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The most important factor is how the blood pressure changes from the normal condition.Most normal blood pressures fall in the range of 90/60 millimeters of mercury(mm Hg) to 130/80 mm Hg. But a significant drop, even as little as 20 mm Hg, can cau...
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Postural hypotension is the most common type of low blood pressure. In this condition, symptoms appear after a person sits up or stands quickly.
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A heart attack is when blood vessels that supply blood to the heart are blocked, preventing enough oxygen from getting to the heart. The heart muscle dies or becomes permanently damaged.
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A heart attack is the death of, or damage to, part of the heart muscle because its blood supply is severely reduced or stopped.Heart attack is the leading cause of death in the United States. Approximately every 29 seconds one American will have a...
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Detailed information on heart attack, symptoms of heart attack, warning signs, how to respond in an emergency, and heart attack treatment
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Detailed information on heart attack, symptoms of heart attack, warning signs, how to respond in an emergency, and heart attack treatment
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Detailed information on heart attack, symptoms of heart attack, warning signs, how to respond in an emergency, and heart attack treatment
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Over the long term, your quality of life is tied to how severe your heart attack was and how it was treated. Beyond that, any change will depend largely on you.
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The Framingham risk-assessment tool is used to evaluate a person's risk of heart attack, but it does not consider the influence of inflammation. Researchers have developed a new tool that uses three additional factors to evaluate your heart attack risk.
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Chest pain could be simple indigestion or a heart attack. Knowing the warning signs of a heart attack, and knowing how to respond, could save a life. The following guidelines can help you make the right decisions and take the right steps when seconds count.
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A heart attack is an urgent message from your heart that it's starved for oxygen. When oxygen-rich blood to your heart is blocked by a clot, heart muscle begins to die and symptoms of a heart attack start.
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Discussion of what constitutes a heart attack and new ways to treat them.It's a story that is played out countless times every day. A 58-year-old man develops chest pain while watching a playoff game on TV. He's always been pretty healthy, but he hasn't had a check-up for years. He's had some heartburn from time to time, but this pain is different: a heavy pressure just below his breastbone with an ache in his jaw. He feels sweaty, nauseated, and a bit lightheaded. Probably the chips and garlic dip, he thinks, reaching for an antacid. But his wife knows better; she calls 911 and gives him an aspirin to chew. The EMTs arrive in a few minutes, but by then the pain is gone. Feeling foolish, he agrees to an IV, oxygen, and a trip to the hospital. In the emergency ward there are questions, EKGs, chest x-rays, and blood tests. And then the big question: Did I have a heart attack?
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Technology has given us the automated external defibrillator (AED), which is turning up far from hospitals. Some schools and public buildings already have AEDs.
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For many women, a heart attack may feel like a strange discomfort in the back or some other easily ignored sign, instead of crushing chest pain.
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Detailed information on heart attack, symptoms of heart attack, warning signs, how to respond in an emergency, and heart attack treatment
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A new study suggests an aspirin before bed may lower blood pressure while protecting against heart attack and stroke.
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Researchers believe that enough evidence exists now to list rheumatoid arthritis as a marker of increased heart attack risk. The next step is to examine how people with RA might alter their drug treatment plan or make lifestyle changes to reduce their risk for heart attack.
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A Harvard Medical School physician answers your question about how to tell heartburn from more serious heart trouble.
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People who are at risk for heart disease may be fine for some time, until a stressful event or situation acts as a trigger for a heart attack or stroke. Even in those with heart disease, some of these triggers can be minimized or avoided.
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People at risk for heart attack or stroke will likely benefit from taking low-dose daily aspirin, but for some there are greater risks (such as ulcers or gastrointestinal bleeding) that outweigh aspirin's help.
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Research shows that heart attack risk varies by both the season and time of day.
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Besides the nutritional benefits, eating beans regularly can lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of a heart attack.
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Although their symptoms and effects can be similar—and confusing—strokes and heart attacks are two different medical problems.
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This article discusses the drug Plavix: what it does; who needs it; and, the risks and benefits.
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Depression can often develop as a result of a heart attack or cardiac surgery, and has more serious effects on heart health and overall health than depression that was present before a heart attack.
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Aspirin is safe for some healthy women over age 65 to take to prevent stroke and heart attack, but probably not for most younger women.
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Advisory ratchets down targets for LDL (bad) cholesterol for some people, not others; no one-size-fits-all recommendation yet.
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Though clot-busting drugs are delivered with little delay in most emergency rooms, angioplasty does not fare as well, according to a new study.
