Heart Health Archives

Cardiomyopathy: What Causes an Enlarged Heart?

Sep 14, 2017 · Jay Roland · Heart Health

Cardiomyopathy is sometimes referred to as an "enlarged heart," because the main sign is a heart muscle that has become thicker and more rigid. Bigger muscles might be what athletes want in their arms and legs. But a bigger heart isn’t a good thing, as it actually becomes weaker rather … Read More

When Your Heart Calls Out for Help: Symptoms of a Heart Attack

Sep 6, 2017 · Aliza Lifshitz, MD · Heart Health

When everything is going right, your heart “speaks” to you in a slow and rhythmic beat. Do you know how to recognize its call for help during a heart attack? Although a heart attack can sometimes appear suddenly and without previous symptoms, usually that tireless engine that powers your body … Read More

What Are Beta Blockers?

Sep 1, 2017 · Holly Strawbridge · Heart Health

With the advent of beta blockers, and compelling evidence of their effectiveness, recommendations for heart failure treatment have changed. In general, patients are now treated with an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), plus a diuretic and a beta blocker, to which an aldosterone antagonist or digoxin … Read More

Beer Is As Beneficial as Red Wine in Moderate Amounts

Aug 30, 2017 · Kathleen Jade, ND · Heart Health

Most people have heard that red wine reduces the risk of heart disease (a phenomenon known as the French paradox). What most people don’t know is that many observational studies have concluded that beer is healthy too and it is as beneficial as red wine (in light to moderate amounts) … Read More

Diuretic Definition, Uses, and Side Effects

Aug 17, 2017 · Holly Strawbridge · Heart Health

The diuretic definition is anything that promotes the body to lose water by increasing the excretion of urine and fluids. Diuretics cause the kidneys to excrete more water and sodium. They are used to eliminate excess fluid and decrease swelling. There are three main types of diuretics: thiazide, loop, and … Read More

Digoxin Dose Effective To Treat Heart Failure

Aug 16, 2017 · Holly Strawbridge · Heart Health

In recent years, dramatic developments in drug therapy for heart failure have occurred. Early treatment is now known to slow the progression of the disease, keep patients out of the hospital, and reduce the likelihood of dying from heart failure. Today, physicians can choose from a variety of medications, such … Read More

Treating Coronary Artery Disease and Its Heart Blockage Symptoms

Aug 16, 2017 · Kate Brophy · Heart Health

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common form of cardiovascular disease in the U.S., and claims the lives of almost 400,000 Americans each year. CAD develops when the arteries that supply blood to the heart become narrowed or blocked by a buildup of plaque: a waxy deposit made up … Read More

What Is Cardiomyopathy?

Aug 14, 2017 · Holly Strawbridge · Heart Health

Nearly half of all heart failure cases are caused by diseases that primarily affect the heart muscle. Together, these are known as cardiomyopathies. What is cardiomyopathy? Cardiomyopathy is a heart disease that often occurs without a known reason, but can be caused by various medical conditions, including infections (usually viral), … Read More

Ventricular Fibrillation Symptoms and Prevention

Aug 11, 2017 · Holly Strawbridge · Heart Health

About half of all heart failure patients die suddenly from cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest is caused a deadly heart rhythm called ventricular fibrillation. The heart has four chambers: two upper chambers called atria, and two lower chambers known as ventricles. The atria pump blood into the ventricles, and the ventricles … Read More

How a VAD Can Save Your Heart

Aug 11, 2017 · Holly Strawbridge · Heart Health

A ventricular assist device (VAD) supports the heart in pumping blood throughout the body. VADs were pioneered in the 1970s, but they were not widely used until the 1990s as a way to keep patients alive during their wait for a heart transplant (“bridge to transplant”). They are still used … Read More

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