Conditions & Treatments

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with Werner’s syndrome, you are likely wondering what treatments will improve quality of life. Since Werner’s syndrome does not currently have a...

If you or someone you know has a child with progeria, you would want to know how to care for these unique children. The aging disease of progeria requires that the children receive special care. ...

When your blood vessels dilate, the walls of your arteries impede the muscles from constricting and the walls from thinning. This allows blood to flow more easily throughout your arteries,...

Heart rate monitors provide a window into heart function by translating the electrical activity of the heart into audible or visual readings. Monitors can detect heart disease and/or heart rhythm...

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common form of heart disease and the most prevalent cause of death for both genders in the...

Drug interactions are always a looming hazard when combining medications, even with something seemingly as benign as weight loss products and supplements. There are many different types of heart...

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the U.S. (accounting for more than 40 percent of all deaths) and worldwide. Heart disease...

Cholesterol is a fatty, waxy substance found in the bloodstream and in membranes of the body's cells. Cholesterol plays a vital role in manufacturing cell membranes and producing hormones and has...

A stent procedure is performed during an angioplasty to hold open collapsed arteries in the heart. The stent is made of a wire metal mesh and is left in the artery permanently. Over time, the...

Plaque is a buildup of cholesterol and fatty deposits in the arteries that restricts blood flow to the heart. Buildup of plaque in the arteries is also called hardening of the arteries or...

Acid reflux can cause chest pain so severe it can be confused with a heart attack. Typically, heartburn does not cause shoulder pain, but it can happen. Other issues, such as a gallbladder attack,...

As the heart rhythmically contracts and relaxes, the arteries simultaneously pump to push the blood through the body. The rhythm of contraction and relaxation creates a pulse. A measurement taken...

Blood pressure measures how hard the heart works while pumping blood around the body. Blood pressure readings of unreasonably high or low numbers indicate various health problems.

While both men and women seek the same normal blood pressure reading of 120/80, variations can drive that number up or down naturally during everyday activities. There is no true average for...

Although light to moderate alcohol consumption may reduce some risk factors of heart disease, doctors do not recommend it. They know too many people already drink heavily or have patterns which...

Hormones play vital roles in fertility, emotional well-being and keeping bones strong and skin moist, among other functions. Hormone imbalance affects every woman when she reaches menopause, and...

A dopamine drip is generally used in emergency situations when blood circulation is compromised, causing an individual to go into shock. Dopamine is also available as an injection for administration.

It's not difficult to keep your heart healthy if you follow a few tips. Did you know that there are certain times of the day in which you're more likely to have a heart attack? For instance, first...

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a leading cause of death among Americans. An estimated 13 million people are affected by CHD. The disease affects nearly every part of the body. Organ failure and...

A pacemaker is a device that helps to regulate your heart's beating rhythm. In many instances, doctors implant a pacemaker when you suffer from an arrhythmia (an irregular heart beat). Doctors...

After cardiac arrest there is a long recovery period during which rehabilitation is likely to be required. To safely recover from coronary heart disease, it is important to partake in a supervised...

An arrhythmia is when your heart rate is outside of the normal range of 60 to 100 beats per minute. A fast heart rate is called a tachyarrhythmia or a tachycardia. When your body needs more...

According to a 2006 estimate of the American Heart Association, some 80,000,000 Americans suffer from one or more forms of cardiovascular disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in...

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, stress occurs when a force causes tensions in an object. It further defines the term "stress test" as the examination of a person's heart efficiency...

Beta blocker drugs are commonly used to treat cardiac and other conditions. The efficacy these drugs have in patients are due largely to the fact that they have more than one site of action in the...

The human heart has four valves: the tricuspid, pulmonary, mitral and aortic valves. These valves serve to keep blood flowing in one direction through the heart. Heart valve disease occurs when...

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the narrowing of the arteries leading to the heart. This is a result of plaque build-up on the inside of your arteries that prevents oxygenated blood from getting...

A Holter heart monitor test is a procedure which many patients with heart problems must go through at least once a year. It is administered by a doctor.

Diabetes occurs when your body makes too little insulin or resists insulin's effects. Heart disease describes conditions affecting your heart and blood vessels. Alzheimer's disease occurs when...

Blood pressure (often abbreviated to BP) is the force your blood puts on your blood vessels as it circulates. A blood pressure reading is an important health care tool because abnormal blood...

Having too much cholesterol in the body leads to heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes. Limiting intake of saturated fats and trans fats helps to reduce the amount of cholesterol found in the...

Elevated triglycerides are not mentioned as often as high cholesterol or high blood sugar as a factor in heart disease, but they are usually part of a series of conditions known as metabolic...

An electrocardiogram is a test that measures the heart's electrical activity. Bewilderment strikes most people when they look at the various markings of an electrocardiogram (EKG) tape....

If you have ever watched an electrocardiogram (EKG--or ECG) monitor or looked at an EKG strip, you might have wondered how some healthcare professionals understand what they are observing. Though...

While a lot of emphasis is placed on the importance of normal cholesterol levels for heart-health, not enough is placed on normal triglyceride levels. Triglycerides are the primary form of fats or...

Heart rate monitors are great tools for athletes who like to run, bike or swim frequently. The batteries typically offer up to 150 hours of power, and because of this, the need to change the...

Sometimes called coronary artery disease, arterial sclerosis heart disease is a medical condition in which hardening of the arteries limits blood flow to the heart. Coronary artery disease is the...

A March 2008 study conducted by Westlakes Scientific Consulting suggests a strong like between radiation exposure and heart disease in nuclear workers. This study analyzed numerous health records...

Having a heart attack can be a life or death situation. Having personnel around that are trained in using a defibrillator (an AED) can mean the difference between life and death. That is where the...

Chronic ischemic heart disease, or ischemic cardiomyopathy, occurs in patients who experience congestive heart failure that results from coronary artery disease. Patients with this condition do...

ST segment depression is a heart condition that is found with electrocardiography. When heart abnormality is suspected, the electrical activity of the heart can be externally recorded by an...

Heartburn is one of the symptoms acid reflux. Heartburn can cause pain and burning in the chest that mimics the symptoms of a heart problem, such as a heart attack. Some people with acid reflux...

The old adage that "the eyes are the window to the soul" may be able to be adjusted to read "the eyes are the window to heart health." Researchers from Australia and other medical institutions...

The physician at the Emergency Room (or ER) may conduct a battery of tests if you arrive with symptoms of a heart attack. These tests will tell the physician if a heart attack has occurred, how...

A condition that may be present at birth or develop over time, a "leaking heart valve" is a casual term that describes regurgitation, one of the two major disorders that comprise heart valve disease.

The heart is a very strong, muscular pump that performs the all important task of pumping 3,000 gallons of blood through your body every day. The coronary vessels supply the blood to the heart,...

Normal heart valves open and close tightly to allow blood to pass through and circulate throughout the body. A leaking heart valve is a condition in which the valve does not close completely. When...

High blood pressure (hypertension) occurs when blood pressure is consistently 140/90 or higher for several months. The top number (systolic pressure) represents the amount of force in the arteries...

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is one of the main causes of coronary artery disease such as heart attacks or strokes. It is a leading cause of death worldwide. In the United States, one in...

Many people are unaware how LDL and HDL, both forms of cholesterol, impact their lives. LDL is the undesirable cholesterol, while HCL is the good cholesterol. If cholesterol levels are not...