Second degree heart block describes a disorder of the conduction pathways in the heart. Normally, an electrical impulse initiates at the sinus node located in the right atrium. Cells carry the impulse to the atrioventricular node or AV node...
Heart block is a medical condition that causes the heart's electrical signals to be blocked between the atria (upper chambers) and ventricles (lower chambers) of the heart. This block can be partial or complete, resulting in no symptoms to serious...
Fish oil reduces blood clotting to protect you from heart attack and plaque formation in the arteries and to clear up blockages that can lead to heart disease. Although fish oil may lower cholesterol, its main benefit derives from its ability to...
Your circulatory system carries oxygen, nutrients and other important compounds to all of the organs and tissues of your body. It also carries carbon dioxide and other wastes to your lungs, liver and kidneys for removal. When your circulation is...
Cholesterol is an unhealthy substance resulting from fatty food materials. This cholesterol gets into the bloodstream and is very slow to break down and disperse, often resulting in fatty accumulations along the lining of the arteries in and near...
Arrhythmias caused by a disruption of the electrical signals in the heart called heart blocks can occur in infants as a result of congenital heart defects or acquired disease or damage. The signs, symptoms and prognosis for infants with heart...
High cholesterol is a serious condition that can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and heart attack. Fortunately, a healthy diet can lower cholesterol levels, reducing the risk for these sometimes fatal conditions. Cholesterol is a...
Your body produces cholesterol as a natural way to make hormones and other substances that are necessary for your body to function. Cholesterol also comes from foods. Too much dietary cholesterol can lead to unhealthy cholesterol levels because...
Elevated LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, cholesterol increases the risk of heart disease because it can narrow the arteries and partially block blood flow from the heart to other parts of the body, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood...
Foods containing unhealthy fats contribute to heart disease by clogging the arteries and partially blocking blood flow to the heart. When arteries become completely blocked, it can lead to heart attack or stroke. High-fat foods also increase the...
Most people who think of calcium and its relation to health would probably think first of calcium and bones. Calcium is a critical nutrient for the human body, and is used in a variety of processes by the nerves, blood vessels and muscles as well...
Feeling dizzy or lightheaded is one of the most common reasons adults visit their doctors, according to the Mayo Clinic. As disabling as it may be for those who suffer from it, dizziness is rarely a sign of a life-threatening medical condition. A...
Coronary artery disease occurs when plaque builds up in the arteries. The plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol and other substances, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Hardening of the arteries or atherosclerosis results,...
Dizziness or light-headedness creates a sense of unsteadiness or disorientation. The sensation affects the body’s equilibrium resulting in imbalance and increasing the risk of falling or fainting. The feeling may occur once in awhile because...
Omega-3 fatty acids and olive oil protect you from heart disease by improving cholesterol levels. Including fish and other foods with omega-3s and substituting olive oil for unhealthy fats in your meals helps make a heart-healthy diet. Too much...
Blood clots are clumps of hardened blood that have coagulated, transforming from a liquid to a solid form. While some blood clots dissolve back into the bloodstream and cause no problems, others may lodge themselves within a blood vessel or...
Niacin, a B vitamin, helps raise high-density lipoprotein, or HDL cholesterol, in prescription form. You can find niacin in foods or over-the-counter supplements. Niacin helps your body turn carbohydrates into energy, maintains the digestive...
High cholesterol increases your risk of developing heart disease, the number one leading cause of death in the United States. Cholesterol forms plaque deposits on the inner lining of your blood vessels, causing the diameter to decrease. This...
The Grapefruit Diet, historically known as The Hollywood Diet, was widely popular in 1929 as a way to quickly and effectively lose weight. It was followed over the span of 12 to 18 days and consisted of half a grapefruit for lunch, another half...
When the arterial blood supply to the heart becomes partially or completely blocked, it affects the amount of oxygen and nutrients available to the muscle. The heart requires a constant supply of oxygen to function. According to Merck Manuals...
The coronary arteries are the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart. The heart is composed of muscle that is constantly working and needs a relatively high amount of oxygen in the blood in order to function correctly. Without it, the heart...
Hydralazine is a prescription medication indicated to help lower blood pressure levels in hypertensive patients. This medication is administered as an intravenous or intramuscular injection and works by relaxing the smooth muscles responsible for...
Heart disease is a fatal illness that kills more American men and women per year than any other disease, according to website Herbs2000.com. Additionally, more than 13 million people in the United States have active symptoms of coronary artery...
After a heart attack, regular exercise strengthens your heart muscle and helps improve your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. A carefully constructed fitness routine may therefore improve your...
According to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center--a nonprofit academic medical center in Los Angeles, California--heart conditions may result from structural disorders, disorders of the heart's electrical signals, cardiac muscle problems or blood...
Blocked or clogged arteries typically occur when a substance called plaque builds up on your artery walls and significantly reduces your normal blood flow. High cholesterol is a major risk factor for plaque buildup. However, a number of other...
Heart disease is caused by conditions that affect the heart muscle, blood vessels, arteries, valves and the conduction system. Heart disease occurs as a primary condition, for example from a genetic abnormality or a secondary health problem as a...
Blood clots in the lower leg or foot are often called deep vein thrombosis because the clot is located in one of the deep major veins. This blocks the circulation through the vein that is carrying blood from the lower leg back to the heart for...
Cayenne is an herb with a long history of culinary and medicinal use. In addition to providing heat to your meal, cayenne has been credited with a number of other properties. According to Sharol Tilgner's book "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of...
