Case Studies...
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All About Echocardiography
An echocardiogram is a method used for assisting in the examination and diagonsis of conditions of the heart, in particular, the heart valves....
All About The Heart Beat
The heart beat is a complex occurence and involves electricity, nerve impulses, muscular contractions, blood and oxygen. The human heart beats many hundreds of thousands of times in a lifetime though ...
An Enlarged Heart
Many people may have a minor degree of cardiac muscle enlargement and for a lot of these people there will be no obvious symptoms....
Aneurysm Causes & Treatments
The term aneurysm is given when the lining of a blood vessel becomes bulged or weakened allowing for blood to acculmulate and thicken. When this occurs in the heart, it is most often seen in the left ...
Angina Symptoms & Treatment
Angina is pain felt in the chest due to narrowing of the coronary arteries. It acts as a warning sign to tell the sufferer that something is wrong, and medical advice must be sought to investigate the...
Anti-Platelet Therapy for Cardiac Patients
Anti-platelet therapy aims to prevent clots from forming in the blood which can lead to angina or heart attack....
Anti-Platelets Medications
Anti-platelet medications are given as a preventative measure aiming to reduce the 'stickiness' of the blood hence reducing the chances of a clot forming within an artery....
Aortic Stenosis Treatments Available
Aortic stenosis occurs as the aoritc valve which connects the heart to the aorta becomes narrwoed by thickened tissues. If this occurs the valve cannot open properly and blood does not flow through th...
Are You at Risk of Heart Disease?
Heart disease is caused by hardening of the arteries and there are several risk factors that increase your chance of this. Many can be modified by making lifestyle changes....
Atherectomy and Unblocking Blood Vessels
An atherectomy is a procedure performed to help unblock or widen artereis that have become obstructed by substances known as athrolsclerotic plaques or atheroma....
Atherosclerosis, Hardening of the Arteries
Atherosclerosis is a chronic condition and it's effects on health can be severely damaging....
Beta Blockers and Cardiac Patients
Beta-blockers work by reducing the workload of the heart and can help lower blood pressure and improve the regulation of the cardiac muscle....
Calcium Channel Blockers in Cardiac Care
Calcium channel blockers are frequently used in the treatment of high blood pressure as they prevent calcium from being absorbed into the cells of the heart muscle which lessens the force at which the...
Carotid Duplex Scanning
Carotid duplex scans are tests used to assess the health of the carotid arteries found in the neck. These arteries supply the brain with blood and oxygen and can beocme diseased, narrowed and blocked ...
Causes of Peripheral Artery Disease
Peripheral artery disease occurs because of build-ups of plaques in the arteries. It affects many of the major arteries including those found in the legs....
Congenital Heart Disease Explained
Congenital heart disease is a wide term given to problems of the heart that have existed since birth and are due to foetal development in the womb....
Coronary Angioplasty Surgery
Coroanry angioplasty is a technique used to widen the coronary arteries that have become blocked or narrowed due to a buid up of fatty plaques. It requires the use of x-rays and stents and is a relati...
CT Scan Screening for Heart Disease
CT scans are now being used by doctors to try and detect and treat heart disease whilst is it in its early stages. Offered as a screening device to those with risk facotrs, it can help prevent early d...
CT Scans and MRI Scans
Medical imaging has advinced greatly in recent years and the introduction of CT and MRI scanning techniques have allowed doctors to make earlier and more accurate disgnoses without the need for highly...
Do Cholesterol Lowering Drugs Increase Cancer Risk?
Statins are well regarded as a relatively safe drug and they reduce high cholesterol very effectively but no drug is without side effects. Statins may increase cancer risk and diabetes risk slightly....
Emergency First Aid for Heart Attacks
Learning the basic skills needed to save someone's life are essential. A heart attack can occur at any time and the person will need immediate assistance in order to survive....
Exercise & Healthy Eating
The role of diet and exercise has been very well documented in recent years. Most people are aware of what they should be eating and that they should incrwease their physical activitiy, but some find ...
