Patient Education

Our Health Library information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Please be advised that this information is made available to assist our patients to learn more about their health. Our providers may not see and/or treat all topics found herein.

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Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction (Systolic Heart Failure)
Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is a type of heart failure. It happens when the heart's lower left chamber (left ventricle) doesn't pump blood out to the body as well as it should. It's sometimes called systolic heart failure. This is because your left ventricle doesn't squeeze forcefully enough...

Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction (Diastolic Heart Failure)
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a type of heart failure. It happens when the heart's lower left chamber (left ventricle) pumps out less blood than the body needs. It's sometimes called diastolic heart failure. This is because your left ventricle is not able to fill properly with blood during...

Heart Failure: Compensation by the Heart and Body
Heart failure means that your heart muscle doesn't pump as much blood as your body needs. Because your heart can't pump well, your heart and your body try to make up for it. This is called compensation. Your body has a remarkable ability to compensate for heart failure. The body may do such a good job that many people...

Heart Attack and Stroke Risk Screening
Screening for heart attack and stroke risk is a way for your doctor to check your chance of having a problem called atherosclerosis. This problem is also called hardening of the arteries. It is the starting point for most heart and blood flow problems, such as coronary artery disease, heart attack, stroke, and...

Heart Health: Walking for a Healthy Heart
Covers walking as one of the easiest ways to increase your physical activity and improve health. Outlines how to safely start a walking program. Provides tips for staying motivated.

Bradycardia (Slow Heart Rate)
What is bradycardia? Having bradycardia (say "bray-dee-KAR-dee-uh") means that your heart beats slower than normal. For most adults, a heart rate of about 60 to 100 beats a minute while at rest is considered normal. For some people, bradycardia is healthy and normal. It does not cause any symptoms or problems. In other...

Fast Heart Rate
A normal heart rate for a healthy adult is between about 60 and 100 beats per minute. Heart rates of more than 100 beats per minute (tachycardia) can be caused by: Exercise or stress. This fast heart rate usually returns to normal range (60 to 100 beats per minute) with rest and relaxation. Illnesses that cause fever...

Heart Failure: Track Your Weight, Food, and Sodium
Use this form to record the sodium content of the foods you eat or drink each day. This record will help you see whether you are getting too much sodium in your diet. Use the Nutrition Facts on food labels to help find how much sodium you eat. You can tell when your body retains fluid by weighing yourself often. Sodium...

Heart Tests: When Do You Need Them?
How can tests for your heart help you? Heart tests can help your doctor find out if you have or are at risk for a heart problem and what treatment you might need. The tests help doctors find out what's causing new symptoms, such as discomfort in your chest, shortness of breath, and irregular heartbeats. The tests can...

Heart Failure Daily Action Plan
A heart failure action plan gives you an easy way to check your symptoms and see changes. The plan also tells you when you need to get help. Your doctor may give you a plan, or you might create one together. You'll use your plan every day. It takes the guesswork out of knowing when symptoms mean you should call your...

Heart-Healthy Lifestyle
You can help keep your heart and blood vessels healthy by having a heart-healthy lifestyle. These healthy habits include eating healthy, being active, staying at a weight that's healthy for you, getting the screening tests you need, and not smoking. A heart-healthy lifestyle is important for everyone, not just for...

Heart Attack: How to Prevent Another One
After you've had a heart attack, you may be worried that you could have another one. That's easy to understand. But the good news is that there are things you can do to reduce your risk of having another heart attack. Take your medicine. Medicines can help prevent another heart attack. Some of the medicines your doctor...

Heart Failure: Checking Your Weight
Discusses importance of tracking weight for those with heart failure. Covers how to check your weight when you have heart failure.

Heart-Healthy Eating
Heart-healthy eating means eating food that can help lower your risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. It focuses on eating more healthy foods and cutting back on foods that aren't so good for you. It is part of a heart-healthy lifestyle that includes regular activity and not smoking. A heart-healthy eating...

Heart and Circulation
Provides link to info on high cholesterol and cholesterol/triglyceride tests. Also has links to info on coronary artery disease and peripheral arterial disease of the legs, plus tools to decide about treatment options.

Congenital Heart Disease in Children
Discusses problems with how a baby's heart forms. Also looks at problems found when a person is an adult. Includes info on patent ductus arteriosus, aortic valve stenosis, and coarctation of the aorta. Covers treatment with medicine and surgery.

