Digitalis Toxicity : Risk Factors
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Digitalis drugs are medicines made from a type of foxglove plant ( Digitalis purpurea ) that have a stimulating effect on the heart. Purpose Digitalis drugs are used to treat heart problems such as congestive heart failure and irregular heartbeat.
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Drug metabolism is the process by which the body breaks down and converts medication into active chemical substances. Precautions Drugs can interact with other drugs, foods, and beverages.
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Drug interactions are changes in the effect of one drug due to the effect of either another drug taken at the same time (drug-drug interactions) or food consumed while the drug is being taken (drug-food interactions). Some drugs are deliberately combined for administration because there are beneficial effects to be derived.
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Heart failure, also called congestive heart failure, is a disorder in which the heart loses its ability to pump blood efficiently. The term "heart failure" should not be confused with cardiac arrest, a situation in which the heart actually stops beating.
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Medicines can help your heart work better. But they can’t do their job unless you take them exactly as directed by your doctor. Some results: Medicines help you feel better. They help your heart work better. They can help you stay out of the hospital.
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Heart failure can happen in two ways. The heart muscle may become weak and enlarged (systolic dysfunction). The weakened muscle doesn’t pump enough blood forward when the ventricles contract. Or, the heart muscle may become stiff (diastolic dysfunction). The stiff muscle can’t relax between contractions, which keeps the ventricles from filling with enough blood.
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When you’re living with heart failure, it’s normal to feel sad or down at times. Some medications can also affect your mood. Following your treatment plan may seem like a lot to remember. If you feel overwhelmed, just focus on one day at a time.
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Once you have heart failure, flare-ups can happen. Gaining weight is often the first warning sign of trouble. That’s why you need to weigh yourself each day. But there are other signs of trouble, too. Here are some things to watch for.
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Being active doesn’t mean that you have to wear yourself out. Even a little movement each day helps to strengthen your heart. If you can’t get out to exercise, you can do simple stretching and strengthening exercises at home.
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Certain procedures may help in some cases of heart failure. They are done to treat health problems that are affecting your heart. Here are some examples.
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A sudden weight gain or a steady rise in weight is a warning sign that your body is retaining too much water and salt. This could mean your heart failure is getting worse. Weighing yourself each day is the best way to know if you’re retaining water.
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When you have heart failure, excess fluid is more likely to build up in your body. This makes the heart work harder to pump blood. Controlling the amount of salt (sodium) you eat may help prevent fluid from building up.
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To evaluate your condition, your doctor will examine you, ask questions, and run tests. Along with looking for signs of heart failure, the doctor looks for any other health problems that may have led to heart failure.
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Heart failure is a condition in which the heart has lost the ability to pump enough blood to the body ' s tissues. With too little blood being delivered, the organs and other tissues do not receive enough oxygen and nutrients to function properly.
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"Heart failure" is a broad term- often used inter-changeably with "congestive heart failure" (CHF)- to describe the heart's inability to consistently pump enough blood to the body's organs and tissues. Heart failure occurs either from a structural or a functional abnormality.
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Hypokalemia is a condition of below normal levels of potassium in the blood serum. Potassium, a necessary electrolyte, facilitates nerve impulse conduction and the contraction of skeletal and smooth muscles, including the heart.
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Hypomagnesemia means low levels of magnesium in the blood. It may result from a number of conditions including chronic diarrhea , malabsorption, alcoholism, diuretic use, and other disorders.
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