Explaining Cardiac Enzymes
Cardiac enzymes are substances that are found in the tissues of the heart. Raised levels of the enzymes can help in the diagnosis of certain heart conditions such as heart attack....
Explaining Heart Disease
Heart disease occurs mainly due to lifestyle issues and refers to disorders concerning the cardiac muscle, its structures, surrounding tissues, blood supply and can present in many ways....
Explaining the Angiography Technique
Angiography is an x-ray based technique used to help diagnose problems with the circulatory system and examine the blood flow to and from organs....
Facts and Figures: Heart Disease in the UK
The statistics on heart disease in the UK show that cardiovascular disease is the single biggest killer and that different types of heart disease are rife....
Facts and Figures: Heart Disease Worldwide
Heart disease is a worldwide phenomenon and affects millions of people every year in every country of the world, whether rich, poor, developed or developing....
Fibrinogen Treatment Before Heart Surgery
Early trials have shown that patient prone to bleeding after cardiac surgery may benefit from doses of fibrinogen concentrate just before their operation....
Giving up Smoking and Your Heart
Giving up smoking is one of the single most effective ways of preventing disease of the heart or blood vessels. The effects of tar, nicotine and other chemicals found in tobacco have a very significan...
Having a Chest X-ray
X-rays are now a common occurance in medical diagnosis and treatment. Using radiation waves, the inside of the body can be seen as an image, which allows staff to confirm or rule out diagnosis of many...
Having a Coronary Artery Bypass
Coronary artery bypass grafting involves the use of major surgery to overcome heart disease caused by blocked coronary arteries....
Heart Condition Dextrocardia Explained
Dextrocardia is a terms used to describe a condition where the heart organ is abnormally located in the human body and seen lying towards the right hand side of the chest cavity as opposed to the norm...
Heart Health for Kids
There is not an early enough time to be teaching children of the hazards of neglecting the heart. Learning and awareness can be achieved through play, games, physical activity or by simply talking and...
Heart Health for Seniors
The risks of heart attack, disease, angina, stroke and many other problems of the heart tend to increase as we age but by changing our lifestyles it may be possible to curt these risks and live longer...
Heart Health: Limiting Stress
Although stress canbe a healthy part of life, it can also have a very negative effect if present most of the time in high volumes. Reducing stress is one way in which we can protect oursleves from suf...
Heart Health: Moderate Drinking
Alcohol continues to be researched for its beneficial effects on health, but to gain from these effects, amounts of alcohol consumed are very limited. Any amounts over the guidelines can have a detrim...
Heart Transplants Explained
Heart transplantation is a surgical procedure involving the removal of a diseasede or damaged heart from the patient and replacing it with a donor heart from a deceased or brain dead person who has sh...
Heart Valve Disease
Heart valve disease is a condition that can be present from birth or can be a consepquence of other cardiac conditions. It can be very serious and symptoms can vary between patients and treatment opti...
Heart Valve Replacement Surgery
If one of the main valves in the heart fails, it is now possible to repair the heart valve surgically, or to replace it completely by either keyhole surgery or open heart surgery....
Hole in the Heart
Correctly termed a 'septal defect' a hole in the heart varies in symptoms and treatment options depending on whereabouts in the heart the defect has occurred and to what degree....
Hole in the Heart: What Happens Next?
A hole in the heart is usually discovered when the person affected is a baby but small holes can be present and stay undetected until that person is in their late 20s or early 80s....
How a Healthy Heart Works
The heart is made up of muscle fibres and works as a pump. It allows blood to return to the lungs and become re-oxygenated before it is pumped to the rest of the body. The pump action is determined by...
How Ace-Inhibitors Help Heart Patients
ACE-Inhibitors are drugs that interfere with the chemical reactions in your body that are responsible for the maintenance and fluctuations of blood pressure....
How Anorexia Affects the Heart
The impact of anorexia on the body is devastating, with many severe, long-term complications on different organ systems, including the heart....
How Pacemakers Work
Pacemakers are devices implanted intot he patient that help keep the heart in a regualr and healthy rhythm. They are most often used for those who suffer from bradycardia, or slow heart rate, and can ...
