The heart consists of four chambers, the left and right atria and left and right ventricles. The lower chambers, the ventricles, pump blood to different parts of the body, with the left side sending oxygenated blood from the lungs out to the rest...
Pulmonary edema, which is abnormal accumulation of fluid in the lungs, often occurs as a result of heart failure. Pulmonary edema occurs when the left ventricle of the heart, which receives oxygenated blood from the lungs, weakens and pumps less...
Coenzyme C10, or CoQ10, is present in every cell in plants and animals. It helps improve energy function and acts as an antioxidant, interrupting the damage of free radicals. It can help prevent cancer and heart disease in healthy people and has...
A heart murmur is a common medical condition. It is often found incidentally during a routine physical exam. A murmur is the sound of blood flowing across heart valves. It can be due to valves that are narrowed or leaky or can be due to increased...
Overview Smoking is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Cigarette smoking increases the risk of and can worsen nearly all forms of acquired heart disease. The good news is that people who quit smoking get heart benefits quickly...
The Mayo Clinic states that there are a number of conditions that contribute to heart disease. Some are more common than others, and some are more easily treated. Each has its own set of symptoms and method of treatment. The key to receiving...
Cardiac arrhythmias are caused by a disruption or abnormality in the electrical impulses of the heart. The heart is less efficient at pumping blood when the beats are too fast, too slow or when the beats are irregular. Cardiac arrhythmias are...
Systolic blood pressure is the pressure within blood vessels during the systole, the contraction of the heart, especially the ventricles. In common blood pressure measurements, systolic blood pressure is the top number. Systolic blood pressure...
Everyone has cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in their brains. This clear liquid protects the brain against infections and illnesses, provides it with nutrients and forms a cushion that makes the brain less vulnerable in accidents. Problems arise when...
Hydrocephalus, derived from the Greek words hydro, meaning water, and cephalus, meaning head, is a medical condition caused by the abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles, or cavities, of the brain. Hydrocephalus causes an...
Events caused by sleep apnea and atrial fibrillation, two disorders that share many of the same risk factors and symptoms, can wake you up to a pounding heart. Unless you have an emotional condition, such as anxiety, your increased pulse rate may...
Brain tumors, the most common type of solid tumor in children under age 15, are the second most common cause of cancer death in children, the Merck Manual reports. Many types of brain tumors occur in children, differentiated by their locations and...
The electrocardiogram is the most basic tool in a cardiologists diagnostic arsenal. Also referred to as an EKG, the electrocardiogram traces electrical impulses that cause contractions of the heart muscle, known as the myocardium. In a joint...
The World Heart Federation states that the heart is the strongest muscle in the body. The heart is, however, very vulnerable to damage as a result of certain lifestyles and habits, including eating unhealthy diets and smoking, which can cause...