Congenital Heart Disease: Caring for Your Child
Caring for a child who has congenital heart disease can be challenging. But there are things you can do to make sure that your child is as healthy and comfortable as possible, whether they are at home or in the hospital. And while you're taking care of your child, remember that it's important to take care of yourself...

Heart Transplant
A heart transplant is a procedure in which a surgeon removes a diseased heart and replaces it with a donor heart. During a heart transplant, a mechanical pump circulates blood through the body while the surgeon removes the diseased heart and replaces it with a healthy heart from a recently deceased donor. The surgeon...

Sudden Heart Failure
Sudden heart failure occurs when heart failure gets worse very quickly. Your heart suddenly cannot pump as much blood as your body needs. Sudden heart failure causes rapid fluid buildup, or congestion, in the lungs and other parts of the body. Sudden heart failure is an emergency. You need care right away. Sudden heart...

Heart Failure
Describes heart failure (congestive heart failure). Discusses common causes like hypertension and coronary artery disease. Has info on symptoms. Covers diagnostic tests and treatments. Discusses heart failure classification system and stages of CHF.

Healthy Eating: Eating Heart-Healthy Foods
Offers tips for choosing foods based on the basics of a heart-healthy diet, including adding fruits, vegetables, and fiber and limiting sodium and unhealthy fats. Explains how to make small changes to get started.

Heart Block
What is heart block? Heart block refers to an abnormality in the way electricity passes through the normal electrical pathways of the heart. The abnormality "blocks" the electrical impulse from continuing through the normal pathways and usually results in a slower heart rate. The electrical activity of the heart starts...

Electrical System of the Heart
The heart has four chambers. The two upper chambers are called atria (the right atrium and the left atrium), and the two lower chambers are called ventricles. Normally, the heartbeat starts in the right atrium in a group of special heart cells called the sinoatrial (or sinus) node. These cells act as a pacemaker for the...

Heart Attack
Covers causes of heart attack (myocardial infarction, or MI) and unstable angina. Discusses symptoms like chest pain or pressure. Explains MI and angina differences. Offers prevention tips. Covers diagnostic tests and treatment with medicines and surgery.

Congenital Heart Defect Types
There are many types of congenital heart defects. If the defect lowers the amount of oxygen in the body, it is called cyanotic. If the defect doesn't affect oxygen in the body, it is called acyanotic. What are cyanotic heart defects? Cyanotic heart...

Congenital Heart Disease in Adults
How can you live well with congenital heart disease? Here are some things you can do to help you live well when you have congenital heart disease. Get regular checkups. Adults who have congenital heart disease need routine checkups. Be sure you have a primary care physician. You might also need to see your cardiologist...

Right-Sided Heart Failure
Right-sided heart failure means that the right side of the heart is not pumping blood to the lungs as well as normal. Most people develop heart failure because of a problem with the left ventricle. But reduced function of the right ventricle can also occur in heart failure. Right-sided heart failure can happen if there...

How the Heart Works
Your heart is divided into two separate pumping systems, the right side and the left side. The right side of your heart receives oxygen-poor blood from your veins and pumps it to your lungs, where it picks up oxygen and gets rid of carbon dioxide. The left side of your heart receives oxygen-rich blood from your lungs...

Interactive Tool: What Is Your Target Heart Rate?
Helps you calculate your target heart rate based on your age, resting heart rate, and activity level. Covers using your target heart rate to know how hard to exercise to gain the most aerobic benefit from your workout.

American Heart Association Healthy Diet Guidelines
The American Heart Association (AHA) publishes dietary and lifestyle recommendations for general heart health. . These recommendations are for healthy adults at least 18 years old. These guidelines may also be useful for adults who have health problems, children, and teens. But talk to your doctor because some of these...

Modify Recipes for a Heart-Healthy Diet
You don't have to abandon all your favorite recipes to eat healthier. Several small changes to your current recipes can often greatly lower the saturated fat and sodium in your diet. These small changes can make a big difference in the amount of fat and calories in your diet. But they won't make much difference in how...

Heart Valve Disease
What are the types of heart valve disease? Heart valve disease can affect any of the four valves. A valve may not be able to open well enough (stenosis) or close well enough (regurgitation). Heart valve diseases include: Aortic valve regurgitation. Aortic valve stenosis. Mitral valve regurgitation. Mitral valve...

