If you have had a heart attack you will need to take steps to prevent another one. Your exact treatment approach will vary depending on the severity of your heart attack and any other medical conditions you may also be living with. The post-heart...
The treatment for a mild heart attack follows similar regimens provided to patients whose heart attack causes significant heart muscle damage. Individualized treatment plans incorporate a combination of medication, diagnostic evaluation, surgical...
An estimated 785,000 Americans will suffer their first heart attack in 2010, predicts the American Heart Association. Timeliness of treatment and the extent of damage caused by the heart attack determine whether a non-surgical or surgical heart...
Obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) is a chronic, progressive form of heart disease that results from atherosclerosis, or a buildup of damaging plaque in the arteries found on the surface of the heart.
Treatment is often delayed for women who suffer a heart attack, or myocardial infarction (MI). This is because symptoms may be less dramatic than those caused by heart attacks in men. Delays in the treatment of an MI can reduce the chances of...
Moderate exercise decreases the risk for sudden heart attack. However, strenuous physical activity increases risk for heart failure for people with coronary heart disease. The coronary arteries supply oxygen in the blood to all cells in the heart....
CoQ10 is a common term for coenzyme Q10, a vitamin-like substance that exists naturally in your cells, especially within the tissues of your pancreas, heart, kidneys and liver. This compound exhibits some medicinal properties that may help in the...
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a rapid pulse or arrhythmia may occur during episodes of anxiety. A normal pulse or heart rate is between 60-100 beats per minute. If an individual has a resting heart rate faster than 100...
After you exercise your legs, it's normal for them to be slightly sore, especially if you worked out really hard or tried something new. However, severe or persistent pain isn't normal and may be a cause for concern. If you develop severe pain in...
Toprol XL is one brand name of the generic drug, metoprolol. MayoClinic.com reports that Toprol XL is used alone or with other drugs for the treatment or prevention of a heart attack and the treatment of severe chest pain. It is also used to...
The hormone angiotensin is secreted in the liver and acts directly at the kidney to raise blood pressure. The hormone is secreted in response to stimuli by other hormones in the body, and as a response to low blood pressure. Angiotensin must be...
Thalassemia refers to a type of blood disorder associated with decreased red blood cells and hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying pigment in blood. Symptoms of thalassemia include shortness of breath, weakness, fatigue, irritability and a swollen...
Propranolol is a medication in a class of drugs known as beta blockers. Beta blockers work by decreasing the contractility of the heart and dilating the blood vessels in the body. According to Drugs.com, propranolol is used to treat tremors,...
Epoetin alfa, under such brand names as Epogen and Procrit, is a prescription-level injectable synthetic erythropoietin (EPO) that helps human bones produce red blood cells. This treatment may be necessary in those patients who suffer from anemia....
Heart disease is the number-one killer of men and women in the United States, accounting for 40 percent of all deaths. It is more deadly than all forms of cancer combined. The major culprit in the development of heart disease is excess cholesterol...
The heart pumps blood to the lungs to receive oxygen and then back to the heart. The heart then takes the oxygen rich blood and pumps it throughout the body, this creates a heart beat. A person's heart rate is the amount of beats per minute and...
During vigorous exercise, individuals may experience side effects or symptoms from overexertion. These can include nausea, vomiting and headaches. For the most part, each symptom is treatable, especially if you stop exercising once the symptoms...
LDL stands for low density lipoprotein. Cholesterol cannot dissolve in the blood, so it must be transported by carriers, one of which is LDL. It takes cholesterol to be stored in the body. The other type of carrier is high density lipoprotein, or...
Stomach edema, also referred to ascites, occurs when fluid accumulates in the tissues of the abdominal cavity. The accumulation of fluid occurs when the smallest blood vessels, the capillaries, leak fluid abnormally, and the kidneys begin to...
Inflammation of a tooth nerve can cause a sudden and severe pain that drives patients to seek emergency care. Fortunately, most toothaches are temporary and due to a sensitive tooth, according to the Lucille Packard Children's Hospital at...
The common cold, hay fever and the stomach flu are just some minor medical conditions that infrequently threaten life. Oftentimes, these medical problems resolve on their own. However, a sudden pain in the chest or stomach or a brief sexual...
Coronary arteries carry oxygen and nutrients to the heart, fueling the heart muscle. If disease or constriction of those arteries stops a healthy flow of blood, it can cause permanent damage to the heart muscle or a heart attack. The American...
Perspiration (sweating) is a normal bodily reaction that can occur in order to regulate the body temperature. However, perspiration can also occur as a result of a mental disorder or an underlying medical condition. Fortunately, there are ways to...
Dr. David P. Salmon writes in the "Encyclopedia of Psychology" that Alzheimer 's disease consists of a progressive dementia syndrome which develops as a result of a degenerative brain disease. The disease consists of neocortical and brain cell...
According to the South Dakota Department of Health, your body naturally produces cholesterol because it helps the body produce hormones and vitamin D. Your body also uses cholesterol, along with other substances, to aid digestion and other...
Fat in the liver can cause a range of diseases that are generally referred to as fatty liver disease. Because of the liver's work related to blood sugar and the processing of fats in your body, fatty liver disease is closely associated with...
A group of specialized cells in the upper right chamber of your heart, known as the sinus node, produce tiny electrical impulses that stimulate heart muscles to contract. Many factors affect your heart’s ability to maintain a rhythmic...
Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is found in the fat in your blood. Hypercholesterolemia -- the medical term for high cholesterol -- can result in a variety of serious health complications including stroke and heart attack. A variety of...
The iliac artery originates from the aorta and forms the arteries leading into the pelvis. The iliac then splits into the internal and external branches as it forms the femoral artery. When a patient has a significant narrowing in the iliac...
A heart attack or a myocardial infarction is usually marked by symptoms of pain in the chest, shoulder, jaw, or left arm, and shortness of breath. Learn more about the causes, symptoms and treatments of a heart attack in this health video.
Pericarditis is an inflammation of the sac around the heart, and is related to illness and diseases like lupus. Learn more about the causes, symptoms and treatments of pericarditis in this health video.
Pericarditis is an inflammation of the pericardium, the outer, fibrous layer of the heart. Learn more about pericarditis and the heart in this health video.
Pulmonary edema refers to a swelling of the lungs and/or the accumulation of fluid in the lungs, which occurs from a weakness of the heart or direct injury. Learn more about pulmonary edema in this video.
