Chemical or pharmacologic stress testing is a common practice for assessing coronary perfusion; that is, for identifying any blockages in coronary arteries that would decrease blood flow to the heart. Chemical stress tests are used when patients...
Cardiac output is the amount of blood in liters pumped by the heart per minute. It is measured by heart rate x stroke volume. Normal cardiac output equals 70 beats/min x 70 mL, or approximately 5 liters/min in an adult at rest. Cardiogenic shock...
Exercise stress echocardiograms offer clinicians a sample of how your heart works when you are at rest and when your heart is "stressed." Exercise is considered a clinical stressor, as well as pharmacological agents such as dobutamine or...
A stress test is a clinical standard often used to detect coronary artery disease. Traditionally, this test is performed on the treadmill. Modern advances in technology allow physicians to administer it without making the patient do any physical...
The key to managing any type of disease is to catch it early on so treatment can start right away. This is especially true with heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in adults in the U.S. One way to test how well the heart is working...
The cardiac ejection fraction describes the percentage of blood present in the heart that is pumped out with each heart beat. A poor ejection fraction indicates that the heart is not pumping efficiently. This can be due to damage due to a heart...
Years ago, Bill Cosby performed a sitcom episode where he went to the doctor's for a physical. They hook wires to him and then give him a test on a treadmill. He starts out fine. He's walking and even jogging a little while he teases his...
Sodium bicarbonate, better known as baking soda, is often used as an antacid to relieve heartburn and also in prescription tablets or injections to make blood or urine less acidic. Although generally safe, larger doses can cause serious side...
Hypovolemia is a potentially fatal condition and is always considered a medical emergency. Treating the underlying reason for the hypovolemia, as well as keeping the patient stable provides the best outcome. Generally speaking, treatment consists...
Low blood pressure, or hypotension, is a decrease in the force exerted by blood flowing through the vessels. Low blood pressure can result in a slowed and decreased supply of oxygen and nutrients to the brain and parts of the body. According to...
Stress testing is a common office and hospital cardiology procedure. These tests are ordered by all types of physicians and cardiologists. The most common reason to have a stress test is to determine if chest pain is a sign of poor circulation to...
Low blood pressure or hypotension can refer to any blood pressure below the established normal of 120/80 mmHg as per the American Heart Association. However, hypotension is typically only treated when accompanied by signs and symptoms such as...
Cardiovascular fitness refers to the body's ability to efficiently provide the muscles with oxygen and blood. Your cardiovascular system includes your heart and your blood vessels. Your heart is a muscle; however, unlike with skeletal muscles, you...
In America, coronary artery disease is the main cause of disease and death. The coronary arteries supply blood and oxygen to the heart. In coronary artery disease, these blood vessels are atherosclerotic, or narrow and stiff. This is because there...
Uremia, also called prerenal azotemia or renal underperfusion, occurs when abnormally high levels of waste products, such as urea and creatinine, build up in your body and reduce blood flow to your kidneys. These waste products linger in your...