Myxoma Tumors of the Heart
Myxomas are tumors of connective tissue. They can occur almost anywhere in the body, including the heart. What problems can they cause? A myxoma tumor can cause different types of problems. These include problems with blood flow through the heart and how well the heart pumps blood. If pieces of a tumor break off, they...

Heart Murmur
Discusses heart murmur, an extra sound the blood makes as it flows through the heart. Covers harmless (innocent) murmurs and abnormal murmurs. Includes info on heart valve damage. Discusses tests by a cardiologist including electrocardiogram (ECG).

Statins: Should I Take Them to Prevent a Heart Attack or Stroke?
Guides people not already diagnosed with coronary artery disease through decision to take statin medicine to lower risk of heart attack or stroke. Covers cholesterol and other risk factors. Includes interactive tool to help you make your decision.

Thrombolytics for Heart Attack and Stroke
Thrombolytics are medicines that rapidly dissolve a blood clot. They are used when a blood clot causes an emergency, such as a heart attack or stroke. These clot-busting medicines help blood to flow normally again. Thrombolytics are used as soon as possible after a heart attack or stroke. These medicines are used in the...

Heart Failure: Watching Your Fluids
Discusses need to watch fluid intake with heart failure. Gives tips for keeping track of fluid intake, spreading fluids throughout the day, and managing thirst.

Heart Failure: Activity and Exercise
Covers how exercise can improve health when you have heart failure. Explains importance of working with your doctor to create a plan for safe exercise. Includes tips for staying safe during activity, staying motivated, and getting support for being active.

Heart Rate Problems: Should I Get a Pacemaker?
Topic guides reader through decision to get a pacemaker for heart rate problems. Provides general overview of what pacemakers are and what heart problems can be helped with pacemakers. Lists benefits and possible complications of getting a pacemaker.

Heart Rhythm Problems: Should I Get an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD)?
Topic guides reader through decision to get an ICD for heart rhythm problems. Provides general overview of what ICDs are and what heart rhythm problems can be helped with ICDs. Lists benefits and possible complications of getting an ICD.

Diabetes: Lower Your Risk for Heart Attack and Stroke
For some people, diabetes can cause problems that increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke. Many things can lead to a heart attack or stroke. These include high blood sugar, insulin resistance, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Lifestyle and genetics may also play a part. But here's the good news: The...

Sex and Your Heart
Sex is part of a healthy life. It can be safe for people who have a heart problem. But some people may worry about having sex. Or they may have problems having sex or enjoying sex. If you are having sexual problems, talk with your doctor. Your doctor can help you get information, support, and advice so you can enjoy sex...

Alan's Story: Coping With Change After a Heart Attack
Alan is something of a miracle man. At the age of 32, he had a massive heart attack. But more than 40 years, 4 bypass surgeries, 30 angioplasties, and a combined pacemaker/defibrillator later, he's still thriving. He learned how to cope with heart disease the hard way. Alan had always been healthy and athletic. Except...

Physical Activity Helps Prevent a Heart Attack and Stroke
Physical activity is one of the best things you can do to help prevent a heart attack or stroke. Being active is one part of a heart-healthy lifestyle. Eating healthy foods, not smoking, and staying at a healthy weight are other ways you can be heart-healthy and help prevent a heart attack or a stroke. If you are not...

Heart Failure: Tips for Easier Breathing
If you have heart failure, the following tips may help you deal with fluid buildup that makes it hard to breathe. Call your doctor if you have new symptoms or if your symptoms have become worse. Elevate your upper body. Sit in a chair or prop yourself up with pillows. At night, sleep with one or two pillows under your...

Heart-Healthy Eating: Fish and Fish Oil
Fish is a lean protein source that contains omega-3 fatty acids. This type of fat can be part of a heart-healthy diet. Fish oil supplements are another way to get omega-3 fatty acids. Research has not proved that fish oil is helpful for everyone. That's why doctors do not agree about whether these supplements can help...

Childhood Heart Tumors (PDQ®): Treatment - Patient Information [NCI]
Heart tumors (also called cardiac tumors) are rare growths that can form in any part of the heart. They can be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Most heart tumors in children are benign. Although benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body, they may require treatment to stop them from causing...

