Atrial fibrillation, or A fib, is an abnormal heart rhythm. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it is the most common abnormal heart rhythm, affecting more than 2 million people in the United States. The incidence of having A fib increases with...
Valve replacement or repair is the mainstay of therapy in patients with symptomatic heart valve disease. But for those patients who are not candidates for surgery or who refuse surgery, medical management of their valve disease symptoms is...
Five million Americans suffer with heart failure, according to HeartFailure.org. Injury from a heart attack or viral infection causes ineffective pumping action of the heart. Congestive heart failure symptoms occur because of a weakened heart,...
Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of irregular heartbeat, or arrhythmia, and it currently affects 2.2 million Americans, according to the American Heart Association. The irregular, rapid heart rate associated with atrial fibrillation...
Caffeine is a nervous system stimulant and a diuretic that can cause atrial fibrillation and other problems when you consume excessive amounts. Caffeine overdose also may cause confusion, breathing problems and vomiting. Caffeine is found...
Your heart is an incredibly dynamic organ. Capable of recognizing and responding to changes in your behavior and physical activity, a healthy heart can adjust its function to meet most demands placed upon it. As we age, damage to your heart lead...
Atrial fibrillation is the most common irregular heart rhythm, according to the Cleveland Clinic. During atrial fibrillation, many different impulses rapidly fire at once, causing a very fast, chaotic rhythm in the atria. The treatment goals...
The abuse of caffeine pills can cause a number of harmful physical symptoms, some acute and some chronic. According to Sarah Kerrigan, Ph.D., of the New Mexico Department of Health, some over-the-counter caffeine pills may contain as much as 200...
Potassium is an essential electrolyte that is needed for normal function of the heart, kidneys, muscles, nerves and digestive system, according to the National Institutes of Health. Most people maintain a healthy balance of potassium in their...
Coronary artery bypass surgery is usually reserved for patients with multiple sites of disease in their coronary arteries. Patients with diabetes and poor heart function may do better with bypass surgery than with angioplasty, according to...
According to the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation, 152 thousand coronary artery bypass surgeries were performed in the United States in 2003. Coronary artery bypass surgery requires the surgeon to bypass blockages in the heart arteries to restore...
According the Heart Rhythm Society, more than 250,000 people die from sudden cardiac arrest, or SCA, annually in the U.S. The cause of SCA is unexpected chaotic rhythms of the heart. A healthy heart beats at regular intervals and increases and...
The heart is built to beat 60 to 100 beats per minute, according to the Mayo Clinic. When the body undergoes physiological changes, the heart rate can increase. This is called tachycardia. An increased heart rate is nature's way of ensuring that...
Your heart rate recovery rate after exercising is an important indicator of your overall health. Typically, a heart rate will begin to slow once the body has stopped performing intense physical activity, but it is possible that a heart rate does...
1.26 million Americans will have a heart attack this year, according to the American Heart Association. Coronary artery disease or blockages in the arteries of the heart cause heart attacks. Heart bypass surgery reestablishes blood flow to the...
Nicorette is a smoking cessation gum that contains nicotine to help curb cigarette cravings. According to MedlinePlus, it replaces the oral fixation of smoking with the action of chewing gum. Typically, people begin chewing one piece of Nicorette...
Breathing exercises are designed to get the body used to taking deep, cleansing breaths, filling the lungs and resetting the natural rhythm of bringing oxygen into the body. Stress and chaotic lifestyles have caused many people to get in the habit...
Skipped heartbeats are common occurrences that can occur in healthy individuals. Also known as palpitations, skipped heart rates during exercise are generally not a problem in and of themselves. As with most medical issues, it is important to...
