According to Kahan, Miller and Smith in "In a Page Signs & Symptoms," hypocalcemia is common within hospitals due to hemodialysis, or the intravenous manual removal of wastes from the blood. This reduces plasma calcium levels, resulting in...
Heart block is a problem with the heart's electrical system. The electrical impulse for the heart to beat starts in the top chambers of the heart and travels through a network of cells that relay the signal to the lower chambers of the heart,...
Treadmill protocols are sets of established criteria used for conducting a cardiac stress test on a treadmill. In a stress test, a patient is placed on a treadmill to run for a prescribed period of time. Clinicians measure how hard the heart is...
Heart disease does not always carry with it symptoms that announce its presence. This is especially true if you lead an inactive lifestyle that does not routinely put stress on your heart muscle. Because of this, your doctor may order a cardio...
Echinacea, or purple coneflower, is currently one of the most popular medicinal herbs used today, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, or USNLM, website. In fact, the sales of this herb make up about 10 percent of the U.S. market...
Making sure your body has the right balance of potassium is imperative to your health. Potassium regulates water, muscle and heart function in the body. When you have too much potassium in your body, it is referred to as hyperkalemia. Not enough...
Protocols for treadmill exercises refer to the specifications involved for a stress test using a treadmill. These tests are commonly conducted to identify patients who may have coronary heart disease or other diseases, though endurance athletes...
Potasssium is an electrolyte that performs multiple functions in the body, including providing necessary assistance to nerve and muscle cells. While most potassium is found in the cells and body organs, some can be found in the bloodstream. A high...
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...
Geodon (ziprasidone hydrochloride) is a psychotherapeutic medication, or antipsychotic, used to treat schizophrenia and acute mania. Geodon blocks serotonin and dopamine receptors, inhibiting serotonin and norepinephrine uptake at these receptors....
An exercise stress test is commonly prescribed by cardiologists and primary care doctors in order to diagnose heart ailments. Exercise stress tests involve light exercise on a treadmill while you are monitored by electrodes -- electrocardiograph...
Heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for 26 percent of deaths in 2006, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A treadmill test, or stress test, shows your doctor how your heart performs...
Blushing, or redness in the face and upper chest, is a physical reaction to a psychological state such as embarrassment. Specific areas of the body are called the blush region and include the ears, face, neck and upper body. Some people blush...
If you have a known heart condition or experience symptoms of an abnormal heart rhythm, your doctor may ask you to take a 24-hour heart monitor test. This non-invasive procedure records heart activity during normal daily activity and helps the...
The heart pumps oxygen rich blood to the body. Therefore, when the body's need for oxygen changes, the heart rate changes. A normal heart rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute and can be measured by palpating peripheral pulses, using a heart rate...
Heart rate and pulse are the number of pulses or beats measured in 1 minute. Careful reads of the pulse or heart rate during exercise is the most effective way to ensure that the training session delivers the most effective benefits. Staying...
Potassium is a mineral and an electrolyte that is required by the body for healthy heart, muscle and nerve function. Much of it is stored in the cells while a small amount remains circulating in the bloodstream. Some elderly patients become...
Cardiac scans can be performed using computed tomography (CT), a common test that makes use of x-rays to take pictures of the heart. Different types of cardiac CT scans are used to detect varying problems with the heart, including blood clots or...
Bupropion is a prescription drug sold under various trade names. Its formulations include oral tablets, sustained-release tablets and extended-release tablets. Typical dosage is 300 mg a day, while some patients take 450 mg a day. Buproprion is...
Treadmills developed in the 1800s to use the steps of animals to move gears and grind grain. Treadmills' first use for exercise came in the 1950s when a University of Washington doctor sought a way to study heart and lung function and disease....
While some women breeze through menopause with nary a hot flash, others experience symptoms that seriously impact their quality of life. Passionflower, an over-the counter herbal preparation made from the Passiflora incarnate plant, may help with...
An electrocardiogram, also referred to as an ECG or EKG, is a recording of the electrical current in the heart. An electrocardiograph produces a strip graph of the recorded electrical activity and provides results for the doctor to determine...
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...
Cardiologists use a variety of exercise testing protocols in a clinical setting, in order to determine your susceptibility to heart disease. Personal trainers, police officers and military personnel use cardiovascular, strength, endurance and...
Accuracy of your heart rate monitor depends on several factors. Some, like the quality of the equipment you are using, correct calibration, following the directions and using the monitor correctly are in your control. Other variables also affect...
When you suffer a heart attack, medically termed a myocardial infarction, damage occurs to certain parts of your heart muscle, weakening its ability to pump. Damaged muscle allows enzymes to leak from the muscle into your bloodstream. Testing your...
Every year, 700,000 people in the U.S. will suffer a stroke, according to the American Heart Association. Thanks to advances in medical care, there were close to 5 million stroke survivors as of 2004. One way you can take charge of your overall...
The heartrate of a baby can be determined by feeling the pulse. A pulse rate is the measurement of how many times the heart contracts in one minute. An electrocardiograph (EKG) is a technical machine that is used to capture many details about your...
Your maximum heart rate, or MHR, is the fastest your heart can beat. If you are healthy, achieving the MHR during exercise is likely safe, but it cannot be sustained for long periods. If you smoke, have high cholesterol, high blood pressure,...