Oct. 7, 2009 — When it comes to seeking treatment for chest pain, education doesn’t always mean people do the right thing.
In a new study, heart patients who received counseling about heart attack symptoms and when to get treatment were no more likely to get immediate care than those who had not received counseling. This is disappointing because patients who receive care within 90 minutes after the onset of heart attack symptoms fare much better.
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About 30% of all deaths from heart disease in the U.S. are directly related to cigarette smoking. Smoking is a major cause of atherosclerosis.
Among other things, the nicotine present in smoke causes:
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Decreased oxygen to the heart.
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Increased blood pressure and heart rate.
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Increase in blood clotting.
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Damage to cells that line coronary arteries and other blood vessels, triggering atherosclerosis and heart disease.
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There are many things you can do to decrease your risk of developing heart disease. If the artery-clogging process has already begun, you can slow the rate at which it progresses by improving your diet, exercising, quitting smoking, and reducing stress. With very careful lifestyle modification, you can stop or even reverse the narrowing of arteries. While this is very important for everyone with risk factors for the disease, it is even more important if you have had a heart attack and/or procedure to restore blood flow to your heart or other areas of your body.
t’s important to know what kind of angina you have because each has different symptoms and may need different treatment.
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Stable angina
consists of episodes of chest pain that are usually predictable and triggered by exertion (such as heavy lifting), or mental or emotional stress.1 Usually the chest discomfort is relieved with rest, nitroglycerin, or both.
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Unstable angina
doesn’t follow a pattern, is very serious, and needs emergency treatment. It usually happens when at rest.1 The discomfort may be more severe and last longer than typical angina or be the first time a person has angina.
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Variant or Prinzmetal’s angina
is usually spontaneous, and nearly always occurs when a person is at rest.1 It doesn’t follow physical exertion or emotional stress and can be very painful. Variant angina is caused by coronary artery spasm.
THURSDAY, Sept. 10 (HealthDay News) — The United States faces a dire shortage of cardiologists in the coming years, a shortage made even more critical given the increasing demands of a population rapidly growing older and heavier. Read More »
The head-up tilt table test is a way to find the cause of fainting spells. The test involves lying quietly on a bed and being tilted at different angles (30 to 60 degrees) for a period of time while various machines monitor your blood pressure, electrical impulses in your heart, and your oxygen level.
The head-up tilt table test is performed in a special room called the EP (electrophysiology) lab.
How Should I Prepare for the Head-Up Tilt Table Test?
If you’re scheduled for a head-up tilt table test, you should:
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Take all your medications as prescribed.
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Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the evening before your test. If you must take medications, drink only small sips of water to help you swallow your pills.
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When you come for your test, bring with you a list of all your current medications, including the dose.
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When you come to the hospital, wear comfortable clothes. It is best not to wear any jewelry or bring valuables.
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Plan to have someone drive you home after the test.
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If you have diabetes, ask for specific instructions on taking your medications and eating/drinking before the procedure.
The patch is generally safe for young, healthy women. The patch can pose heart disease risks for some women, especially women older than 35; women with high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol; and women who smoke.
Recent studies show that women who use the patch may be exposed to more estrogen than women who use the birth control pill. Estrogen is the female hormone in birth control pills and the patch that keeps you from getting pregnant. Research is underway to see if the risk for blood clots is higher in patch users. Blood clots can lead to heart attack or stroke. Talk with your doctor if you have questions about the patch.
If you’re using the patch, watch for signs of trouble, including:
Eye problems such as blurred or double vision
Pain in the upper body or arm
Bad headaches
Problems breathing
Spitting up blood
Swelling or pain in the leg
Yellowing of the skin or eyes
Breast lumps
Unusual (not normal) heavy bleeding from your vagina
Heart disease includes a number of problems affecting the heart and the blood vessels in the heart. Types of heart disease include:
   Blood pressure is the force your blood makes against the walls of your arteries. The pressure is highest when your heart pumps blood into your arteries – when it beats. It is lowest between heart beats, when your heart relaxes. A doctor or nurse will write down your blood pressure as the higher number over the lower number. For instance, you could have a blood pressure of 110/70 (read as “110 over 70″). A blood pressure reading below 120/80 is usually considered normal. Very low blood pressure (lower than 90/60) can sometimes be a cause of concern and should be checked out by a doctor.
   High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a blood pressure reading of 140/90 or higher. Years of high blood pressure can damage artery walls, causing them to become stiff and narrow. This includes the arteries carrying blood to the heart. As a result, your heart cannot get the blood it needs to work well. This can cause a heart attack.
  A blood pressure reading of 120/80 to 139/89 is considered prehypertension. This means that you don’t have high blood pressure now but are likely to develop it in the future.
