Heart Failure
Heart failure. Two of the scariest words in the English language. The American College of Cardiology/American… [more]
Assessment of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Hypertension
From the Argentinian Society for Arterial Hypertension The assessment of left ventricular hypertrophy… [more]
Video: Basics on heart health
Here is a quick little video that explains the basics of heart health.… [more]
Heart Health
Heart Valve Disease
Heart valve disease is when one or more of your heart valves do not work properly. The heart, as we might know, has 4 valves: the tricuspid, the pulmonary, the mitral, and the aortic valves. The valves work by opening their flaps to allow blood to flow into the ventricles, the heart’s two lower chambers. [...]
Plaque and Heart Disease
The buildup of fatty plaque have been contributed to the causes of a heart attack or stroke. Over time, the plaque buildup narrows the artery so much that it would eventually become clogged. The lack of oxygen-rich blood to the heart would eventually lead to a heart attack. However, a plaque-filled blockage only cause 30% [...]
MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Magnetic resonance imaging, also known as MRI, is a test that takes pictures of internal organs using magnetic fields and pulses of radio wave energy. An MRI gives a lot of different information including things that can be seen with an X-ray, ultrasound, or a CT (computed tomography). It also shows problems that cannot be [...]
Life Style
Metabolic Syndrome
Approximately 47 million Americans have metabolic syndrome; it is as widespread as pimples or the cold. However, not many people know much about it since there have been several debates on whether or not it should be viewed as a “real” condition. Well, wonder no more about this so-called Syndrom X. Metabolic syndrome is not [...]
Nuts Help Lower Cholesterol
A recent study proposes that eating nuts on a daily basis improves blood cholesterol levels and reduces the risk of coronary heart disease. The study took place at Loma Linda University in which researchers looked at 25 cases on nut consumption in 7 countries. They examined 583 men and women with various cholesterol levels. The [...]
Increased Risk of Heart Attacks on the Slopes
The title might pose an ironic question–how is it possible to get cardiac arrest while performing cardiovascular activity? The answer is: it’s very much possible. Skiing and snowboarding act as wonderful winter sports and hobbies for most Americans, regardless of age or background. However, it is a somewhat demanding physical activity that requires careful preparation. [...]
Heart Treatments and Procedures
Echocardiogram: A Diagnostic Exam
An echocardiogram is a test that creates a moving picture of the heart using sound waves. Unlike an X-ray, the picture is much more detailed and involves no radiation. How does it work? During an echocardiogram, a sonographer uses a transducer, an instrument that transmits high-frequency waves, to place over the breast bone and directed [...]
Guidelines for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
If you are wondering what the procedure and guidelines are for the percutaneous coronary intervention, the National Guideline Clearinghouse of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has provided a thorough summary. Below is a brief excerpt from the guideline: Target Population Patients with coronary artery disease Management/Treatment Percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI), including percutaneous [...]
Guidelines for Management of Myocardial Infraction
If you are wondering what the procedure and guidelines are for the management of myocardial infraction, the National Guideline Clearinghouse of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has provided a thorough summary. Below is a brief excerpt from the guideline: Target Population Adults with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) Adults at risk of STEMI [...]
Heart Failure
Heart failure. Two of the scariest words in the English language. The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Guidelines define it as “any structural or functional cardiac disorder that impairs the ability of the ventricle to fill with or eject blood” Simply put, any time the heart is unable to pump blood at a rate [...]
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