Heart Health Medical Reference

Tachycardia, or a fast heart rate, can be caused by many medications, including antibiotics, antidepressants, and even certain supplements.

Cardiac output is defined as the amount of blood your heart pumps. Learn about the normal output rate, how it's measured, and causes of low cardiac output.

Ejection fraction (EF) refers to the percentage of blood being pumped out of your heart’s lower chambers. If your EF is low, you could have heart failure. Here’s what you can do.

Ever feel woozy when you stand up? Find out why it happens, what can cause it, when it's a problem, and what you can do about it.

If you have a leaky heart valve, you may have surgery to repair or replace it. WebMD tells you what to expect.

Learn about two devices -- an ICD and pacemaker -- that can help you keep your heart beating correctly.

WebMD explains this rare but serious heart problem.

Tachycardia is a common, treatable condition that causes rapid heartbeat. WebMD explains what causes your heart to beat too fast and how doctors diagnose and treat it.

Clinical research has confirmed many benefits of cardiac rehab, including:1, 2Reduced (by up to 25%) risk of fatal heart attack.3Decreased severity of angina and decreased need for medications to control angina.Reduced need for hospitalization because of heart problems. Costs for doctor visits and hospitalizations are reduced by 35% for those who participate in cardiac rehab. Visits to the ...

Illustration copyright 2002 by Nucleus Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.nucleusinc.comAn electrocardiogram (EKG, ECG) is a test that measures the electrical signals that control heart rhythm. The test measures how electrical impulses move through the heart muscle as it contracts and relaxes.During an electrocardiogram, small pads (electrodes) are attached to the skin on the ...

Illustration copyright 2003 Nucleus Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.nucleusinc.comSome people are born with a bicuspid aortic valve, which has two leaflets (flaps) instead of the normal three. ...

Illustration copyright 2002 Nucleus Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.nucleusinc.com ...

Coronary arteries are blood vessels that provide oxygen - rich blood and other nutrients to the heart muscle. The coronary arteries attach to and wrap around the heart's surface. The left coronary artery branches off into smaller arteries. The most prominent ones are the: Left anterior descending artery, which supplies blood to the front of the heart. Left circumflex artery, which encircles the ..

Illustration copyright 2000 by Nucleus Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.nucleusinc.com ...

Illustration copyright 2000 by Nucleus Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.nucleusinc.comA thoracic aortic aneurysm is a stretched and bulging area in the wall of the section of the aorta that travels through the chest and supplies oxygen - rich blood to the upper body. ...

Evidence shows that aspirin lowers the chance of heart attack, especially for people with a high risk of heart attack.The tables above show the number of people who will have a heart attack or stroke in the next 10 years, arranged by risk level.The information shown here is based on the best available evidence.

Illustration copyright 2003 Nucleus Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.nucleusinc.comElectrical cardioversion often returns the heart to a normal rhythm. After giving you a sedative, a doctor places paddles or patches either on your chest or on your chest and back, depending on your doctor's preference. The paddles or patches send a low - voltage electrical current to the heart.

Frequently Asked QuestionsLearning about giant cell arteritis:What is giant cell arteritis?What is polymyalgia rheumatica?Being diagnosed:How is a sedimentation rate test done?How is a C-reactive protein test done?How is a complete blood count done?How is a temporal artery biopsy done?How is a bone density test done?Getting treatment:How can I get enough calcium and vitamin D?

ByHealthwise StaffPrimary Medical ReviewerAnne C. Poinier, MD - Internal MedicineCurrent as ofSeptember 9, 2014

Illustration copyright 2002, 2003 Nucleus Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.nucleusinc.comIn venous insufficiency, the valves in the veins have become damaged. Theses valves normally keep blood flowing toward the heart, but damaged valves allow some blood to flow backward, causing the veins to become overfilled. Fluid seeps out of the engorged veins into surrounding tissues, ...

Illustration copyright 2002 by Nucleus Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.nucleusinc.comThe aorta stems from the heart, arches upward, and then travels down through the chest (thorax) and the abdomen. It then branches out and becomes the iliac arteries, which provide blood to the pelvis and legs. ...

OrganizationsAmerican College of Rheumatologywww.rheumatology.orgNational Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) (U.S.)www.niams.nih.govNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (U.S.)www.ninds.nih.gov

OsteoporosisPolymyalgia RheumaticaStrokeTransient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

Other Works ConsultedBoth M, et al. (2006). Balloon angioplasty of arteries of the upper extremities in patients with extracranial giant-cell arteritis. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 65(9): 1124–1130.Hellmann DB (2013). Giant cell arteritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, and Takayasu's arteritis. In GS Firestein et al., eds., Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology, 9th ed., vol. 2, pp. 1461–1480. Philadelphia: Saunders.Hellmann DB, Imboden JB Jr (2012). Musculoskeletal and immunologic disorders. In SJ McPhee, MA Papadakis, eds., 2012 Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment, 51st ed., pp. 787–846. New York: McGraw-Hill.Spiera RF, Paget SA (2012). Polymyalgia rheumatica and temporal arteritis. In L Goldman, A Shafer, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine, 24th ed., pp. 1728–1731. Philadelphia: Saunders.

The radiologist uses monitors and table controls to position the person before angiography. The large C - arm turns to take X - rays from many different directions. Courtesy of Intermountain Medical Imaging, Boise, Idaho. All rights reserved. ...