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Studies suggest mental health care following a heart attack can improve patient health and mortality.
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The Women's Health Study, released in March 2005, provides surprising new information about the health benefits of aspirin for women.
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Heart attacks rise during winter and, especially, over the holidays. Possible explanations for this phenomenon, and how to protect yourself this season.
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A myocardial infarction, or heart attack, is the death or damage of part of the heart muscle because the supply of blood to the heart muscle is severely reduced or stopped.Myocardial infarction(MI) is the leading cause of death in the United State...
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A heart attack is the death of, or damage to, part of the heart muscle because the supply of blood to the heart muscle is severely reduced or stopped.Heart attack is the leading cause of death in the United States. More than 1.5 million Americans ...
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If you're looking for a reason to exercise, try this one: A routine workout may help ward off blood clots, the villains behind most heart attacks. You suffer a heart attack when a blood clot forms in an artery, blocking oxygen-rich blood from reaching the heart.
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If hospitals become accredited as "chest pain centers," it could make deciding where to go for treatment easier, and also increase recovery rates.
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A review of advances in heart medicine since the 1950s, when President Eisenhower bucked conventional wisdom by returning to physical activity several months after a heart attack.
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Angioplasty to treat chest pain will be most efffective if the procedure is done within the first 12 hours after onset. If you have had symptoms for longer, drug treatment is likely to be as effective as angioplasty.
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More Americans have their hypertension under control. Folic acid does not prevent heart attacks. Exercise after heart surgery is safe and beneficial. Program your cell phone with an emergency contact.
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Two new tests aim to provide better measures of "bad" cholesterol in order to more accurately predict the risk of heart attack.
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The experience of a heart attack can trigger post-traumatic stress disorder, which can delay recovery and perhaps cause heart disease to progress further.
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A recent study offers evidence that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors may help those who develop depression after a heart attack.
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Many instances of "sudden" cardiac arrest are not sudden at all. In the majority of occurrences there is at least one warning sign before the event: chest pain, shortness of breah, nausea, and dizziness are the most common ones.
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Sweating is an almost as common, but lesser-known, sign of heart attack as more "classic" chest pains.
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The Harvard Health Letter celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. In the first of a series, the Health Letter takes a look back at three decades in medicine.
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Unlike traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatories such as aspirin and ibuprofen, COX-2 drugs have been linked to heart attacks because they encourage blood clots to form.
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The benefits of aspirin for those at risk for heart disease are clear, but for women under 65 who are not at risk, there is no benefit to a daily aspirin. There is evidence that taking aspirin regularly may reduce the risk of stroke, regardless of age.
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An expert shares his beliefs about how best to treat and avoid cancer, heart disease, and other chronic diseases.
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A pair of studies found that increased, prolonged strain in people's close relationships or jobs correlated with an increased risk for a cardiac event.
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Normally, your body warns you of a problem by making you feel pain. But over time, high blood sugar damages nerves in your body. This may keep you from feeling pain caused by a heart problem.
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Pepto-Bismol contains aspirin-like salicylates, so talk with your doctor before using it in children.Avoid combination cough and cold preparations in children under age 6 because they have sometimes caused over-sedation and death. Above all, be su...
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If you have more than two medications to manage, consider getting a pill organizer -- a special container marked with the days of the week. Besides housing multiple medications, a compartmentalized organizer can be useful for keeping track of the medications you've taken.
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Every year, more than 400 million prescriptions are filled with generic medications in the United States.
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Prescription medications have joined the ranks of new cars and breakfast cereals. Many of them are being marketed directly to the public through ads on television and in magazines. Some medications get so much free publicity they don't need to be advertised.
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The average American older than 65 takes two to seven prescription drugs daily; managing these medications properly is essential for good health.
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What makes some people sticklers for following through with their medications, and others haphazard at best?
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Stocking your medicine cabinet isn't difficult and doesn't take much time. You'll first want the essentials for first aid and symptom relief, rounded out with a few items that meet the special needs of you and your family.
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Just because a drug is available without a prescription doesn't mean it's safe to take. Aspirin, for example, can cause problems with asthma.
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Are you taking a chance by combining too many prescription drugs, OTC medicines and supplements?
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Ecstasy, GHB, Rohypnol and Ketamine are some of the so-called club drugs used by teens and young adults at nightclubs and raves -- all-night dances.
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One way to cut the exploding cost of prescription drugs is to switch to generic drugs. Generic drugs cost less and work the same way as the brand names.
