Dana Weisshaar, MD, FACC

Cardiologist | Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology

2557 Samaritan Drive 845 San Jose CA, 95124 Show map

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About

Dr. Dana Weisshaar is a heart failure and transplant cardiologist who recently retired from The Permanente Medical Group after over two decades of practice within Kaiser Permanente Northern California. Dr. Weisshaar specializes in the care of patients with heart failure, cardiomyopathy and amyloid heart disease as well as those who have received a heart transplant.

In additon to being a dedicated clinician, Dr. Weisshaar is a passionate educator. She teaches physcians, nurses, allied health professionals, patients and students.

Education and Training

The Ohio State University BS 1985

Medical College of Ohio MD 1989

Board Certification

American Board of Internal Medicine

Cardiovascular Disease (Internal Medicine)

Provider Details

FemaleEnglish

Dana Weisshaar, MD, FACC

Dana Weisshaar, MD, FACC's Expert Contributions

My Answers

What are the potential cardiac causes for chest tightness?
The most common cardiac cause of chest tightness or pressure is angina which is caused by restriction of the blood flow to the heart muscle. The most common cause of angina is coronary artery disease which involves narrowing of the arteries by plaque build up. Features of angina are typically chest pain/heaviness/tightness/pressure which comes on with exertion and improves with rest. While there are other non-cardiac causes of chest tightness, it's a good idea to discuss the symptoms with a healthcare professional to determine the cause. READ MORE
What is the treatment for mitral valve prolapse?
There is no specific treatment for mitral valve prolapse (MVP). Many patients with MVP have no symptoms and in most who have symptoms they are benign. Follow-up echocardiogram testing is reasonable to evaluate for the development of mitral regurgitation (leaking of the mitral valve). In a small subset of patients with MVP who develop severe mitral regurgitation, surgery is necessary to repair or replace the valve. READ MORE
What are your thoughts on the use of wearable technology for monitoring heart health?
Wearables are becoming ever more popular and reliable. The most important factors impacting heart health are age, gender, ethnicity, family history, tobacco use, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity. Some of these cannot be modified (e.g. age, ethnicity and family history). Others (like tobacco use and obesity) don't need wearables to track their control. I'm not aware of a reliable wearable to monitor blood pressure or cholesterol, but would love to see one developed. So, using wearables that can track sleep, activity, heart rate and blood sugar all can give a sense of one's heart health. Some of the heart rate trackers can provide an alert for an abnormal rhythm and some can even display a short rhythm strip (a short image of the electrical signal - like an EKG). READ MORE
How can high cholesterol affect my heart health?
Elevated cholesterol, particularly elevated LDL cholesterol, can lead to atherosclerosis (plaque deposition in the arteries) which can lead to heart attack, stroke or claudication depending on which arteries are most affected. Controlling your cholesterol, along with aerobic exercise, blood sugar control, blood pressure control, avoiding nicotine products and maintaining a healthy weight are all part of a heart healthy lifestyle to reduce those risks. READ MORE
Are there any specific lifestyle changes I should be aware of to ensure the success of my heart stent?
A heart healthy lifestyle includes a primarily plant-based whole food diet, regular exercise (at least 150 minutes/week), maintaining a healthy weight, getting plenty of sleep, and abstinence from tobacco and recreational drugs. READ MORE
How long do the effects of a heart stent last?
A stent in the coronary artery (which supplies blood to part of the heart muscle) can last a lifetime. There is a 2-3% chance of re-narrowing (called restenosis) within the first 6-9 months. And there is a risk of thrombosis (clotting) which is why your cardiologist will recommend you take two antiplatelet medications for 6-12 months after your stent is placed. In order to reduce the risk of restenosis or worsening of plaque in the remainder of the arteries to the heart, your cardiologist will also recommend several things: 1. lowering your LDL cholesterol to <70, 2. good blood pressure and blood sugar control, 3. exercise, 4. maintaining a healthy weight and 5. abstinence from tobacco. READ MORE
Is it normal to hear your heartbeat when exercising?
Its not unusual to hear your heart beat when you have something covering your ear. The carotid artery runs near the ear canal, so it makes sense that you can hear the heartbeat when the EarPods are in READ MORE
Sore throat
Yes READ MORE
chest pain
In light of the stuffy nose, you most likely have a respiratory infection which is causing your chest tightness when you breathe. Please test for COVID. Most viral infections resolve over 7-10 days. If your symptoms worsen or you become short of breath, see your local physician. READ MORE
Is this an emergency
Blood pressure that high needs to be treated. It may be a side effect of the vyvanse. Talk to your doctor about stopping or changing meds and monitoring your blood pressure READ MORE
Heart rate
A resting heart rate of 53bpm indicates good cardiovascular health. Getting your heart rate up to 155bpm during exercise is perfectly normal. READ MORE
Resting Heart rate below 60
A resting heart rate less than 60 is perfectly normal and a sign of your cardiovascular fitness. Continue your excellent exercise regimen. READ MORE
Restarting interrupted high blood pressure medications
A week should be sufficiently long for the medications to take maximal effect. READ MORE
Heart rate
A resting heart rate in the 50s is perfectly normal for someone taking metoprolol. No reason to worry. READ MORE
Myxomatous Mitral Valve
Thanks for asking. I agree with your doctor. Your symptoms are likely not related to your myxomatous valve which has only trace regurgitation. It will be appropriate for you to get a follow-up echocardiogram every 3-5 years. As you get older the mitral valve may degenerate and require intervention. Good blood pressure control may help slow the progression. Be well. READ MORE
Cardiac arrest and brain function
I am so sorry to hear about your girlfriend's cardiac arrest. That must have been extremely traumatic for you. By providing chest compressions during those precious minutes before EMS arrived you have given her brain the best chance of recovery. Unfortunately, only time will tell how much brain recovery. 48 hours is still early. Hang in there. I'm praying for her recovery. READ MORE
Is sex safe for me if I have heart failure and heart palpitations
Yes. Absolutely. Sex is safe for patients with heart failure and palpitations. In fact, you can think of it as a form of exercise. Cardiovascular exercise (in which your heart rate goes up) is great for general heart health as well as for anxiety. READ MORE
How long will I have to follow diet restrictions after heart stent surgery?
After receiving a stent for coronary artery disease, it is advisable to modify your diet life-long. Doing so can reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke and need for additional stent procedures. A plant based whole food (not processed) diet is the healthiest choice. Not everyone can stick to a strict plant-based (Vegan) diet for life. So, I recommend trying to increase daily intake of vegetables, reduce animal products (specifically limiting beef & pork to 1-2 servings per month) and minimize eating fried foods. Be well. READ MORE

