Heart disease is a leading killer that often involves plaque buildup and calcified arteries. Understanding how exercise and cholesterol-lowering foods can clear your arteries is key to long-term survival and health.
The average adult has over 8 lbs. of skin, and it is the largest organ in your body. Your skin serves many purposes, but one of its major functions is to protect the body from infectious organisms, such as parasites, bacteria or viruses, that cause disease.
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Plaque is a substance made up of fat, cholesterol and calcium that builds up in the coronary arteries that supply the heart with oxygen-rich blood, according to the National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute.
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Unusual leg heaviness can occur suddenly while you are climbing up stairs, making it virtually impossible to continue to the top. Because heaviness in the legs can sometimes signal a serious medical condition, understand why it occurs and how it can be treated.
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A rapid heart beat, medically known as tachycardia, may arise for many different reasons. The heart normally beats between 60 and 100 times per minute, and a heart rate greater than 100 beats per minute defines tachycardia.
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An enzyme is a protein that speeds up the rate at which a chemical reaction occurs. Enzymes are substrate specific, meaning that each type of enzyme has a specific type of molecule that it affects. The human body needs enzymes to influence the rates at which biological processes occur.
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Cells within the human body contain thousands of genes, proteins and other chemicals enclosed within cellular membranes. Each cell responds to chemical signals from the body or the environment and modifies its behavior in response to signals.
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Excessive fluid buildup around the heart, known as pericardial effusion, can be diagnosed on fetal ultrasound. Pericardial effusion can interfere with the heartβs ability to pump blood to the rest of the body, affecting growth and vitality of the fetus.
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A child's developmental milestones depend on two main factors: nature and nurture. Nature refers to the child's genetic makeup -- her DNA -- a conglomeration of traits handed down to the child by her parents. Nurture is the environment in which the child lives, plays and learns.
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The arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from your heart and branch out into smaller arteries going toward your different organs to supply fresh, oxygen-rich blood.
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The heart is a muscle surrounded by a fibrous sac containing sheath called the pericardium. There is normally 2 to 3 ccs of fluid between the heart and the pericardial lining. If excessive fluid builds up in the space between the pericardium and the heart, this is called a pericardial effusion.
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Clogged arteries, medically known as arteriosclerosis or atherosclerosis, refers to a condition in which fatty substances called cholesterol build up in your blood vessel walls.
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Numerous diseases can cause a change in hair texture and volume. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, the lips, palms and soles of the feet are the only parts of the body on which hair does not grow.
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An artery becomes clogged when a buildup of plaque forms on the inner walls. Plaque consists of calcium, fat, cholesterol and cellular waste. If you have clogged arteries due to poor diet and lifestyle choices, you are at an increased risk of having a heart attack, stroke or suffering from heart failure.
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The typical American diet, which is high in animal-based and processed fats, contributes to a buildup of plaque in the arteries. If you have -- or suspect you have -- buildup of arterial plaque, you should take steps to try to clear it away. Certain vitamins may help a bit, but other measures are more effective.
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A normal heart rhythm has the ability to pump blood to and from the heart without undue stress. Tachycardia is a rhythmic disorder of the heart that causes it to beat at a faster rate than normal.
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Many people have had an electrocardiogram, or EKG, at some point in their lives. Although it is one of the simplest medical tests to perform, it can give doctors a wealth of information, some of which could ultimately prove lifesaving. Many conditions can cause an abnormal EKG result.
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The left atrium is the chamber of the heart that receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs. Blood moves from the left atrium through the mitral valve into the main pumping chamber of the heart -- the left ventricle -- and then out to the body.
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According to MayoClinic.com, bundle branch block is characterized by a delay or obstruction to the electrical impulses that prompt the heart to beat. These blockages along the heart's electrical pathway can occur in healthy people, but they are usually the sign of an underlying cardiovascular problem.
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Clogged arteries and circulatory problems are caused by the buildup of plaque in the arterial blood vessels. Although there are medications that lower cholesterol, some people prefer a more natural approach to remove plaque and lower triglyceride levels.
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Taro has been a staple of the Polynesian diet for over one thousand years. The heart-shaped leaves, called lu'au, were the inspiration for the Hawaiian celebration of the same name. You cannot eat taro in raw form because its high calcium oxalate content makes it toxic.
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