section and open it up again.

Angioplasty may be performed in several different areas of the body and for a variety of reasons, most often:

Peripheral arterial disease, which reduces blood flow in the arms or legs
Atherosclerosis, or general hardening of the arteries
Carotid artery stenosis, or narrowing of the arteries in the neck that supply the brain
Coronary artery disease, or narrowing of the arteries near the heart
Renal vascular hypertension, or narrowing of the arteries in the kidney, leading to increased blood pressure

During angioplasty, a patient is given a sedative while lying on a table under an x-ray machine. A catheter (a thin, flexible, and hollow tube) is inserted into the patient's skin in the arm or groin and guided into the blocked artery. Dye is injected via the catheter, and x-rays are used to position the tip of the catheter exactly at the blockage. The tiny balloon is guided through the catheter and inflated with saline. It pushes the plaque out of the way, squishing it against the walls of the artery. The balloon may be inflated and deflated several times to let blood pass by. A stent, a tiny tube of metal mesh like a spring, may be inserted to help keep the artery open. Then the x-ray is used again to check that blood is flowing properly, the catheter is removed, and the tiny incision is bandaged.

There are no nerves within veins and arteries, so an angioplasty is generally not painful. However, there may be some discomfort at the site of the incision and when the balloon is inflated. Overall, angioplasty is a very effective and low-risk procedure, useful for helping patients avoid more difficult bypass surgery.

Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease. It happens when the blood vessels carrying blood to the heart, called coronary arteries, narrow and harden. This occurs when cholesterol, a type of fat found in the blood, builds up to form plaque, which sticks to the inner walls of the arteries. As plaque accumulates, less blood can flow through the arteries, which may lead to the following:

Angina, which is chest pain that occurs when the heart does not receive enough blood flow.
Heart attack, which happens if the arteries leading to the heart are completely blocked.
Arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, which can develop if the heart does not have enough blood supply.
Heart failure, which may occur if a heart attack damages the heart and it becomes too weak to pump enough blood to the rest of the body.

Certain factors may increase risk for the disease, like smoking, lack of exercise, being overweight, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes. CAD tends to develop over decades, so it can go undetected until it has become quite severe. A diagnosis may be established using such tests as:

Electrocardiogram (ECG), which records the heart's electrical activity over a period of time. ECGs can detect whether there is enough blood flow to the heart or if a heart attack has occurred.
Echocardiogram (echo), which creates images of the heart using sound waves. Echos can show whether the heart is able to pump blood normally.
Stress tests, where an ECG or echo is combined with exercise, like riding a stationary bike or walking on a treadmill. This test is done to find out if the heart can function properly while performing a strenuous activity.

Treatments for the disease include medications such as vasodilators, like nitroglycerin, which dilates (widens) the coronary arteries. CAD may also be treated by a procedure called angioplasty with stent placement, where a balloon is inflated inside a diseased artery to flatten the plaque deposits against the artery walls, creating more room for blood to flow.

In some severe cases of the disease, multiple arteries may be blocked, and an open heart surgery called coronary artery bypass surgery may be necessary. This operation transplants a vessel from another part of the body to form a graft that goes past the narrowed arteries, thus enabling blood to flow around those arteries.

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.

ambulatory monitoring	23
cardiac procedures	582
catheterization	30
diagnostic procedures	30
doctor visit	914
hospital care	1421
inpatient care	1369
minimally invasive procedures	30
nuclear scan	94
outpatient care	27
stress testing	234
ultrasound (sonogram)	291
vascular procedures	25

**Gender**
Male	256
Female	225

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	319
Black	89
Hispanic	0
Asian	33
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	230
From 75 to 84	149
85 and over	50
Less than 65	52

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	9
Ischemic Heart Disease	74
Depression	19
Chronic Kidney Disease	38
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	5
Atrial Fibrilation	25
Heart Failure	34
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	20
Diabetes	45
Dementia	15
Cancer	10

ambulatory monitoring	23
cardiac procedures	591
catheterization	23
diagnostic procedures	23
doctor visit	872
hospital care	995
inpatient care	982
minimally invasive procedures	23
nuclear scan	107
stress testing	235
ultrasound (sonogram)	319
vascular procedures	31