Expert Publications

Data provided by the National Library of Medicine

Association between the chance locus of control belief with self-reported occasional nonadherence after heart transplantation: a pilot study.

Clinical Trials

Confirmation Trial of the Acorn CorCap Cardiac Support Device (CSD) at the Same Time as Mitral Valve Repair

Areas of expertise and specialization

Heart FailureAmyloid Heart DiseaseCardiomyopathyHeart TransplantRestrictive CardiomyopathyCardiac Amyloidosis

Faculty Titles & Positions

Professor KP Santa Clara, Institute of Medical Educators 2022 - Present
NCAL Hub Medicai Director KP National Transplant Services 2017 - 2023
Chief, Heat Failure/Transplant Department KP Santa Clara 2007 - 2017
Associate Professor, affiliate Stanford Medical Center 2017 - 2023
Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiologist Empallo Medical Group - Present
Professor of Medicine and Cardiology California Northstate University College of Medicine 2024 - Present

Awards

Hicks Williams Community Service Award 2015 Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara
Three Best Rated Cardiologists in Santa Clara CA 2021 Top Docs
Top Cardiologist in Santa Clara, CA 2023 Best In California Magazine

Treatments

Heart Disease
Heart Failure
Cardiomyopathy

Professional Memberships

International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation
American Heart Association
American College of Cardiology

Fellowships

California Pacific Medical Center Cardiovascular Disease and Advanced Heart Failure/Transplant 1997

Areas of research

Heart Failure

Amyloid Heart Disease

Heart Transplant for Amyloid Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy

Heart Transplant Rejection

Skin Cancer in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients

COVID Infection among Heart and Lung Transplant Recipients

Dana Weisshaar, MD, FACC's Practice location

Mohammed S Qayyum MD, Inc

2557 Samaritan Drive 845 -
San Jose, CA 95124

Get Direction

New patients: 408-610-2001

https://mqayyummd.com/

Mon:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Tue:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Wed:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Thu:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Fri:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Sat:Closed
Sun:Closed

Empallo Medical Group, P.A.

160 Cambridgepark Dr. 112 -
Cambridgepark, MA 02140

Get Direction

New patients: 617-286-6874

Fax: 508-206-8173

www.empallo.com

Retired in 2023 from Kaiser Permanente

710 Lawrence Expressway 342 -
Santa Clara, CA 95051

Get Direction

New patients: 408-851-3870

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Media Releases

Get to know Cardiologist Dr. Dana Weisshaar, who served patients in California.

Dr. Weisshaar is an advanced heart failure and transplant cardiologist. She provides telehealth heart failure care with Empallo Medical Group and in-person visits with Mohammed S Qayyum, MD Inc and Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose, CA.

She is retired from Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center, where she had been serving as Chief/Medical Director of KPNC Heart Transplant Service for over two decades. Her areas of expertise include cardiac amyloidosis, cardiomyopathy, heart failure, heart transplant and restrictive cardiomyopathy.

A passionate educator, Dr. Weisshaar teaches physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, patients and students. She is a Professor of Medicine and Cardiology at California Northstate University College of Medicine where she teaches medical students. .

Graduating with her Bachelor of Science Degree in Zoology from The Ohio State University in 1985, Dr. Weisshaar went on to earn her Medical Degree from the Medical College of Ohio in 1989.

Furthering her training, she completed her residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Toledo in 1992, followed by fellowships in Cardiovascular Disease and Advanced Heart Failure/Transplant at California Pacific Medical Center in 1996 & 1997.

Board certified in cardiovascular disease and advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology, Dr. Weisshaar is a Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). The ABIM is a physician-led, non-profit, independent evaluation organization driven by doctors who want to achieve higher standards for better care in a rapidly changing world.

Dedicated to excellence in heart health, she is an active member of the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association, and the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation.

Cardiology is a branch of medicine that deals with the disorders of the heart, as well as the circulatory system. The field includes medical diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease, and electrophysiology. Cardiologists are doctors who diagnose, assess, and treat patients with diseases and defects of the heart and blood vessels (the cardiovascular system).

Attributing her success to teamwork, Dr. Weisshaar feels she has been blessed to work with outstanding colleagues and support personnel throughout her career. “The ‘secret sauce’ to outstanding patient care is to meet patients where they are and guide them with love and compassion through their journey.”

Among her various accolades include Hicks Williams Community Service Award - 2015 Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara; Three Best Rated Cardiologists in Santa Clara, California - 2021 Top Docs; and Top Cardiologist in Santa Clara, California - 2023 Best In California Magazine.