Heart Rhythm Problems: Diary of Symptoms
If your doctor thinks you might have a heart rhythm problem, your doctor may ask you to keep a diary of symptoms. This information can help your doctor find out what type of rhythm problem you have. And if you have a rhythm problem, a symptom diary can help you keep track of your condition. You can then discuss your...

Electrical Cardioversion for a Fast Heart Rate
Electrical cardioversion is a procedure in which a brief electric shock is given to the heart to reset the heart rhythm back to its normal, regular pattern ( normal sinus rhythm). The shock is given through patches applied to the outside of the chest wall. In some situations an external defibrillator, which has paddles...

Catheter Ablation for a Fast Heart Rate
Covers procedure to destroy (ablate) tiny areas of heart muscle causing fast heart rate. Includes radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation. Covers use for supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia (AVRT), Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome, and ventricular tachycardia.

Heart Rhythm Problems and Driving
Is it okay to drive if you have an arrhythmia? You can drive with an arrhythmia as long as it doesn't cause symptoms that make it dangerous for you to drive. If you have an arrhythmia or an ICD (implantable cardioverter-defibrillator) that makes it dangerous for you to drive, your doctor might suggest that you stop...

Heart Rhythm Problems: Symptoms
Heart rhythm problems, called arrhythmias, can cause a few types of symptoms. Some of these symptoms include: Palpitations. Having palpitations means that you are unusually aware of your heartbeat. Some people describe them as: A "fluttering" in their chest. A "skipped beat." A "pounding sensation." A feeling that the...

Resuming Sexual Activity After a Heart Attack
After a heart attack, most people can resume sexual activity when they are healthy and feel ready for it. You could be ready if you can do mild or moderate activity, like brisk walking, without having angina symptoms. Some people are afraid to resume sexual activity after a heart attack. They are worried that they will...

Heart Arrhythmias and Exercise
If you have an irregular heartbeat ( arrhythmia), it's important to talk to your doctor about what type and level of exercise is safe for you. Regular activity can help keep your heart and body healthy. The type and amount of exercise that's is safe for you will vary depending on the cause of your abnormal heart rhythm...

Coronary Artery Disease: Exercising for a Healthy Heart
Covers importance of regular exercise when you have coronary artery disease. Guides you through working with your doctor to create a program that includes stretching, aerobic exercise, and resistance training. Provides tips for exercising safely, and explains the basics of strength training.

Heart Attack and Stroke in Women: Reducing Your Risk
Covers risk of heart disease and stroke in women. Lists things that increase risk. Lists prevention steps, such as diet, exercise, not smoking, managing cholesterol and blood pressure, and making decisions on birth control and hormone therapy.

Aspirin to Prevent Heart Attack and Stroke
Discusses taking aspirin to prevent a first and second heart attack for people who have coronary artery disease. Covers aspirin therapy to help lower risk of a stroke. Discusses if aspirin therapy is for you. Looks at things to avoid while taking aspirin.

Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) for Heart Failure
A ventricular assist device (VAD) helps pump blood from your heart to the rest of your body. It's used when your heart is not able to pump enough blood on its own. The device consists of a pump, tubes that connect the pump to the heart, a control system, and a power source. A thin cable connects the pump with the...

Coronary Arteries and Heart Function
The coronary arteries deliver blood to the heart muscle. The blood provides a continuous supply of oxygen and nutrients needed for the heart to stay healthy and work as it should. Supply and demand The coronary arteries regulate the supply of blood to your heart muscle depending on how much oxygen your heart needs at...

Manage Stress for Your Heart
Everyone has some stress. But stress can be bad for your heart. If you have heart disease, stress can lead to angina symptoms and maybe a heart attack. Taking steps to manage stress can improve your health and life. Try different ways to reduce stress, such as exercise, deep breathing, meditation, or yoga. Try to change...

Heart Failure and Sexual Activity
Sex is part of a healthy life and is part of your quality of life. Most people with heart failure can still have an active sex life. You can ask your doctor to help you know if or when it's okay for you to have sex. If you or your partner is worried about having sex, talk with your doctor about your concerns. Your...

Joan's Story: Coping With Depression and Anxiety From Heart Failure
Joan figured she would need months to recover physically from the heart attack 2 years ago that led to her heart failure. She didn't realize she would need just as much time to recover emotionally. "I was only 52 when I had the heart attack," she says. "Heart disease runs in my family, but I thought I'd been taking care...

