An echocardiogram is a diagnostic tool that uses sound waves to produce images of your heart. Like an ultrasound, the echocardiogram allows the doctor to develop a comprehensive picture of your heart’s condition and efficiency. If your doctor is recommending you undergo an echocardiogram, know that he is on the right track to better understanding whatever symptoms you are experiencing of concerns you are having with regard to your heart function. What an Echocardiogram Can Tell You Simply put, ... [Read More]
heart disease
Preventive Cardiology: Non-Symptomatic Reasons To See A Cardiologist
With approximately 84 million Americans suffering from some form of cardiovascular disease, heart disease has been and continues to be at the top of the list of the country’s most serious health crises. As the disease claims approximately 2,200 people per day, many physicians are stressing preventive care as successful method for taking action. In fact, many venerated medical programs such as Mayo Clinic and Weill Cornell Medicine have entire programs dedicated to preventive cardiology. There ... [Read More]
What to Do if You Notice Irregular Heart Rate
Arrhythmias or abnormal and irregular heartbeats are the results of the electrical pulses in your heart incorrectly coordinate the natural rhythm. Arrhythmias are not uncommon and can often be harmless. There are times that they can be alarming and become an emergency situation. This guide will help you distinguish these two types and what you should do in the event of them. What Causes Arrhythmia? There are 14 different types of arrhythmia, depending on where it originates. Atrial arrhythmia ... [Read More]
WHAT IS A HOLTER MONITOR – AND WHY WOULD I NEED ONE?
It may sound like a top-secret gadget employed by the CIA or MI-6, but in fact, a Holter monitor is just a battery-operated portable device that continuously measures and records your heart’s activity for 24 to 48 hours or longer. It’s the size of a small camera and has wires with electrodes that attach to your chest, so it can record your ECG (electrocardiography) as you go about your daily business. You may be wondering why anyone – including you – would want or need to wear a Holter monitor ... [Read More]
What is a Heart Murmur?
Your heart is one of the most important organs in your body because it does a very important job: pump blood through your body. As blood pumps in and out of the heart, a sound can be detected made up of two beats. Sometimes, another sound can interrupt the normal beating of the heart. This is called a heart murmur. A heart murmur is a different than a heart beat, typically sounding similar to a “whooshing” noise. A doctor can detect a heart murmur through a stethoscope. Although it may sound dan ... [Read More]