I Had a Cardiac Angiogram: Case Study
A cardiac angiogram is an X-ray examination of the arteries that feed the heart muscle. It can show up areas of narrowing that may need further treatment to lower heart attack risk....
I Had a Cardiac MRI: A Case Study
A cardiac MRI scan is used to examine the soft tissues of the heart in great detail. It is painless, but can be a bit stressful, but can reveal problems with the coronary arteries or with the heart it...
I Had a Heart Attack: A Case Study
When Jane got stuck in traffic on the way to a meeting, little did she realise that she would go from traffic jam to intensive care, after suffering a heart attack in her car....
I Had My Cardiac Enzymes Measured: A Case Study
Cardiac enzymes are measured in everyone who experiences symptoms of a heart attack. Troponin levels are directly related to how serious the heart attack has been and are a good indicator of recovery....
I Had to Have a Pacemaker Fitted: A Case Study
A heart pacemaker is implanted to correct problems with heart rhythm, such as a slow heart rate, to make the heart beat evenly and at the right rate. Having a heart pacemaker fitted requires cardiac s...
I Lost a Friend to Sudden Death Syndrome: A Case Study
Sudden death syndrome in young adults is extremely rare but when it strikes it causes devastation among family and friends....
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICD)
ICD's are medical devices used to help prevent death from cardiac arrest. They are designed to monitor and detect the heart rhythm and intervene if necessary using electrical impulses....
Issues Surrounding Heart Disease
Reasearch has and continues to show evidence of links between ethnic background, culture and heart related health problems....
Laser Surgery for Coronary Artery Disease
A new method of treating coronary artery disease has recently been developed. It involves using laser treatment to punch holes in heart muscle to stimulate a better blood supply....
Living With Angina: A Case Study
In his late 50s, Geoff started to have regular angina attacks which required medical treatment and major lifestyle changes, culminating in heart bypass surgery....
Long Acting Nitrates
Long acting nitrates are commonly prescribed to those who experience frequent attacks of angina. The Substance in the drug is released slowly into the body and helps to prevent chest pain by dilating ...
Lowering Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is a measurement of the force of blood against the inner walls of the arteries whilst being pumped around the body. If blood pressure is above the acceptable limits, it is known as hype...
Lowering Cholesterol
Lowering cxholesterol is something most of us would benefit from in order to protect ourselves from serious illness and disease in the future. By making some basic changes in our lifestyles, we can si...
Mitral Valve Stenosis
Mitral valve stenosis is a condition defined by the narrowing of the mitral valve of the heart. The valve beocmes narrowed due tothe tissues becoming thickened and stiff causing the valve to function ...
My Baby Had a Hole in the Heart: Case Study
Some babies are born with a hole in the heart, either in the wall between the atria or the wall between the ventricles. Smaller holes tend to close naturally and treatment is available for larger ones...
My Cholesterol Was Sky High: A Case Study
Dawn was fit, healthy and nearly 40 when she found she had very high blood cholesterol. To prevent a heart attack or stroke in the future she was prescribed statins....
My Sister Had a Heart Transplant: A Case Study
It is rare for young people to suffer cardiac problems but pregnancy can result in problems so severe they can only be corrected with a heart transplant....
Natiuretic Peptides and Heart Failure
Diagnosing heart failure can be difficult because the symptoms can be similar to other health conditions. Measuring the blood level of natriuretic peptides can help....
Palpitations Explained
Palpitations are common sensations causing the person to become more aware of the activity of their heart. Often felt as a hammering, thumping or flutter, palpitations can be frightening for the suffe...
Pericarditis, Inflamation of the Pericardium
Most frequently caused by a viral infection, pericarditis can be a frightening and painful condition....
Preventing Cardiac Death in Young Athletes
Estimates say that 1 young athlete in every 28 000 people in this age group succumbs to sudden cardiac death; understanding more about this rare condition may help prevent it....
Recovering from Heart Surgery
Recovering from heart surgery can be a hard task for even the fittest person, but in order to make sure your recovery is successful it is important to follow advice given by your doctors, nurses and a...