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Though medications serve a useful, often life-saving purpose, they must be taken correctly to ensure their safety and effectiveness.
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Take the time to learn about your medicine. For instance, why are you taking it? What does it do? Work with your doctor or other health care providers to get the answers you need.
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Medication can alleviate pain, slow the progression of disease and save lives. But to do so, it must be taken and administered correctly.
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Medicines can be an important part of treatment for serious infections. They can help relieve pain and lift depression.
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Prices can vary widely for similar or identical treatments — and there may be a lot you can do to limit what you pay out of pocket.
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Although most medications are safe when you take them the right way, some drugs can cause dizziness, loss of consciousness, bleeding, irregular heartbeats, and other side effects in some cases.
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Whatever medications you take, it's important to know why you're taking them, what they're designed to do, and how to take them properly.
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The following drug has been approved since the year 2000 for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
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The following drug has been approved since the year 2000 for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
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The safest ways to dispose of leftover medicine.Few programs exist for environmentally safe drug disposal. Flushing them is a no-no.
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A study indicates that taking a combination of medications can be more effective in preventing heart disease than single medications alone.
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A study suggested that taking powdered cinnamon could lower blood sugar in diabetics, but two subsequent studies showed little improvement.
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Getting the right medication is only half the battle. Why and how to fulfill the requirements of a prescription.
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A study found that many adolescents who are prescribed medication give or sell the drugs to other teens. Some of this diversion is recreational, but some may be for therapeutic purposes or performance enhancement.
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Drug addicts have a higher death rate than the general population, but not necessarily due to their substance abuse. A study suggests addicts have more serious psychiatric problems that lead to increased mortality.
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Grapefruit juice can boost or reduce the effect of dozens of drugs and should be ingested with caution by those on medication. A guide to the most important drug interactions.
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A Harvard Medical School doctor answers your questions about whether x-ray machines can harm medications.
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This compilation of 2004's important health stories, as covered by Harvard Health Publications editors, offers perspective on recent advances in medicine and insight about what you can do to extend life and improve those added years.
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Is there a specific age at which you consider a child an adult for the purposes of giving a medication? My daughter is a normal 14-year-old and weighs 114 pounds. Would she be considered an adult when the doctor decides what dose to give her?
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I have just been prescribed Enbrel 50mg twice a week for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, but I have conflicting information on how far apart the two doses should be administered. My doctor said to put four days between doses but I also was told the half-life of Enbrel is only about four days. On which day would you recommend I take it?
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Are there any over-the-counter medications for coughs and colds that are safe for babies?
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Heart failure, also called congestive heart failure, is a life-threatening condition in which the heart can no longer pump enough blood to the rest of the body.Heart failure is almost always a chronic, long-term condition, although it can sometime...
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Detailed information on congestive heart failure, including symptoms, diagnostic, and treatment information
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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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If you have congestive heart failure, knowing your body can help you manage your condition.
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Detailed information on congestive heart failure, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment
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Here's how you can stay healthy and prevent the problems that lead to a stay in the hospital.
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It's important to ask your provider questions during your visit to make sure you understand your condition and what your treatment involves.
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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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If you have CHF, it's important to stick with your treatment, even when you're feeling better. You also need to maintain healthy habits.
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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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If you have COPD, it may be difficult to tell whether you also have heart failure (HF). This is because the two diseases have similar symptoms and common risk factors.
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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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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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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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Over time, new medications and techniques have made heart failure somewhat less life-threatening than it used to be.
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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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A Harvard Medical School physician answers your question about medications appropriate for recovery from heart failure.
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Heart failure makes it hard for oxygen to get into the blood, causing shortness of breath.
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The pacemaker has come a long way since its earliest days: Examining promising results from a study that shows cardiac resynchronization therapy, via a new biventricular pacemaker, may help heart patients.
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Nesiritide (Natrecor), used to treat symptoms of heart failure since 2001, may be less safe than once thought.
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BiDil, a drug recently approved to treat heart failure in African-Americans, may be useful for any heart failure patient. A guide to the FDA's approval of the controversial drug.
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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 st...
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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.Ac...
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It's important for people with heart failure to monitor potassium intake and levels when taking the diuretic spironolactotone.
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Remote monitoring is the wave of the future in managing heart disease.New technology makes it easier to keep tabs on your heart, and heart disease.
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For people with severe heart failure, a pumping device called a left ventricular assist may prolong life for those who are not healthy enough for transplant surgery, or who face a lenghty wait on the transplant list.
