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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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