**Gender**
Male	243
Female	244

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	299
Black	106
Hispanic	35
Asian	33
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	224
From 75 to 84	158
85 and over	58
Less than 65	47

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	11
Ischemic Heart Disease	75
Depression	16
Chronic Kidney Disease	39
Asthma	9
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	24
Heart Failure	40
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	18
Diabetes	44
Dementia	14
Cancer	11

ambulatory monitoring	23
cardiac procedures	659
catheterization	43
diagnostic procedures	43
doctor visit	854
hospital care	621
inpatient care	602
minimally invasive procedures	43
nuclear scan	53
outpatient care	20
stress testing	233
ultrasound (sonogram)	450
vascular procedures	132

**Gender**
Male	452
Female	442

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	588
Black	156
Hispanic	60
Asian	62
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	424
From 75 to 84	296
85 and over	110
Less than 65	64

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	9
Ischemic Heart Disease	74
Depression	16
Chronic Kidney Disease	40
Asthma	13
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	22
Heart Failure	39
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	18
Diabetes	43
Dementia	13
Cancer	11

abdominal imaging	17
ambulatory monitoring	32
cardiac procedures	697
catheterization	45
diagnostic procedures	45
doctor visit	904
hospital care	771
inpatient care	753
minimally invasive procedures	45
nuclear scan	71
outpatient care	19
pelvic imaging	17
stress testing	259
ultrasound (sonogram)	529
vascular procedures	212

**Gender**
Male	207
Female	212

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	273
Black	77
Hispanic	31
Asian	26
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	217
From 75 to 84	137
85 and over	48
Less than 65	17

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	72
Stroke	9
Ischemic Heart Disease	74
Depression	15
Chronic Kidney Disease	42
Asthma	18
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	23
Heart Failure	34
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	17
Diabetes	42
Dementia	12
Cancer	11

abdominal imaging	19
ambulatory monitoring	48
cardiac procedures	680
catheterization	47
diagnostic procedures	47
doctor visit	893
hospital care	537
inpatient care	539
minimally invasive procedures	47
nuclear scan	98
pelvic imaging	19
stress testing	268
ultrasound (sonogram)	464
vascular procedures	193

**Gender**
Male	198
Female	207

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	251
Black	90
Hispanic	29
Asian	23
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	218
From 75 to 84	123
85 and over	49
Less than 65	15

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	67
Stroke	7
Ischemic Heart Disease	75
Depression	17
Chronic Kidney Disease	45
Asthma	10
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	18
Heart Failure	30
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	16
Diabetes	40
Dementia	13
Cancer	12

abdominal imaging	19
ambulatory monitoring	65
cardiac procedures	720
catheterization	43
diagnostic procedures	43
doctor visit	815
hospital care	402
inpatient care	389
minimally invasive procedures	43
nuclear scan	100
outpatient care	14
pelvic imaging	19
stress testing	289
ultrasound (sonogram)	444
vascular procedures	196

**Gender**
Male	204
Female	204

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	268
Black	81
Hispanic	25
Asian	17
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	197
From 75 to 84	143
85 and over	52
Less than 65	16

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	74
Stroke	10
Ischemic Heart Disease	75
Depression	18
Chronic Kidney Disease	44
Asthma	10
Osteoperosis	9
Atrial Fibrilation	18
Heart Failure	31
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	16
Diabetes	38
Dementia	13
Cancer	13

abdominal imaging	15
ambulatory monitoring	28
cardiac procedures	680
catheterization	19
diagnostic procedures	19
doctor visit	775
hospital care	563
inpatient care	565
minimally invasive procedures	19
nuclear scan	69
pelvic imaging	15
stress testing	270
ultrasound (sonogram)	475
vascular procedures	170

**Gender**
Male	229
Female	208

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	289
Black	81
Hispanic	26
Asian	23
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	209
From 75 to 84	152
85 and over	55
Less than 65	21

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	13
Ischemic Heart Disease	75
Depression	20
Chronic Kidney Disease	45
Asthma	9
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	20
Heart Failure	32
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	18
Diabetes	42
Dementia	14
Cancer	13

abdominal imaging	14
cardiac procedures	586
catheterization	16
diagnostic procedures	16
doctor visit	723
hospital care	748
inpatient care	734
minimally invasive procedures	16
nuclear scan	50
outpatient care	15
pelvic imaging	14
stress testing	234
ultrasound (sonogram)	431
vascular procedures	147

