Blood Pressure Drug List
List of drugs used for treating hypertension (high blood pressure) with links to drug information.

Increasing HDL
HDL cholesterol, or "good" cholesterol, appears to scour the walls of blood vessels, cleaning out excess

Key Heart Disease Symptoms
Chest pain, fainting, fatigue, dizziness and heart palpitations can also signal something serious.

Palpitations
When your heartbeat feels unusually strong, or odd, it's known as a palpitation. Is it serious?

Chest pain
Chest pain - its causes, and how it should be evaluated

STEMI Definition
A STEMI - ST segment elevation myocardial infarction - occurs when a coronary artery is totally occluded by a blood clot.

Cholesterol and Triglycerides
Cholesterol and triglycerides, two forms of lipid that circulate in your bloodstream, are both necessary for life itself. But when blood levels of cholesterol or triglycerides become too high, your risk of developing cardiovascular disease is significantly increased.

Pacemakers
Here is what you should know about pacemakers - what they are and what they do, how they are implanted, and what to expect if you have or need one.

PVCs
The evaluation and treatment of premature ventricular complexes, known as PVCs.

cardiac anatomy
A description of the heart's chambers and valves

evaluating chest pain
how chest pain should be evaluated - how to tell if it's an emergency

Diastolic Dysfunction and Diastolic Heart Failure
Diastolic dysfunction and diastolic heart failure occur when the heart's ventricles become too stiff, leading to impaired filling of the ventricles with blood.

Cardiac Symptoms In Women
Cardiac symptoms in women are often different than in men

dysautonomia
The dysautonomias are serious medical disorders that are often missed, or dismissed

bundle branch block
The treatment of bundle branch block

Definition of NSTEMI
A NSTEMI - non-ST segment myocardial infarction - occurs when a coronary artery is partially occluded by a blood clot.

Inappropriate sinus tachycardia
IST - inappropriate sinus tachycardia - what is it, and how is it treated?

Trans fatty acids
Trans fatty acids - what they are, where they are, and what they do to your heart

coughing_and_heart_failure
Coughing can be an important symptom of heart failure

The Electrocardiogram (ECG)
A description of the electrocardiogram, how it is performed, and what it shows

how much exercise?
Is an hour a day of exercise really necessary?

Syncope And Its Causes
Syncope, or fainting, is a common symptom that can be caused by many different medical conditions.

Thyroid and the heart
the cardiac effects of thyroid disease

Surviving a heart attack
Surviving a heart attack requires that you know the signs of a heart attack, and seek medical help the moment you think you might be having one; and that the medical personnel who are caring for you do the right things, and do them quickly.

Rheumatic Heart Disease
Rheumatic heart disease is heart valve damage that occurs after an episode of rheumatic fever.

Stress Test
Cardiac stress testing - stress testing for the heart

amiodarone
The unique features of amiodarone

the MUGA scan
What the MUGA scan is used for in diagnosing heart disease

cardiac_enzymes_and_heart
Cardiac enzymes are proteins that leak out of heart cells that are sustaining damage during a heart attack. By measuring cardiac enzyme levels in the blood, doctors can determine whether a heart attack is occurring.

blood clotting
How the blood clots, and how to prevent abnormal clotting

What is causing my chest pain?
What is causing my chest pain?: upper abdomen person experiences span style chest neck disease forum

benign chest wall pain
benign chest wall pain as a cause of chest pain

The statins
Statins are among the most commonly prescribed drugs in medicine. Clinical studies have shown that statins

How Does Stress Cause Heart Disease?
Stress appears to contribute to heart disease in at least two ways. Learn more here.

Cardiac Enzymes
Cardiac enzymes - creatine kinase and troponin - are cardiac proteins that are released into the bloodstream when heart muscle damage occurs, as in myocardial infarction.

unstable angina
All about unstable angina - what is it, what causes it, and how should it be treated?

Heart Failure Basics
If you have been told you have heart failure, learning all you can about this condition is the best thing you can to to help yourself.

When your CRP is high
What to do when CRP level is high. High CRP - what should you do now?

Symptoms of Diastolic Dysfunction and Diastolic Heart Failure
While diastolic dysfunction often does not cause symptoms, diastolic heart failure causes extreme and often acute episodes of shortness of breath. Diagnosing diastolic dysfunction and diastolic heart failure often presents a challenge.

