Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, can occur at any time, and are generally considered benign. However, it can be physically and psychologically stressful to experience PVCs during exercise. Understanding why they occur and when or if to...
The heart has four chambers. The atria are the two upper chambers, while the ventricles are the two lower chambers. Whenever the heart beats, an electrical signal spreads through the heart, which makes the heart muscle contract. A heart that beats...
Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, are extra heartbeats. They can arise from an irritable area in one of the ventricles. PVCs are usually felt as a missed beat or a fluttering in the chest. PVCs are relatively common and can occur during...
While exercising you might have noticed your heart skips a beat on occasion. You might even feel a momentary fluttering sensation in your chest or throat. The feeling may subside as you exercise or you might not feel any sensation at all....
Potassium plays a major role in normal cardiac function, skeletal and smooth muscle contraction and digestion. Hypokalemia is a medical condition that occurs because of a decrease in serum potassium levels. Use of certain diuretics, overuse of...
Heart disease is a broad term used to describe the various types of diseases affecting the heart and its blood vessels. The effects of heart disease can be serious, resulting in reduction of blood flow to the heart, heart valve defects and...
Many drinks, like coffee, tea and soda, contain caffeine. If you are sensitive to its effects, you may experience palpitations that feel as though your heart is skipping a beat. Caffeine can certainly be a culprit when it comes to these alarming...
The Merck Manuals, an online library of medical information, says, "Acute coronary syndromes result from a sudden blockage in a coronary artery. This blockage causes unstable angina or heart attack, or myocardial infarction, depending on the...
Guarana is an herbal supplement used in a variety of herbal blends and drinks. Guarana is typically derived from the seed and gum from the guarana shrub native to the Amazon forest. Guarana is used alone or with a variety of other supplements to...
Sauna bathing is a short-term, high-temperature exposure activity that has been used in various parts of the world for centuries. Until the latter part of the 20th century, there was very little research in relation to the health effects of...
Phentermine is a sympathetic amine, which means it is a stimulant very similar to amphetamine. Phentermine has one purpose, and that is as a short term pharmacologic (drug) therapy for weight loss in obese patients. Although approved for only one...
All Nordic Track treadmills provide a way to monitor your heart rate. Most models come equipped with a wireless or built-in heart rate monitoring system. Nordic Track also offers an additional accessory you may use in monitoring your heart rate....
Low levels of potassium, medically known as hypokalemia, can cause problems with your heart. Hypokalemia occurs when the normal balance between the amount of potassium taken in and the amount leaving your body in urine is disrupted. When you...
An echocardiogram is a medical test that uses sound waves to produce visual images of your heart. Your doctor may order an echocardiogram to see if your heart is beating properly and to identify any abnormalities in heart muscles or valves....
Tambocor is the brand name of an antiarrhythmic medication called generically flecainide. It is used in the treatment of arrhythmia, which is the medical term for having irregular heartbeats. This prescription-strength medicine is used, according...
You exercise to strengthen your heart, so when your heart skips a beat or flutters quickly while exercising, you may feel there is cause for concern. Heart palpitations or arrhythmias are a common occurrence that do not always indicate the need...
Caffeine, a stimulant, directly affects the central nervous system. Caffeine affects different people in different degrees. However, the ingestion of at least 250 mg of caffeine-- the amount found in three cups of coffee or six soft drinks --...
The heart rate, or pulse, is the number of heartbeats that happen per minute. Children, in general, have a faster resting heart rate than adults as heart rate is inversely related to a person's size. Normal heart rate is dependent upon health,...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death in both American men and women. There are many types of heart disease that include irregular heart rhythm, atrial fibrillation, congenital...
Cardiac arrhythmias include any interruption in the normal rate or rhythm of the heartbeat. Arrhythmias occur as a result of variations in the mechanical function, electrical conduction or electrolyte imbalances in the heart. Electrolytes, which...
Heart disease is the number one killer among men and women in the United States. Being aware of the signs and symptoms of heart disease may save your life or the life of someone you know. It is also important to be able to describe the frequency,...
High blood pressure, also known as HBP or hypertension, is a serious medical condition. Nearly 75 million American have high blood pressure with African Americans, Native Americans and Hispanics being at highest risk, according to the American...
Electrocardiogram, often shortened to ECG or EKG, tests the electrical conduction system of the heart. The heart beats in response to electrical impulses that spread through the heart. An EKG tracing records electrical impulses on a piece of paper...
The average heart rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute, or BPM. But no one has a heart rate that stays at the same rate all the time. Differences or variations in heart rate, called arrhythmias, are common, and most commonly occur as a consequence...
Several serious health problems are linked with heavy coffee consumption. According to Harvard University, it is safe for the average adult to consume up to three cups of coffee each day. One cup of coffee contains 8 oz. and 100 mg of caffeine....
The term used to describe a racing heart is "heart palpitations." Your child might have palpitations for a number of reasons. Palpitations are actually common and in many cases are not dangerous, according to Cincinnati Children's Hospital....
Some cardiac arrhythmia (also called dysrhythmia) have no underlying cause. Others, such as congenital abnormalities, are inherited or caused by gene mutations. The Cleveland Clinic reports that the most common causes of cardiac arrhythmia are...
Metabolism is the body's process of converting calories into energy. Herbs are often used as dietary supplements to speed up your metabolism to achieve faster weight loss and improve physical performance. Although certain herbs may be helpful in...