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The possible heart benefits of Tai chi.The easy exercises and deep breathing of this Chinese martial art could offer excellent self-defense for the damaged or failing heart.
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A study comparing different forms of exercise for people with moderate heart failure found that ballroom dancing was as effective as a traditional exercise regimen, and also improved patients' quality of life.
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People with heart failure may benefit from a device implanted in the upper chest that monitors blood pressure inside the heart.
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About half of those diagnosed with heart failure survive for at least five years, but the number of diagnoses has increased significantly.
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High heat and humidity is more dangerous for those with heart failure, because the body chooses to maintain blood pressure rather than disperse body heat via blood vessels near the skin.
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Some medications taken by people with heart disease to counteract water buildup in the body can remove too much potassium from the body, while others can leave too much behind.
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Analysis of benefits and risks regarding beta blockers.
Not that long ago, beta blockers were believed to make heart failure worse. By slowing the heart rate, reducing the force of the heart's contractions, and relaxing blood vessels, so the thinking went, these drugs contributed to the deterioration of heart function. Large clinical trials showed just the opposite — beta blockers help people with heart failure live longer and stay out of the hospital, and over time strengthen the heart.
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I was just diagnosed with heart failure. My husband and I like to travel. Is it okay for people like me to fly?
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Dehydration means your body does not have as much water and fluids as it should. Dehydration can be caused by losing too much fluid, not drinking enough water or fluids, or both.
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Dehydration happens very quickly in the bodies of infants and small children, who don't have as much fluid to spare. It can quickly become very serious. Rehydration is the crucial process of returning those fluids back to the body to restore normal functioning.
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The average adult has 10 to 12 gallons of water in his or her body, accounting for 60 percent of body weight. That water plays a critical role in nearly every bodily process. And being a quart or two low can affect how you feel.
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Detailed information on dehydration and heat stroke, including symptoms, treatment, and prevention
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Can dehydration cause headaches?
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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Dehydration is the loss of water and salts that are essential for normal body function.Dehydration occurs when the body loses more fluid than it takes in. Dehydration can upset the delicate fluid-salt balance needed to maintain healthy cells and t...
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Dehydration is the excessive loss of water from body tissues accompanied by an imbalance in essential electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium, and chloride.Dehydration occurs when the body loses more fluid than it takes in. Dehydration can be caus...
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Dehydration is the excessive loss of water from the body. Water can be lost through urine, sweat, feces, respiration, and through the skin.
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Dehydration is the loss of water and salts essential for normal body function.Dehydration occurs when the body loses more fluid than it takes in. This condition can result from illness; a hot, dry climate; prolonged exposure to sun or high tempera...
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each year thousands of concert- and festivalgoers are injured because of crowd problems—stampedes or even dehydration.
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Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening type of allergic reaction.Anaphylactic reaction; Anaphylactic shock; Shock- anaphylactic.Anaphylaxis is an severe, whole-body allergic reaction. After being exposed to a substance like bee sting venom, the person''...
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Anaphylaxis is a severe, sudden, often fatal bodily reaction to a foreign substance or antigen.In humans, anaphylaxis is a rare event usually triggered by an antiserum(to treat snake or insect bites), antibiotics(especially immunoglobulin), or was...
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Detailed information on anaphylaxis, including causes, symptoms, and treatment Anaphylaxis, also called anaphylactic shock, is a severe and sometimes life-threatening reaction to an allergen (the items that your child is allergic to are called allergens). It is a medical emergency, in most cases. The reaction to the allergen can occur seconds to as long as an hour after the exposure. It is necessary to have come in contact with the allergen at a previous time for sensitization to occur.
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Anaphylaxis is a rapidly progressing, life-threatening allergic reaction.Anaphylaxis is a type of allergic reaction, in which the immune system responds to otherwise harmless substances from the environment. Unlike other allergic reactions, howeve...
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Anaphylaxis is a rapidly progressing, life-threatening allergic reaction.Anaphylaxis is a type of allergic reaction, in which the immune system responds to otherwise harmless substances from the environment. Unlike other allergic reactions, howeve...
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Anaphylaxis is a severe, sudden, and potentially fatal allergic reaction to a foreign substance or antigen that affects multiple systems of the body.Anaphylaxis is a severe, whole-body allergic reaction. After initial exposure to a substance such ...
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Allergic reaction is more common than ever before. And it's not just hay fever or bee stings. This comprehensive report describes the causes and cures for everything from food allergies to poison ivy.
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