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
High Blood Pressure
Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, is the most common heart condition. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against artery walls as it makes its way through the body. Analogous to air pressure in a tire, too much blood pressure can damage the artery, causing conditions such as heart disease and stroke. [...]
EKG: Electrocardiogram
An electrocardiogram, or EKG for short, is a simple and painless test that records the heart’s activity. With each heartbeat, an electrical signal spreads from the top of the heart to the bottom, causing the heart to contract and pump blood. This process repeats with every heartbeat. An EKG shows: The rate of the heart [...]
Coronary Bypass Surgery
Bypass surgery is a procedure that allows blood restoration to the heart. This procedure uses a healthy blood vessel taken from either the leg, arm, chest or abdomen and connects it to other arteries. This is how the blood is bypassed around the diseased area. After coronary bypass surgery, normal blood flow resumes. Bypass surgery [...]
Life Style
Angioplasty
Angioplasty is a non-surgical procedure used to open blocked heart arteries. What happens during angioplasty is that a cardiac catheterization will take place. The patient will receive local anesthesia as well as medication to relax his/her body. The next step is to insert a sheath into an artery. Then, a catheter (a long, narrow, hollow [...]
Heart Palpitations
Heart palpitations are rapid, fluttering, or pounding heartbeats. Palpitations can be triggered by stress, exercise, certain medications, or other medical conditions. Heart palpitations can seem worrisome, but they are generally harmless. You can always prevent them by avoiding the triggers that cause them. In very rare cases, heart palpitations may be a symptom of a [...]
The Best Foods For A Heart-Healthy Diet
Heart-healthy foods provide the body with a powerful nutrient called phytonutrients, which prevents cell damage. This is the essence of preventing heart disease. So, what are these so-called foods? It’s in the colorful fruits and vegetables, the whole grains, beans, and legumes that offer all kinds of complex yet heart-protective nutrients. Everyone’s looking for one [...]
Heart Treatments and Procedures
Guideline for Peripheral Arterial Disease
If you are wondering what the procedure and guidelines are for peripheral arterial disease, 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: Diagnosis/Evaluation Medical history and review of symptoms (ROS) Diagnostic methods Ankle-brachial index (ABI) and toe-brachial [...]
Cardiology
Cardiology is the branch of internal medicine dealing with disorders of the heart and blood vessels. The field is commonly divided in the branches of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology. Physicians specializing in this field of medicine are called cardiologists. Cardiologists should not be confused with cardiac [...]
Guidelines for Conorary and Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease Diagnostic
If you are wondering what the procedure and guidelines for coronary and other atherosclerotic vascular disease diagnostic, 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: Interventions and Practices Considered Advice and assistance in smoking cessation Avoidance of [...]
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 [...]
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