Posted on February 18, 2012
What is a Heart aneurysm?
A heart aneurysm, also known as an aortic aneurysm, is a ballooning or bulge in the main artery of the body. This bulge is a weakened area in the aorta that can pose a serious risk of heart failure if ruptured.
Is a Heart aneurysm serious?
Some aneurysms can be small, with a low risk to rupture. If the weakened area is larger, causing a heart aneurysm to rupture, the patient risks suffering heart failure.
How is a Heart Aneurysm diagnosed and treated?
Aortic aneurysm is often difficult to diagnosis, as symptoms are not always apparent. To prevent heart failure from a rupturing aneurysm, doctors perform tests on the heart, including an MRI, CT Scan, or Ultrasound.
The size and exact location of the heart aneurysm are the two deciding factors for treatment. If there is a small aneurysm detected, doctors will monitor for growth and potential risks. If there is a large aneurysm that is likely to rupture, doctors may perform surgery to remove the bulge from the aorta and repair the area with a graft of artificial material to support the aortic wall. Depending upon the location of the aneurysm, surgery may be required to replace a valve in the aorta.
Is a Heart Aneurysm preventable?
While certain hereditary issues do factor into the overall health of the aortic artery and the health of your heart, doctors will suggest measures to prevent a heart aneurysm. Having a heart-healthy diet that decreases the risk for hypertension is always suggested. Cardiologists will also tell you that smokers have an increased risk for heart attacks, blood clots and heart aneurysms. While certain congenital abnormalities are not preventable, doctors will tell you to make the best of your lifestyle choices to reduce health risks later in life.
Could I already have a Heart Aneurysm?
If you feel that you are at risk for heart failure from an aortic aneurysm, it is best to consult a cardiologist. The doctor will discuss your medical history, hereditary factors and your specific lifestyle to best determine your risk of heart failure.
Posted on February 5, 2012
A heart attack, or myocardial infarction, can happen to both men and women. It is important to know and recognize the symptoms of a heart attack in order to receive prompt medical attention. The sooner treatment is received, the more likely your are to survive. Although not everyone has the same symptoms, the following are some of the most common pre-cursors to a heart attack.
Heart Palpitations
You may feel your heart beat rapidly, or feel that your heart skipping beats. Some experience a heavy pounding sensation known as palpitations. Also, blood abnormalities due to irregular heart beat cause the body to release chemicals called catecholamines.
Chest Pain
Chest discomfort is perpetrated by decreased blood flow to your heart. Many people who have experienced a heart attack, state they had a heavy, tight feeling in their chest. Others say it felt numb. It is important to discern whether this feeling is due to simple heart burn because of food, or an actual heart attack.Shortness of Breath
Shortness of breath that is not associated with exercise or extreme physical work is a very common heart attack symptom. This happens when heart damage decreases output in the left ventricle. The end result is pulmonary edema which is the primary symptom of shortness of breath.
Fainting
Weakness and light-headedness , may be symptoms of a heart attack. Since blood transports oxygen, a lack therof causes less blood to reach the brain and other vital organs.
Nausea
Lastly, nausea or a sick feeling in the stomach can signal a heart attack. Many victims feel like vomiting due to the release of catecholamines from the damaged heart.
Posted on January 8, 2012
Know The Facts: Atrial Fibrillation is when your heart doesn’t beat efficiently. This effectively means your heart is inefficient and cannot pump enough blood out to your body with each beat.
It is extremely common for people to have no idea that they have atrial fibrillation because very often, there are no symptoms. A lot of times, people only become aware of the fact that they have atrial fibrillation after they have seen a doctor.
Those who do have atrial fibrillation symptoms may experience:
Palpitations, which are sensations of a racing, uncomfortable, irregular heartbeat or a flopping in your chest
Decreased blood pressure
Weakness
Lightheadedness
Confusion
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Atrial fibrillation may be:
Occasional. In this case it’s called paroxysmal (par-ok-SIZ-mul) atrial fibrillation. You may have symptoms that come and go, lasting for a few minutes to hours and then stopping on their own.
Chronic. With chronic atrial fibrillation, your heart rhythm is always abnormal.
Atrial fibrillation is the most common cause of hospital admittance due to heart disease and you should consult your doctor immediately if you have chest pain or are afraid you have it and don’t know it because it often does not show symptoms.
Posted on November 30, 2011
Facts
Learn the facts about your heart.
- In 2010, 631,636 people died of heart disease. Heart disease caused 26% of deaths—more than one in every four—in the United States.
- Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. Half of the deaths due to heart disease in 2010 were women.
- Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease. In 2005, 445,687 people died from coronary heart disease.
Every year about 785,000 Americans have a first heart attack. Another 470,000 who have already had one or more heart attacks have another attack.
Deaths Vary by Ethnicity
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for people of most ethnicities in the United States, including African Americans, American Indians or Alaska Natives, Hispanics, and whites. Below is the percentage of all deaths caused by heart disease in 2004, listed by ethnicity.
| Race of Ethnic Group |
% of Deaths |
| African Americans |
25.8
|
| American Indians or Alaska Natives |
19.8
|
| Asians or Pacific Islanders |
24.6
|
| Hispanics |
22.7
|
| Whites |
27.5
|
| All |
27.2
|
