FAQ
Q:
How is angina
(chest pain) different from a heart attack?
Q: What are the
different types of arrhythmias?
Q: Where can
I find comprehensive information about pacemakers?
Q: What causes
atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)?
Q: Since there
is no cure for congestive heart failure, how is
the condition treated?
Q: What are the
major risk factors for heart attack?
Q: I have a heart
murmur; does this mean I have heart valve disease?
Q: How does blood
pressure increase?
Q: Where can
I find comprehensive information about stroke?
Q: What is "good"
and "bad" cholesterol?
Q: My physician
ordered a cardiac catheterization. What can I
expect from this procedure?
Q: What is a
Holter monitor and how does it work?
Q: Does smoking
really cause heart disease?
Q: What is the
purpose behind cardiac rehabilitation?
Q: Where can
I find more information on the Internet related
to cardiovascular disease?
Q: How is angina (chest pain) different from a
heart attack?
A: Angina may have similar symptoms as a heart
attack, such as: a crushing, squeezing pain in
the chest; a feeling of pressure in the chest;
or pain radiating in the arms, shoulders, jaw,
neck, and/or back. However, unlike the chest pain
associated with a heart attack, the pain from
angina usually goes away within a few minutes
with rest or with the use of a cardiac prescription
medication (i.e., nitroglycerin). < For
more information on angina >
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Q:
What are the different types of arrhythmias?
A: An arrhythmia (also referred to as dysrhythmia)
is an abnormal rhythm of the heart, which can
cause the heart to pump less effectively. An atrial
arrhythmia is an arrhythmia caused by a dysfunction
of the sinus node or the development of another
atrial pacemaker within the heart tissue that
takes over the function of the sinus node. A ventricular
arrhythmia is an arrhythmia caused by a dysfunction
of the sinus node, an interruption in the conduction
pathways, or the development of another pacemaker
within the heart tissue that takes over the function
of the sinus node. < For
more information on arrhythmias >
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Q: Where can I find comprehensive information
about pacemakers?
A: Living with a pacemaker requires special instructions
and care. < For
more information on pacemakers >
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Q: What causes atherosclerosis (hardening of the
arteries)?
A: It is unknown exactly how atherosclerosis begins
or what causes it. Some scientists think that
certain risk factors may be associated with atherosclerosis,
including: elevated cholesterol and triglyceride
levels, high blood pressure, smoking, type 1 diabetes,
obesity, and physical inactivity. < For
more information on atherosclerosis >
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Q: Since there is no cure for congestive heart
failure, how is the condition treated?
A: The cause of the congestive heart failure will
dictate the treatment protocol established. If
the heart failure is caused by a valve disorder,
then surgery is usually performed. If a disease,
such as anemia, causes the heart failure then
the disease is treated. And, although there is
no cure for heart failure due to a damaged heart
muscle, many forms of treatment have proven to
be successful. < For
more information on congestive heart failure
>
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Q: What are the major risk factors for heart attack?
A: There are two types of risk factors for heart
attack, including inherited (genetic) and acquired.
Learn the risk factors you can and cannot control
to better take charge of your cardiovascular health.
< For
more information on heart attack >
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Q: I have a heart murmur; does this mean I have
heart valve disease?
A: Heart valve disease may be suspected if the
heart sounds heard through a stethoscope are abnormal.
This is usually the first step in diagnosing a
heart valve disease. A characteristic heart murmur
(abnormal sounds in the heart due to turbulent
blood flow) can often indicate valve regurgitation.
To further define the type of valve disease and
extent of the valve damage, physicians may use
several different types of diagnostic procedures.
<For more information on heart valve disease>
< For
more information on heart murmurs >
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Q: How does blood pressure increase?
A: Obesity or being overweight, excessive sodium
intake, and a lack of exercise and physical activity
all cause blood pressure to increase. <
For
more information on high blood pressure (hypertension)
>
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Q: Where can I find comprehensive information
about stroke?
A: Stroke is a serious condition that requires
clinical care by a physician or other healthcare
professionals. < For
more information on stroke >
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Q: What is "good" and "bad" cholesterol?
A: Cholesterol and other fats are transported
in your blood stream in the form of spherical
particles called lipoproteins. The two most commonly
known lipoproteins are low-density lipoproteins
(LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). LDL
(low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is commonly
called the "bad" cholesterol, and is a type of
fat in the blood that contains the most cholesterol.
It can contribute to the formation of plaque buildup
in the arteries, known as atherosclerosis. HDL
(high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is known
as the "good" cholesterol, and is a type of fat
in the blood that helps to remove cholesterol
from the blood, preventing the fatty buildup and
formation of plaque. < For
more information on cholesterol in the blood
>
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Q: My physician ordered a cardiac catheterization.
What can I expect from this procedure?
A: In cardiac catheterization (often abbreviated
as "cath"), a very small catheter (hollow tube)
is advanced from a blood vessel in the groin through
the aorta into the heart. Once the catheter is
in place, several diagnostic techniques may be
used to detect the cause of several different
cardiac symptoms, such as shortness of breath,
dizziness, chest pain, etc. < For
more information on cardiac catheterization
>
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Q: What is a Holter monitor and how does it work?
A: A Holter monitor is an EKG recording done over
a period of 24 or more hours. Three electrodes
are attached to the patient's chest and connected
to a small portable EKG recorder by lead wires.
The patient goes about his/her usual daily activities
(except for activities such as taking a shower,
swimming, or any activity causing an excessive
amount of sweating which would cause the electrodes
to become loose or fall off) during this procedure.
< For
more information on Holter monitoring equipment
>
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Q:
Does smoking really cause heart disease?
A: Yes, in many cases. Smokers not only have increased
risk of lung disease, including lung cancer and
emphysema, but also have increased risk of heart
disease, stroke, and oral cancer. < For
more information on smoking and cardiovascular
disease >
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Q:
What is the purpose behind cardiac rehabilitation?
A:
The goal of cardiac rehabilitation is to help
patients reverse their symptoms and maximize cardiac
function. < For
more information on cardiac rehabilitation
>
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Q:
Where can I find more information on the Internet
related to cardiovascular disease?
A: Information on the Internet should never substitute
the medical advice you receive from your physician.
We have provided here links to other World Wide
Web sites with information about cardiovascular
diseases. We hope you find these sites helpful,
but please remember we do not control or endorse
the information presented on these Web sites,
nor do these sites endorse the information contained
here. < For
additional Online Resources >
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