**Gender**
Male	229
Female	194

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	286
Black	72
Hispanic	30
Asian	19
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	200
From 75 to 84	155
85 and over	54
Less than 65	14

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	14
Ischemic Heart Disease	75
Depression	21
Chronic Kidney Disease	46
Asthma	9
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	22
Heart Failure	33
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	16
Diabetes	38
Dementia	16
Cancer	14

abdominal imaging	36
cardiac procedures	1170
chronic care	147
doctor visit	1403
hospital care	882
inpatient care	868
nuclear scan	172
outpatient care	15
pelvic imaging	36
stress testing	528
ultrasound (sonogram)	867
vascular procedures	277

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Akira Nishikawa, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Akira Nishikawa, MD treated as an interventional cardiologist in Houston, TX were hospital care, inpatient care, cardiac procedures and ultrasound (sonogram).

abdominal imaging	20
ambulatory monitoring	34
cardiac procedures	708
catheterization	34
chronic care	147
diagnostic procedures	34
doctor visit	907
hospital care	772
inpatient care	755
minimally invasive procedures	34
nuclear scan	90
outpatient care	18
pelvic imaging	20
stress testing	283
ultrasound (sonogram)	476
vascular procedures	156

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Akira Nishikawa, MD.

**Gender**
Female	193
Male	201

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	75
Asian / Pacific Islander	23
Non-Hispanic White	257
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	23
Other	0

**Age**
85 and over	47
75 to 84	131
Less than 65	24
65 to 74	191

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Akira Nishikawa, MD From 2013 - 2021

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Akira Nishikawa, MD treated were hypertension, ischemic heart disease, high cholesterol and chronic kidney disease.

Hypertension	60
High Cholesterol	58
Stroke	8
Ischemic Heart Disease	59
Depression	14
Chronic Kidney Disease	33
Asthma	8
Osteoporosis	6
Heart Failure	27
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	13
Diabetes	33
Atrial Fibrillation	17
Cancer	9
Dementia	11

Education & Training

Dr. Akira Nishikawa, MD graduated from Keio University in 1977. He completed residency at University of Kansas Medical Center. He has a state license in Texas.

Medical School: Keio University (1977)

Residency: University of Kansas Medical Center (1982)

Licensed In: Texas

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Akira Nishikawa, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Houston Methodist

HOUSTON CARDIOVASCULAR ASSOC INC

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Akira Nishikawa, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars based on 2 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Akira Nishikawa, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Houston, TX.

4.5

Overall Rating

(2 Ratings)

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Akira Nishikawa, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Shimadzu Precision Instruments, Inc.	$35,000 $35,000
Gilead Sciences Inc	$8,564 Ranexa $8,084	$480
Boston Scientific Corporation	$7,202 WATCHMAN $2,713	GENERAL VASCULAR ACCESS $1,453	TACHY HF $398	SYNERGY $388	ENDOTAK RELIANCE G DEFIBRILLATION LEAD $232	Other $2,020
Abbott Laboratories	$4,993 CardioMEMS $995	CRT-Ds $515	Quadra Assura CRT Defibrillator $362	Pacemakers $358	ADVISOR $355	Other $2,408
Nippon Boehringer Ingelheim Co., Ltd.	$2,000 MICARDIS $2,000
Other	$12,009 XARELTO $1,700	Coronary Orbital Atherectomy System $1,579	ENTRESTO $1,183	Repatha $781	ELIQUIS $663	Other $6,104

**Types of Payments**
Consulting Fee	$35,000
Food and Beverage	$20,731
Compensation for services other than consulting, including serving as faculty or as a speaker at a venue other than a continuing education program	$6,425
Travel and Lodging	$5,443
Honoraria	$2,000
Other	$170

Biography

Dr. Akira Nishikawa is a specialist in adult cardiology and interventional cardiology. He works in Houston, TX. He is a graduate of Keio University. His residency was performed at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Dr. Nishikawa's areas of expertise include heart failure, hypertension (high blood pressure), and high cholesterol (hyperlipidemia). He is conversant in Japanese. He is professionally affiliated with Houston Methodist.