Cardiovascular wellness focuses on plaque reduction, managing arrhythmias like AFib, and recognizing emergency signs of heart failure or infarction.
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.
Read more →
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease, heart attack or stroke. Stage 1 hypertension is the beginning stage of high blood pressure. Your blood pressure is measured in numbers that are in a fraction. Your systolic pressure is the top number and represents when your heart beats.
Read more →
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.
Read more →
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.
Read more →
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.
Read more →
Beta blocker drugs are also known as beta-adrenergic blocking agents. They work by blocking the effects of the hormone epinephrine (also called adrenaline) on beta receptors, which are molecules that receive signals from the nerves.
Read more →
Starvation is a type of malnutrition, which is caused by being deprived of food or eating food that is inadequate for your body’s nutritional needs. Not eating for a day or longer will cause starvation.
Read more →
According to the American Heart Association, up to 5 percent of people over age 65 have atrial fibrillation, which occurs when the two upper-chambers of the heart quiver rather than beat normally. Because blood isn't pumped fully out of the chambers, it can pool and form clots.
Read more →
If you've recently had a heart attack, your life has already started to change--and many more changes need to happen in order for you to get healthy and reduce your risk of additional problems.
Read more →
If a person experiences a drop in blood pressure, fever, diarrhea, loss of hydration from vomiting or dizziness, lightheadedness can occur. Further, if the brain does not receive enough blood, it can cause lightheadedness as well.
Read more →
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.
Read more →
People frequently use their hands when telling a story. Your feet sometimes have a story to tell as well, revealing a medical problem that might otherwise go unrecognized.
Read more →
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.
Read more →
Hypotension occurs when blood pressure is much lower than normal. Low blood pressure can be dangerous, especially if it is a chronic issue, because the brain, heart and other organs do not get enough blood and oxygen to function as they should.
Read more →
Your heart has a right side and a left side. Each side consists of an upper chamber called the atrium and a lower chamber known as the ventricle. Blood normally flows from an atrium to a ventricle and then out of the heart.
Read more →
Dieting is a serious endeavor that requires conscientious effort and dedication. Just like any other challenge you face, there is a right way to approach a diet and a wrong way. Unfortunately, improper dieting can cause permanent damage to your physical and mental health and can even endanger your life.
Read more →
The human body works hard to maintain a relatively neutral pH. The pH level measures the acidity or alkalinity of the body. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with 0 being a very strong acid and 14 being a very strong base, or alkaline. According to Dr. Ben Kim, the body's plasma needs to maintain a pH between 7.
Read more →
The presence of a fever usually indicates that some sort of illness is attacking the body. MayoClinic.com points out that unless the temperature reaches or exceeds 103 degrees Fahrenheit it is not dangerous. When a person has a temperature this high, treatment can be beneficial.
Read more →
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.
Read more →
Staph infections are a product of the staphylococcus bacterium, which resides on the skin of humans but can cause serious medical problems if it gets beneath the surface and infects the blood.
Read more →