Rheumatic Heart Disease
Rheumatic heart disease can result from rheumatic fever which develops due to untreated strep throat infections. It is a very serious side-effect and can be avoided by the early treatment of throat in...
Software to View Arteries in 3D
New medical technology is being tested to see if it is possible to routinely produce good 3D images of the inside of the coronary arteries to diagnose blockages and narrowing that could be treated....
Stable and Unstable Angina: What's the Difference?
Stable angina is a chronic condition that requires close monitoring and treatment; unstable angina is more serious and is usually a medical emergency, as it suggests that a heart attack is imminent....
Suffering From Endocarditis
Endocarditis occurs as the inner lining of the heart chambers, the valves and the surrounding tissues become inflammed due to a bacterial infection....
Taking Calcium-Channel Blockers
Calcium channel-blockers are medications prescribed for the inhibition of calcium re-uptake by the cell. It is given for high blood pressure as it permits the relaxation of the blood vessels that are ...
The Heart: Facts, Figures and Stats
Facts and figures about what the heart does and how hard it works, without us ever having to think about it, are interesting and amazing....
The Use and Benefits of Statins for Heart Patients
Statins are drugs that are given to patients with high cholesterol levels, especially those who have a high risk of developing heart problems....
The Use of Anti Coagulants
Anti-coagulants are special drugs that are given to prevent blood clots from forming. They may be prescribed to some cardiac patients and those who have suffered with pulmonary embolism or deep vein t...
The Use of Diuretics for Heart Patients
Diuretics are often called water tablets as they encourage the body to get rid of excess fluids and salts that may be detrimental to health....
Thrombolysis Causes & Treatments
Thrombolysis is a treatment given most often in the presence of heart attack and is used to try and dissolve the blood clot that has obstructed the coronary artery....
Undergoing Cardiac Catheterisation
Cardiac catheterisation is a diagnostic test performed to achieve a more accurate diagnosis. Using x-rays and a tiny catheter the heart function and structure of surrounding vessels in explored....
Undergoing Radionuclide Tests
Radionuclide testing is often indicated to help diagnose coronary heart disease. It involves the use of radioactive chemicals and computerised imaging....
Using Beta-blockers
Beta-blockers are a group of drugs formulated for the treatment of high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms, following a heart attack and in the prevention of angina....
Vasodilators and Cardiac Care
Vasodilators work by encouraging the smooth cells of the blood vessels to relax and dilate the vessel meaning the blood doesn't need as much force to get through the network of vessels in the body whi...
Vitamin D & Heart Disease
Scientists have recently discovered strong evidence to suggest links between vitamin D deficiency and heart disease. This vitamin can be found in a variety of natural sources but can also be taken as ...
What Are Aldosterone Antagonists?
Aldosterone antagonists are drugs that act as diuretics - they increase the production of more dilute urine. This reduces excess fluid in the body that can occur when someone has heart failure....
What Are Cardiac Biomarkers?
Cardiac biomarkers are molecules that are released into the blood when there is something wrong with the heart. They can be measured and used in diagnosis and for making important treatment decisions....
What Are Electrophysiological Tests?
Electrophysiological tests allow doctors to follow the way that electrical activity spreads through the heart muscle, comparing it with the normal patterns seen in healthy hearts....
What Are Heart Murmurs?
Heart murmurs are a very common occurrence in children and may not be serious or require any treatment. For others who display other symptoms, a heart murmur may indicate a more serious problem needin...
What are Statins?
Statins are used in the treatment of high cholesterol, and aim to reduce the level of cholesterol made by the liver. In doing so, fatty build ups in the blood vessels are less likely and in some cases...
What Are Thrombolytics?
Thrombolytics are powerful given to dissolve blood clots that may endanger life and are used in emergencies only....
What Does a Thallium Stress Test Involve?
The thallium stress test is a technique that can show how well the blood flows to the heart muscle and through the heart when you are exerting yourself and when you are at rest....
What is a Pulse Oximeter?
Pulse oximeters are non-invasive medical devices used to help determine the blood oxygen levels of the patient. It is used to monitor the patient and indicates when further investigations may be neede...
What is a Transoesophageal Echocardiogram?