The Echocardiogram
A description of the echocardiogram and its uses

Common heart tests
A summary of the most common heart tests used in cardiology

How Does the Heart Beat?
The cardiac electrical system controls the heart rate and coordinates the contraction of cardiac muscle.

cocaine_and_the_heart
Cocaine affects the heart in ways that can permanently damage it or cause sudden death.

NSTEMI
Non-ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction - NSTEMI - is a form of Acute Coronary Syndrome that is identical to unstable angina, except that cardiac enzymes are elevated, indicating that heart cell damage has occurred

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a common congenital heart disorder that causes several varieties of heart problems – not the least of which is sudden death.

Right Bundle Branch Block (RBBB)
Right Bundle Branch Block (RBBB) is an abnormal finding on the electrocardiogram that is often associated with underlying heart disease.

Heart Attack Signs
The most important step in surviving a heart attack is to recognize when you might be having one. Here is what to look for, and what to do about it.

Treating Hypertension
If you have been diagnosed with hypertension, it is important for you and your doctor to establish a reasonable goal for treatment, and then take the necessary steps to achieve that goal.

Left Bundle Branch Block (LBBB)
Left Bundle Branch Block (LBBB) is an abnormal finding on the electrocardiogram that often indicates underlying heart disease.

Atrial Fibrillation - An Overview
Atrial fibrillation is one of the most common heart rhythm disorders, especially among older adults.

Dysautonomia treatment
Diagnosing and successfully treating dysautonomia requires finding a physician who understands these conditions, and who is patient enough to engage in trial-and-error treatments.

Ablating AF
In some patients, atrial fibrillation can be ablated in the electrophysiology laboratory.

How To Prevent Heart Disease
a simple how to on preventing heart disease , from your about.com guide

Long Term Treatment After A Heart Attack
How to prevent further problems after you survive a heart attack

Broken Heart Syndrome
Can you really die from a broken heart?

Treating Diastolic Dysfunction and Diastolic Heart Failure
Treating diastolic dysfunction and diastolic heart failure mainly depends on treating underlying causes, such as hypertension and coronary artery disease.

Red yeast rice
Red yeast rice for cholesterol

Amiodarone Lung Toxicity
The most feared side effect of amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone) is pulmonary, or lung toxicity, which can be difficult to diagnose and treat, and which can be fatal.

Exercise and HDL
Duration of exercise correlates best with an increase in HDL cholesterol.

heart attack vs. cardiac arrest
Heart attack is the death of heart muscle due to a blocked coronary artery, while cardiac arrest is a heart arrhythmia that causes the heart to stop beating

lung disorders
lung problems as a cause of chest pain

CRT for heart failure
Cardiac resynchronization therapy - CRT - for heart failure

Treatment of Premature Ventricular Complexes - PVCS
The treatment of premature ventricular complexes - PVCs - depends on the symptoms they are causing, and on any associated underlying heart disease.

What is Heart Disease?
What is heart disease?

Long QT syndrome
Long QT syndrome - torsades de pointes

PACs
PACs, or premature atrial complexes, are the most common of the heart arrhythmias.

When to measure CRP
Should you have your CRP measured? - The pros and cons of measuring CRP levels

alcohol and the heart
Should doctors tell their patients about the benefits of alcohol?

Triglycerides
Elevated levels of triglycerides in the blood - a condition referred to as hypertriglyceridemia - are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in both men and women.

Viagra in heart disease
Viagra (sildenafil) can be used safely in most patients with heart disease

Evaluating The Cause Of Syncope
Evaluating the cause of syncope is best done in a systematic way.

pericarditis
Pericarditis - its causes, diagnosis, and treatment

Living With A Pacemaker
What you need to know about living a normal life with a pacemaker.

Anxiety or Panic disorder
anxiety disorder as a cause of chest pain

mitral valve prolapse - MVP
Mitral valve prolapse - MVP - how it should be diagnosed and managed

Heart Attack Checklist
A checklist of the medical care you should receive after after a heart attack

Prinzmetal's angina
Prinzemetal's angina, or coronary artery spasm, is chest pain due to severe coronary artery spasm

Cardiac cath
What you need to know about heart catheterization and angiography

Flying with heart disease
Is it safe to fly when you have a heart problem? Here are guidelines for flying with heart disease.

Sudden Death After Heart Attacks
Sudden death after heart attacks

dilated cardiomyopathy
Learn the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of dilated cardiomyopathy, the most common form of heart failure.

