Cardiac Test Basics
Please explain the difference between an electrocardiogram and an echocardiogram. What exactly do these tests tell doctors about the heart?
July 29, 2010 | Read more »
Heartbeat
Give the Gift of Life
My brother-in-law just turned 50 and needs a new heart. We sometimes hear that wealthy people get donor organs quicker than others. Is this true? How long is the usual wait for a new heart?
July 29, 2010 | Read more »
Low-Dose Aspirin for Heart Health
What is the latest information about taking daily baby aspirin to help the heart?
July 29, 2010 | Read more »
Heart Defect Often Causes No Symptoms
I had a stroke in 2003, and a diagnostic test showed a “hole” in my heart with no right-to-left shunt. The shunt didn’t show up on a different kind of test in 2009, either.
I came through the stroke fine because I went to the hospital right away and have been on warfarin ever since. My question is: If there’s no shunt, is the hole present?
July 29, 2010 | Read more »
Surgery Corrects Heart Rhythm
Q: How does the Maze treatment for atrial fibrillation work, and what does it involve? A: The Maze procedure is open heart surgery to eliminate rapid heartbeats. It involves making a series of incisions in the top portion of the heart, the atria. In experienced hands, the procedure is successful in more than 90 percent [...]
June 2, 2010 | Read more »
Pacemaker Safety
Q: Is it safe for a person with a pacemaker to play the slot machines at a casino? A: It is safe for your pacemaker—but it may not be safe for your wallet!
June 2, 2010 | Read more »
Heart Scars
Q: One year after a double bypass, doctors said my heart has scarred shut, and I need another surgery. What caused this problem, and what options exist? A: Bypass vessels, particularly when veins are used in contrast to arteries, can clog or narrow (note President Bill Clinton’s recent incident), but it usually occurs years after [...]
June 2, 2010 | Read more »
Heart Is Skipping Beats
Q: The medical profession says I have about 10 premature beats per minute. My pulse is in the range
of 50 to 60 beats. Are skipped beats serious or harmless? I have always gotten winded very easily. A: Ten premature beats per minute is a fair amount that can be perfectly harmless. However, we now know [...]
June 2, 2010 | Read more »
Heart Attack Risk
Q: I have angina, and some of my arteries are blocked. What are my chances of having a heart attack, and can a prescription drug like Imdur control chest pain? A: Severe blockages in coronary arteries can certainly cause a heart attack. Often, such blockages can be propped open with stents, which can relieve the [...]
March 1, 2010 | Read more »
Time for a Second Opinion
Q: I have three leaky valves, and the heart doctor said knee surgery would be risky. Should I get a second opinion? A: It is always a good idea to get another opinion, especially when
it comes to surgery. After all, it is
your body, and you want to be sure the decisions made are [...]
March 1, 2010 | Read more »
Heartbeat supplements the advice of your health care provider,
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whom you should consult for personal medical problems.
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