Heart stress tests, also referred to as cardiac stress tests, are useful diagnostic tests that can help doctors diagnose serious heart conditions. Four types of heart stress tests are available. These tests involve various radioactive substances...
You would expect physical exertion to boost your heart rate, because your muscles need more oxygen to supply that extra energy. But your heart rate also can increase with a heavy meal, anxiety, alcohol consumption and even changes in temperature....
The heart rate, or pulse, is the number of times the heart muscle pumps per minute. The heart rate changes throughout the day and tends to be lower in the morning after a night's sleep and can go higher during exertion. These are normal...
Stress is individualized, affecting everyone differently. One person might find a certain situation stressful; another may not. Anxiety is slightly different from stress because it typically develops from fearful situations and usually accompanies...
Stress has a powerful effect on the body and, along with other risk factors, predisposes individuals to heart failure. In the short run, the endocrine system is signaled to release epinephrine and cortisol, stress hormones that pump up the heart,...
Your job, finances, family -- all these can cause significant stress in your life. Negative stress is a normal part of life, but not knowing how to manage it can lead to physical repercussions. Being overwhelmed with stress can create several...
Your body needs to get a certain amount of minerals to work properly. Some of these minerals, known as electrolytes, play an important role in regulating electrical activity in muscle tissue, such as the heart. Low levels of electrolytes can be...
Stress carries serious health consequences that can impact you physically and mentally. A 2008 survey by Harris Interactive found that nearly half of respondents reported sleeping problems due to stress. Other effects include eating problems,...
If your doctor has ordered a stress test, you will be exercising on a treadmill -- right in the middle of the exam room. A stress test is designed to measure the activity of your heart as you exercise. Your heart rate is measured, which can help...
Emotional stress can elevate your heart rate, increase your blood pressure, and flood your system with stress hormones, including epinephrine, also known as adrenaline. All of these things increase the work load on your heart.
Your heart health is affected by your lifestyle, which includes your diet, your exercise habits and your stress level. Two important factors that may increase your risk for heart disease are your dietary habits and the amount of stress you're...
Exercise places stress on the heart, but in most cases, that stress helps keep the heart healthy. Exercise is often recommended for preventing heart disease and managing many heart conditions. However, it can be dangerous for people with certain...
Vitamin B-complex contains a blend of water-soluble vitamins. B vitamins are necessary for the optimal health of numerous body systems and functions. Although many foods contain varying amounts of individual B vitamins, B-complex supplements...
If you have a family history of heart disease or current cardiovascular problems, a heart murmur diagnosis may require more than a listen with a stethoscope. Depending on the type of sounds your heart makes, your age and other factors, your doctor...
An echocardiogram is used to look inside the chest to get a better picture of the structure and function of the heart. This test is often performed as part of a stress test because some heart abnormalities are more distinct when the cardiovascular...
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...
Stress signals your body to respond to an event. This event can be avoiding a car crash, dealing with bad news, having an argument, financial issues, changes in work or home environment or any event in your life that makes you feel worried or...
Stress is your physical and mental response to increasing demands in life. It can be chronic or acute, depending on the situation. Stress can have both positive and negative effects on the body. It can be motivating and cause increased energy, or...
Rapid weight loss diets go against the first rule of good nutrition, according to the American Heart Association, or AHA. A healthy diet requires eating a variety of foods that guard against nutritional deficiencies and keep your body functioning...
Being overweight or obese can put you at high risk for cardiovascular disease, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Losing weight is one of the best things you can do to improve your heart health. However, losing weight too rapidly could also put...
Stress can have a profound effect on the heart, report researchers at the American Institute of Stress. The number of heart attacks and sudden death due to heart failure typically rises in communities following stressful events such as hurricanes...
A heart attack is caused by a blockage in the coronary artery, restricting blood flow to the heart. According to the American Heart Association, one heart attack occurs in the United States every 24 seconds. A heart attack, if left untreated, will...
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...
The heart has four chambers--the left and right atria, and left and right ventricles--that contract in series to push blood through and out of the heart. There are four heart valves--two that separate the atria and ventricles, and two between the...
There are five heart rate zones used by cyclists and other athletes to measure training intensity. The zones increase in intensity and relate to various energy systems used by the body during exercise. Zone 1 is low intensity, where oxygen and fat...
Temporary blood ischemia that affects your heart is called myocardial ischemia, or cardiac ischemia, and results from a temporarily reduced flow of oxygen-rich blood to your heart. Cardiac ischemia can produce mild to severe effects on your heart....
According to "The Journal of the American Medical Association," heart and blood vessel disease is the leading cause of death in developed nations such as the United States. The purpose of cardiac stress tests is to make the heart work harder by...
The heart is an essential component of the body that keeps organs and tissues oxygenated. The heart rate is a measure of how hard the heart is working. An increased heart rate can mean that the heart is trying to keep up with environmental...
An echocardiogram is a test in which sound waves are used to create a video of the heart, according to the online medical encyclopedia MedlinePlus. Because sound waves, rather than x-rays, are used to create the images of the heart, the body is...
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