How To Keep Your Heart Healthy
Here are several lifestyle choices that can substantially reduce your risk of heart disease and keep your heart healthy.

Aspirin for Heart Attacks
Taking an aspirin as soon as you believe you might be having a heart attack can help stop the growth of the blood clot that is blocking a coronary artery.

The MUGA scan in monitoring chemotherapy
The MUGA scan in monitoring breast cancer chemotherapy

antiarrhythmic drugs for AF
Antiarrhythmic drugs can be difficult and dangerous to use in the treatment of atrial fibrillation.

aortic stenosis
Aortic stenosis is caused by obstruction in the aortic valve and is treated with valve replacement surgery.

LDL cholesterol guidelines
The guidelines for treating LDL cholesterol are based on cholesterol levels, and cardiac risk factors.

Electrophysiology Study
A description of the electrophysiology study.

The treatment of vasovagal syncope
The treatment of syncope.: heart rhythm disturbances slow heart rate cardiac syncope antiarrhythmic drugs cardiac lesions

Tilt Table Testing
tilt table testing for syncope

Treating Heart Failure
Treating heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy requires the aggressive use of beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, and often diuretics.

metabolic syndrome x
Metabolic syndrome is a constellation of common disorders that produce a high risk of cardiac disease. It is seen in susceptible individuals who become overweight and sedentary. Learn more about metabolic syndrome, and find out if you're at risk.

syncope and seizures
Patients with vasovagal syncope (simple fainting spells) or long QT syndrome often receive the mistaken diagnosis of seizure disorder, or epilepsy.

Holter Monitors and Event R...
the Holter monitor and event recorder in evaluating heart arrhythmias and palpitations

Overview of Treating Atrial Fibrillation
There are two basic approaches to the treatment of atrial fibrillation -- controlling the heart rate, or restoring a normal rhythm.

heart_attacks_in_young_people
What causes heart attacks - myocardial infarction - in younger people?

transesophageal echocardiogram
The transesophageal echocardiogram - TEE

Drugs for Cardiac Arrhythmias
Heart arrhythmias can be treated with antiarrhythmic drugs, AV nodal blocking drugs, beta blockers, statins, and omega-3 fatty acids.

Heart Rhythm Problems
A review of what you need to know about cardiac arrhythmias, or heart rhythm problems.

Assess your risk
How to assess your risk of heart disease

Symptoms of Heart Failure
Symptoms of heart failure are usually due to pulmonary congestion, poor cardiac pumping function or cardiac arrhythmias.

coronary artery disease
Brief summary of coronary artery disease

Vasovagal (Cardioneurogenic) Syncope
Vasovagal - or cardioneurogenic - syncope is the most common cause of transient loss of consciousness

fainting_and_exercise
A brief description of fainting after exercise as a potential sign of serious heart trouble.

Subclavian Steal Syndrome
Subclavian steal syndrome is a form of peripheral artery disease (PAD) affecting the subclavian artery, which results on both claudication of the arm and variable neurological symptoms when the arm is exercised.

dobutamine_for_heart_failure
Classified as an inotrope, a compound that affects the force of muscle contractions, dobutamine is given intravenously, usually in a hospital setting, and often to critically ill heart failure patients who are in danger of dying.

Chest pain, normal coronaries
Coronary angiography is generally regarded as the "Gold Standard" for diagnosing coronary artery disease

Treating UA and NSTEMI
Unstable angina and NSTEMI - two closely related varieties of Acute Coronary Syndrome - are treated identically, with stabilization of cardiac ischemia, and usually with cardiac catheterization, angioplasty and stenting.

Stents or Bypass Sugery?
The Stents or Surgery trial (SoS) suggests that patients with multiple coronary artery blockages may have better survival with coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) than with stenting.

Hypertension
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is one of the most common medical problems in the developed world, and remains a leading cause of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease and other serious medical problems.

Endocarditis prophylaxis
A review of recommendations for prophylaxis against bacterial endocarditis.

milrinone_for_heart_failure_
Primacor (milrinone) is a medication used to treat heart failure. It works by helping the heart to contract, which allows the heart to pump blood more effectively. It also widens blood vessels, making it easier for the heart to move blood through arteries.