Transoesophageal echocardiogram is an extremely useful test perfomed to aid the diagnosis of certain heart complaints. It works by taking ultrasound images of the heart via a probe placed in the oesop...
What is Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)
Angina that causes chest pain even when resting and sleeping, a mild heart attack and a major heart attack and now grouped into a medical condition known as acute coronary syndrome....
What is an Aortic Dissection?
An aortic dissection often follows an aortic aneurysm. This causes the wall of the major artery to tear, but not completely, allowing blood to flow between the layers of the wall....
What is an Electrocardiogram (ECG)?
An ECG has become a very widely and routinely used test for measuring the electrical activity of the heart. By measuring this activity, many conditions and problems of the heart can be diagnosed and t...
What is an Exercise Test?
Exercise tolerance tests are used frequently as a method of determining the effectiveness of the heart when additional stress is placed upon it. The person will undergo physical activity whilst being ...
What is Atrial Fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation occurs when the electrical impulses sent from the upper chambers of the heart to the lower ones do not function effectively leading to an irregular heart rate....
What is Atrial Myxoma?
An atrial myxoma is a non-cancerous tumour found in cardiac tissues. It is found in the artia of the heart, most commonly in the left side....
What is Bundle Branch Block?
Bundle branch block can be a common and unserious condition of the heart, often going undiagnosed. For others it can be a sign of underlying problems that will need treating....
What is Cardiogenic Shock?
Cardiogenic shock occurs when the blood supply being pumped by the heart muscle becomes depleted of oxygen. It can cause confusion and dizziness as the brain tissue does not receive an adequate supply...
What is Glyceryl Trinitrate (GTN)?
Glyceryl trinitrates are drugs given to help in the treatment and prevention of angina. They work by relaxing the blood vessels allowing more oxygen enriched blood to reach the tissues....
What is Heart Block?
Heart block occurs when the electrical signals between the upper and lower chambers of the heart do not transmit effectively. there are three types of heart block, first, second and third each more se...
What is Heart Failure?
Heart failure is a serious heart condition but it doesn't mean that your heart stops completely, as it does in a heart attack. The heart carries on working but not very efficiently....
What is Heart Perfusion?
Heart perfusion is a specialised medical procedure in which the role of the heart and lungs is taken over by a machine to allow open heart surgery....
What is Myocardial Infarction?
Myocardial infarction is a medical term given to describe a heart attack that has occurred as a blood clot forms and blocks one of the coronary arteries....
What is Perfusion Scanning?
Perfusion scanning is basically and advanced form of medical imaging that aims to 'see' the passage of fluids through body tissues....
What is Pericarditis?
Pericarditis is the inflammation of the pericardium which is the protective layer of tissue surrounding the heart. It is usually accompanied by a collection of fluid, known as pericardial effusion....
What is Supraventricular Tachycardia?
Supraventricular tachycardia means a fast heart rate that is due to a problem with the electrical conductivity within the heart due to the impulses that normal come from the sinoatrial node being over...
What is Ventricular Fibrillation?
Ventricular fibrillation is a medical emergency that often causes cardiac arrest. Immediate resuscitation is needed, followed by emergency care in hospital....
Why Do Palpitations Occur?
Palpitations occur when the heart rhythms become irregular. They can feel as though the heart is racing, has extra beats or is slower than usual....
Why Does My Heart Beat Faster After Sweet Food?
The best thing to do to set your mind at rest is have a check up with your GP. It could be nothing, but it is wise to rule out conditions such as diabetes....
Why is High Blood Pressure Bad for the Heart?
If you have high blood pressure, it takes more effort for your heart to push blood around the body. High blood pressure produces no symptoms, so is often called the silent killer....
Why No Multaq for the UK?
Multaq, a new drug for treating atrial fibrillation has been launched and approved in Europe but UK patients are missing out because NICE has rejected its use in the NHS....
Wolffe-Parkinson-White Syndrome
Wolffe-Parkinson-White syndrome is a condition that causes a fast heart rate due to additional electrical impulses in the heart that interfere with the normal pace and rhythm of the heart....