An EKG, or electrocardiogram, measures the electrical activity of the heart through electrodes that are applied to the chest. These electrodes measure the amount of time it takes an impulse to travel through the atria, or upper chambers, then into...
Nexium, a proton-pump inhibitor, treats gastroesophageal reflux disease, stomach and duodenal ulcers. An electrocardiogram (EKG) measures the electrical activities of the heart and can detect several heart problems. Patients taking Nexium may have...
A heart monitor, also known as an electrocardiogram or EKG monitor, is a graphical representation of the heart's rhythms over time captured by electrodes attached to a person's skin. The machine captures electrical signals sent out by the heart...
An EKG, or electrocardiogram, is a testing procedure that uses your heart's electrical output to check for signs of certain heart-related ailments. In some circumstances, this testing may be part of a procedure called an exercise stress test,...
Heart disease is the leading killer of adults in the United States. According to the American Heart Association, more than 1 million people are diagnosed with heart disease every year. For 445,000 of them, a heart attack will be their first...
A stress test is a screening tool used by physicians to test your heart health. During the test, the electrical activity in your heart is measured and your blood pressure is monitored. The test is designed to gauge your body's reaction to an...
Overview
Erectile dysfunction is defined as the inability to acquire or maintain an erection for sexual intercourse. Sexual dysfunction has been reported in men as young as 18 years old, although the majority of men with erectile dysfunction...
Your doctor may suggest an electrocardiogram to check for and study heart conditions including heart failure, heart attack and arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat. An electrocardiogram uses electrical signals to measure the function and strength...
A treadmill fitness test is also known as a stress test, or an exercise tolerance test. It is used to examine the blood flow to your heart and is one of the best tools for diagnosing heart disease. It is also the most accurate way to determine...
An electrocardiogram, also called an EKG or ECG, is a diagnostic procedure used to uncover potential irregularities in your heart function. Training for football frequently causes body transformations that contribute to EKG-related changes, and...
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...
Cardiac diagnostic procedures assist physicians in diagnosing problems within the heart. Invasive testing may involve a catheter threaded through a blood vessel or a scope snaked down the esophagus. Non-invasive procedures can involve movement and...
The first cardiac catheterization boldly performed by Dr. Werner Forssmann, on himself, in 1929, marked the beginning of non-invasive heart surgery. Today, this procedure is primarily used to diagnose heart conditions and treat plaque buildup in...
An arrhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm. This includes a pulse that is too fast, too slow or skips beats. Sometimes arrhythmias are harmless and may only occur periodically. In other cases, they can be a sign of an underlying disease. In order...
Potassium is the most abundant cation, or positively charged ion, found inside human cells. Potassium is necessary for the proper functioning of skeletal muscles, kidneys and the heart. The effect of low blood potassium on the heart muscle can...
Potassium is a mineral that plays an important role in the body, which carefully regulates potassium levels due to the importance of this mineral for the function of all cells, including muscle cells within the heart. Having too much potassium in...
Viagra (generic name sildenafil) is a medication used to treat erectile dysfunction (impotence). According to the Physician's Desktop Reference, it dilates the blood vessels in your penis and more blood flow results in an erection. The typical...
Malaria is a parasitic disease consisting of four species of the genus Plasmodium: Plasmodium vivax, P. falciparum, P. malariae and P. ovale. Falciparum malaria can cause very severe, life-threatening disease and appropriate, timely treatment is...
Heart block may be caused for a number of reasons, and some of the causes result in specific types of heart block. Patients do not always have to exhibit signs and symptoms of heart blocks and may live for years without knowing they have a heart...
Potassium is an essential mineral that plays a role in muscle contractions. The different types of contractions range from voluntary, such as with skeletal muscles, to involuntary, such as with cardiac muscles in the heart. Potassium helps conduct...
Potassium is a crucial electrolyte involved in muscle relaxation, especially in the heart. Therefore, maintaining a balanced potassium level is essential to healthy function of your heart. According to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine,"...
Electrical activity in nerve and muscle cells occurs because of the flow of ions--electrically-charged particles--between the inside and outside of the cell membrane. Electricity is vital to the functioning of the brain, nerves and muscles,...
A crucial electrolyte, potassium levels are normally kept within a narrow range, according to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine." This mineral is the major cation inside the cells responsible for the relaxation phase of muscle...