How To Prevent High Blood Pressure
a simple how to on preventing high blood pressure, from your about.com guide

Non-Sustained Ventricular Tachycardia - NSVT
Non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) is an episode of ventricular tachycardia that lasts for less than 30 seconds. NSVT can cause significant symptoms, and can indicate an increased risk for cardiac arrest and sudden death.

angina
angina as a cause of chest pain

symptoms
Symptom checker - symptoms associated with heart disease

Nuclear scans
Nuclear perfusion studies with thallium and Cardiolite - thallium and Cardiolite scans

Treating a heart attack
The first few hours of a heart attack are critical in determining whether you survive without any serious long-term disability. Here's what you need to know

Chest pain
causes of chest pain and how the diagnosis is made

overview_of_cardiac
Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease of unknown origin that causes scar tissue to be deposited in various organs in the body. Cardiac sarcoidosis can produce heart arrhythmias, heart failure, and heart valve disease

palpitations and the Holter monitor
palpitations and the holter monitor: heart arrhythmia heart palpitations holter monitor drrich palpitation

drug treatment of angina
The medical treatment for angina and ischemia include drugs such as nitrates, beta blockers, calcium blockers and Ranexa, as well as non-drug therapy like exercise training and EECP

Cardiac syndrome x
Cardiac Syndrome X is a condition that produces angina with normal coronary arteries on cardiac catheterization.

heartburn
heartburn as a cause of chest pain

How To Lower Blood Cholesterol
a simple how to on lowering blood cholesterol, from your about.com guide

CRP levels
CRP levels may be as predictive as cholesterol for cardiac risk

CRP guidelines
Guidelines for when to measure CRP levels

Acute Coronary Syndrome
Acute coronary syndrome - ACS - occurs when a plaque in a coronary artery ruptures, causing a blood clot to form within the artery, and blocking blood flow to the heart muscle.

peptic ulcer
peptic ulcer as a cause of chest pain

Secondhand smoke
Effects of secondhand smoke are worse than previously thought

signs_of_a_aortic_aneurysm
Sudden, severe abdominal pain is one of several symptom of aortic aneurysm rupture.

Preventing stroke in atrial fibrillation
A new model - CHADS - helps to predict the risk of stroke in atrial fibrillation

beta blockers and angina
Beta blockers block the effect of adrenaline on the heart, and reduces the risk of developing angina during periods of stress and exercise.

Cardiac Enzymes Definition
Cardiac enzymes are useful in the diagnosis of heart attack.

Holiday Heart - Atrial Fibrillation & Alcohol
Even small amounts of alcohol ingestion can lead to episodes of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in the condition known as Holiday Heart.

heart attack
heart attack as a cause of chest pain

Postpartum Cardiomyopathy
Postpartum cardiomyopathy is a form of dilated cardiomyopathy that leads to heart failure, and is associated with pregnancy.

Rheumatic Fever
Rheumatic fever is a widespread inflammation, related to strep throat, that can affect various parts of the body, including the skin, joints, brain, and heart.

EBT - Ultrafast CT - scans
Are EBT - also called Ultrafast CT - scans worth the money and the heartache?

Cholesterol - Do You Need To Be Treated?
If you have elevated cholesterol levels, the decision as to whether you need treatment should be based on the guidelines of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III.

Sinus Bradycardia
In sinus bradycardia, a slow heart rate occurs because the heart's sinus node is generating the electrical signals that regulate the heart rhythm at a relatively reduced rate. Sometimes sinus bradycardia is normal, but at other times it requires treatment.

The Rate Control Approach to Treating Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation can be treated by using medications to control the heart rate, and Coumadin to reduce the risk of blood clots.

Obesity - how bad?
How dangerous is obesity? New evidence suggests that mild overweight may not be as dangerous as previously thought.

heroin_and_heart_disease
How does heroin use affect the heart and circulatory system?

waist-to-hip ratio
Waist-to-hip ratio more important than obesity itself in predicting cardiac risk

Definition of angina
Angina is the name given to the symptoms, usually chest pain or chest discomfort, produced when the heart muscle is not getting enough oxygen.

Women and heart disease
Two common misapprehensions are held by both women and their doctors: women don't really get much heart disease, and when they do, it behaves pretty much like the heart disease that men get. The real facts are that heart disease is the number one killer of women, and when women get heart disease it often acts quite differently than it does in men.

The "Rhythm Control" Approach To Treating Atrial Fibrillation
In atrial fibrillation, restoring and maintaining a normal heart rhythm is both difficult and potentially risky, but is often the better approach to treatment.

coronary artery spasm
Coronary artery spasm as a cause of chest pain