Several hypertension patients are faced with lifelong intake of medicines for reducing their chances of suffering from heart attacks or stroke. Despite the lengthy daily pill intake, nearly half of these patients continue to have inadequately controlled blood pressure. Hypertension or high blood pressure develops due to transmission of flawed signals from the brain to the renal nerves. These nerves present in the arteries deliver to the kidneys and play vital role in regulating blood pressure, though it is not completely clear the manner in which they do it. In nearly ninety-five percent of the situations, there is no lone, specific cause for such flawed signals; however risk factors inclusive of age, binge drinking, inadequate dietetic intake, dearth of physical exercise and being obese  [...]

Dilated cardiomyopathy Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is an abnormal  condition of dilatation of the heart muscles with weakened and enlarged  left ventricle,  the heart’s main pumping chamber. This leads to progressive decrease in ejection volume of the  blood pumped out  per heart beat. The left ventricle may fail to relax  preventing its filling  Other chambers of the heart may also be affected. Symptoms of DCM Many with DCM lead a normal life without showing any symptoms or only minor ones. With progressive worsening of the heart function  following symptoms are observed. Cardiac insufficiency (shortness of breath) due to reduction in ejection volume  of left ventricle upto 30%. Swelling of the legs and feet  weight gain , cough congestion due to fluid retention to  [...]

Risk elements leading to arrhythmia: Aging is known to predictably slacken the heart leading to lowered flexibility that has a major bearing on the transmission of the electrical impulses. Individuals with a congenital heart anomaly are at greater risk of getting arrhythmia. Those with heart ailments, constricted arteries, those with a history of heart attack, improperly functioning heart valves, past heart surgery and cardiomyopathy are more prone to developing arrhythmia. Those with problems of the thyroid gland like hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism are more prone to developing arrhythmia. Certain types of prescription medicines, some OTC medicines intended to treat cough and cold that contain pseudoephedrine might trigger the onset of arrhythmia. Those ailing from high  [...]

Arrhythmia is treated solely if it raises the likelihood of grave arrhythmia or an escalated condition. Bradycardia treatment (sluggish heartbeats): If the underlying issue is a hypo-active thyroid gland or a drug-associated side effect, then that problem would need prompt treatment. If there is no primary problem detected, then the doctor might recommend a pacemaker implantation. Pacemaker – This small device inserted just beneath the skin of the chest or the abdomen reinstates the function of the atrioventricular node. It aids in controlling anomalous heart rhythms by sending electrical pulses to stimulate the heart into beating at a normal rate. Tachycardia Treatment (rapid heartbeats): Vagal maneuvers – Particular maneuvers could be done by the patient that could aid in  [...]

The doctor, general physician or heart specialist would delve into the patient’s triggering factors that are leading to arrhythmia. A comprehensive interview would involve probing into the patient’s medical and family past, dietary intake and lifestyle along with other determining factors. The doctor would recommend the below stated tests: Blood and Urine Analysis – These tests are conducted for checking the blood count and the functioning of the liver, thyroid and kidney. The blood is additionally checked for the presence of particular chemical markers that are indicators of heart malfunction like BNP or brain natriuretic peptide – a kind of hormone whose secretion by the heart increases during injury or overstrain, though it is initially recognized by the brain. The sodium and  [...]

Arrhythmia Causes: Those in good health would barely ever ail from long-lasting arrhythmia only if the person is exposed to an external triggering factor like drug misuse or an electric shock. Due to an underlying problem, the electrical impulses might not be able to suitably pass through to the heart, thus raising the chances of arrhythmia. Binge drinking. Being diabetic. Drug misuse. Over-intake of coffee. Heart ailment. Soaring blood pressure or hypertension. A hyperactive thyroid gland or hyperthyroidism. Mental strain. Heart scarring due to heart attack. Smoking. Certain dietetic supplements, herbal medications or other medicines. Reduced blood supply or a damage or death to the cells and tissues of the heart could modify the heart’s capacity for  [...]

Arrhythmia is an atypical heartbeat characterized by the heart beating faster than normal (over 100 beats/minute) –tachycardia, slower than usual (lesser than 60 beats/minute) –brachycardia, too soon –premature contractions or in a highly irregular manner – fibrillation ( atrial or ventricular). Arrhythmias are basically problems associated with the heart’s rhythms that transpire when the electrical impulses traveling to the heart which are responsible for co-ordination of the heart beats do not aptly function, leading to the heart beating unnaturally faster, slower or patchily. Accelerated or sluggish heart beats don’t necessarily imply the presence of heart disease. Heart rates could normally rise during the course of exercising. Some highly fit athletes has a heart rate  [...]

Elaxim, the clot disbanding drug has a plethora of advantages due to which it has become the preferred option. Also, elaxim could be a major boon for major sections of patients suffering from acute myocardial infection who get admission in I.C.C.U where often there is no provision for carrying out angiography and angioplasty. The success rates with elaxim are as high as compared to instant angioplasty when promptly administered in the initial three hours of a heart attack. In the latest landmark Gracia II trial that is available in the European Heart Journal, sheds light on some intriguing concepts. A comparison was drawn regarding the post tenecteplase angioplasty that could be performed a couple of hours I.V. bolus of tenecteplase with PAMI. The trial revealed that primary and secondary  [...]

Heart attack, medically termed as Acute Myocardial Infarction is a potentially fatal condition resulting from total obstruction of one of the coronary artery transporting blood to the heart. Nearly 50% of such patients would die in the initial hour of the commencement of chest pain. Hence, time is critical. In this case, time is not money but time is muscle. Notable advancements in heart attack management have majorly lowered the death rate and brought about a whirlwind of positive change. Hyper acute emergency – crisis management strategies Reperfusion of the heart muscle done by opening the obstructed artery by either Primary angioplasty or by clot-absolving medicine is the decisive treatment that is successfully employed. Elaxim –Tenecteplase justly earns the accolades for being  [...]

Type A, aortic dissection is a rare heart condition that is noted in one patient amongst a million annually. This condition leads to the inner aortic layer ripping off from close to the heart to the descending aorta. A 52-year old man of Indian origin was lately discharged from a hospital facility after having hoodwinked death. He was ailing from an atypical heart complication that had been repaired in a similarly unique procedure. In an attempt to save his life, the surgeons placed him into an indeterminate state of suspended sentient, wherein he was not demonstrably animate according to the high-tech screening devices in the operating room. Providentially, the man did not face any neurological impediment due to the apparently radical procedure. His ailment was atypical, but the doctors  [...]