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Sudden cardiac death is usually caused by ventricular fibrillation(the lower chamber of the heart quivers instead of pumping in an organized rhythm). Ventricular fibrillation almost never returns to normal by itself, so the condition requires imme...
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Ventricular fibrillation(VF) is a severely abnormal heart rhythm( arrhythmia) that can be life-threatening.The heart pumps blood to the lungs, brain, and other organs. Interruption of the heartbeat for only a few seconds can lead to fainting(synco...
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Ventricular fibrillation is a very rapid, uncoordinated, ineffective series of contractions throughout the lower chambers of the heart. Unless stopped, these chaotic impulses are fatal.When the ventricles begin to quiver, and do not employ coordin...
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Sometimes problems with the heart's electrical signals lead to a fast heart rhythm. Too many signals may make the heart beat very fast (tachycardia). Or signals may be sent so rapidly and irregularly that the heart muscle sometimes quivers and doesn't beat at all (fibrillation).
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Coronary heart disease(CHD) is a narrowing of the small blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. CHD is also called coronary artery disease.Coronary artery disease; Arteriosclerotic heart disease; CHD; CAD.Coronary heart disease is...
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Coronary artery disease is a narrowing or blockage of the arteries and vessels that provide oxygen and nutrients to the heart. It is caused by atherosclerosis, an accumulation of fatty materials on the inner linings of arteries.
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Detailed information on coronary artery disease, including anatomy of the coronary arteries and disease symptoms, diagnostic, and treatment information
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Coronary artery disease is a stenosis(narrowing) or blockage of the arteries and vessels that provide oxygenated blood to the heart. It is caused by atherosclerosis(hardening of the arteries), an accumulation of fatty plaque on the inner linings o...
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You often hear only bad news about heart disease. After all, it is the leading cause of death in the United States, killing one in five people. But here is the good news: Prevention efforts and treatment advances have made a difference. Between 1950 and 1999, the death rate from heart disease fell by almost 60% and is still falling.
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Coronary artery disease(CAD) is the most common cause of death and disability in the United States and other industrialized countries, and it can be manifested if these arteries become narrowed by cholesterol to about half their normal diameter(se...
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Coronary artery bypass surgery creates a path for blood to flow around a blockage and helps prevent a heart attack.
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Atherectomy is a procedure that relieves symptoms of coronary artery disease by improving blood flow to your heart.
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Omega-3s are a beneficial and essential form of fat, one that your body needs but can't make.
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C-reactive protein is emerging as a key risk factor for heart disease. A guide to new research on this protein, how to test for it, and how exercise can lower its presence in the blood.
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Are CHF and CAD the same thing?
Howard LeWine, M.D., is chief editor of Internet Publishing at Harvard Health Publications. He is recognized as an outstanding clinician and teacher and is a recipient of the Internal Medicine Teacher of the Year award at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Dr. LeWine continues to practice Internal Medicine; most recently he became a hospitalist after practicing primary care for over 20 years.
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Angioplasty has become common for treating blocked arteries, but not all patients need the procedure. Many people with artery disease can be treated by taking medications and adopting healthier habits.
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A number of studies show a definite correlation between erectile dysfunction and risk of heart disease. In many cases, the symptoms have not been diagnosed. Men with ED should have their cardiac health evaluated.
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Anyone who is choking should have a medical examination. Complications can occur not only from the choking, but also from the first aid measures that were taken.Seek medical help right away if you find someone unconscious.Tell someone to call 911 ...
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Choking is a condition caused by inhalation of a foreign object that partially or fully blocks the airway.Choking is a major cause of respiratory emergencies and cardiac arrest in infants and children. Choking occurs when a foreign object, such as...
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This is an extreme medical emergency. Knowing what to do can help save your baby's life.
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Choking sends thousands of infants and toddlers to emergency rooms each year, and food often plays a part.
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Choking is a major cause of death for children under three, and is a hazard for older children as well. Young children explore the world with their mouths, and they will naturally put in their mouths anything that fits.
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Although people know toys can be dangerous, injuries can still occur.When it comes to dangerous toys, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) doesn't play around. In one recent year, the government confiscated 2 million toys -- mostly imports seized at U.S. borders.
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One minute you and your child are laughing at the dinner table. The next minute the child is choking. Here's what you should do.
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Choking is the inability to breathe because the trachea is blocked, constricted, or swollen shut.Choking is a medical emergency. When a person is choking, air cannot reach the lungs.
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Detailed information on choking, choking prevention, and the Heimlick maneuver Choking, which is caused by food or another foreign object becoming lodged in the throat, or airway, accounts for nearly 4,300 deaths each year. Choking prevents oxygen from getting to the lungs and the brain. Lack of oxygen to the brain for more than four minutes may result in brain damage or death. It is important for all persons to recognize and know how to handle choking both in the home and in restaurants and other public places. The Heimlich maneuver, an emergency procedure used to treat choking victims, is responsible for saving thousands of lives each year.
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Call 911 if the victim loses consciousness. Choking occurs when the airway to the lungs becomes blocked, placing the victim's life in danger. Start rescue techniques right away.
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If a person who is choking is still able to speak, their airway does not have a significant obstruction, so the Heimlich maneuver should not be performed.
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An arrhythmia is a disorder of the heart rate(pulse) or heart rhythm, such as beating too fast(tachycardia), too slow(bradycardia), or irregularly.Dysrhythmias; Abnormal heart rhythms; Bradycardia; Tachycardia.Normally, the four chambers of the he...
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An arrhythmia is an abnormality in the heart''s rhythm, or heartbeat pattern. The heartbeat can be too slow, too fast, have extra beats, skip a beat, or otherwise beat irregularly.Arrhythmias are deviations from the normal cadence of the heartbeat,...
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Detailed information on arrhythmias, including symptoms, diagnostic, and treatment information
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Detailed information on arrhythmias, including symptoms, types, diagnosis, and treatment
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Detailed information on problems involving heart rhythm There are many problems that affect the heart's rhythm that require care by a physician or other healthcare professional. Listed in the directory below you will find some additional information regarding problems involving heart rhythm, for which we have provided a brief overview.
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The guidelines for how long to wait before driving after having an ICD implanted have been revised, to reflect the growing number of people who receive the device preventively.
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The heart rate, usually measured by checking the arterial pulse or sounds counting the times of the heart beat, is considered one of the vital signs. Vital signs – body temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure provide information about the state of health of a person and, if abnormal, offer clues to problems.
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An electrical injury can occur to the skin or internal organs when a person is directly exposed to an electrical current.The human body is a good conductor of electricity. Direct contact with electrical current can be fatal.
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Electric shock injuries are caused by lightning or electric current from a mechanical source passing through the body.Electric shocks are responsible for about 1, 000 deaths in the United States each year, or about 1% of all accidental deaths.The ...
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Electric shock injuries are caused by lightning or electric current passing through the body. In infants, electric shock injuries occur most often when they put metal objects in their mouths.Electric current can be described as the flow of microsc...
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