Rheumatic Fever and the Heart
Rheumatic fever is a bacterial infection that can cause problems with the heart's aortic and mitral valves. Rheumatic fever is caused by certain strains of streptococcal bacteria. A strep throat infection that isn't properly treated can trigger rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever can damage heart muscle and heart valves...

Aspirin: Should I Take Daily Aspirin to Prevent a Heart Attack or Stroke?
Guides people who have not had a heart attack or a stroke through decision to take daily aspirin. Discusses benefits and risks. Looks at who can take daily aspirin. Includes interactive tool to help you decide.

Heart Failure: Should I Get an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD)?
Guides you through decision to get an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Gives information about ICDs and asks questions to help you learn if an ICD is right for you. Covers benefits and risks. Includes an interactive tool to help you decide.

Heart Failure: Avoiding Medicines That Make Symptoms Worse
Some medicines can affect your heart and make your heart failure worse. Others may keep your heart failure medicines from working right. So it's important to be careful with medicines. These include NSAID pain relievers and medicines that speed up the heart rate. Over-the-counter medicines that you may need to avoid...

Types of Bradycardia
There are several types of slow heart rates (bradycardias or bradyarrhythmias). Each type carries a specific risk of complications and treatment options. Some of the types are described here. Sinus bradycardia When a person has sinus bradycardia, the heart rate is less than 60 beats per minute. This slow heart rate...

Coronary Artery Disease: Family History
You're more likely to have coronary artery disease if you have one or more close relatives who had early coronary artery disease. For men, this means being diagnosed before age 55. For women, it means being diagnosed before 65. Things that increase your risk include: Inherited risk factors. A tendency to develop some...

Electronic Fetal Monitoring
Electronic fetal monitoring is done during pregnancy, labor, and delivery. It keeps track of the heart rate of your baby ( fetus). It also checks the duration of the contractions of your uterus. Your baby's heart rate is a good way to tell if your baby is doing well or may have some problems. Two types of monitoring can...

Change in Heartbeat
Briefly discusses how the heart works and what might cause minor or serious heartbeat changes. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.

Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram (also called an echo) is a type of ultrasound test that uses high-pitched sound waves that are sent through a device called a transducer. The device picks up echoes of the sound waves as they bounce off the different parts of your heart. These echoes are turned into moving pictures of your heart that...

Cardiac Catheterization
Discusses test used to check your heart and coronary arteries. Covers reasons cardiac catheterization is done. Looks at how to prepare. Explains how the test is done in the cardiac catheterization laboratory (cath lab) by a cardiologist. Covers risks.

Cardiac Rehabilitation
Discusses cardiac rehabilitation (rehab), which helps you feel better and reduce risk of future heart problems with exercise and lifestyle changes. Looks at rehab for people who have heart conditions such as heart attack, heart surgery, or heart failure.

Normal Vital Signs for Adults
Learn the healthy range of your body's functions, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature.

Coronary Artery Disease
Includes causes and symptoms of heart disease. Looks at cholesterol, hypertension, and risk of heart attack. Covers diet, physical activity, and treatment with medicines, angioplasty, and bypass surgery. Includes how to help prevent heart disease.

Pacemaker: Living Well With It
Discusses pacemakers to control heart rhythm. Gives information on safety guidelines and tips for exercise and travel.

Risk Factors for Coronary Artery Disease
Things that put you at risk for coronary artery disease are the things that lead to a problem called atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. These things include: High cholesterol. High blood pressure. Diabetes. Smoking. Being overweight. A family history of early heart disease. Early heart disease means you have...

Pulse Measurement
Your pulse is the rate at which your heart beats. Your pulse is usually called your heart rate, which is the number of times your heart beats each minute (bpm). But the rhythm and strength of the heartbeat can also be noted, as well as whether the blood vessel feels hard or soft. Changes in your heart rate or rhythm, a...

Vital Signs in Children
Vital signs include heart rate, respiration (breathing rate), blood pressure, and temperature. Knowing the ranges for vital signs for your child can help you notice problems early or relieve concerns you may have about how your child is doing. 0 to 12 months old Vital signs for infants ages 0 to 12 months include the...

Cardiac Catheterization in Children
Cardiac catheterization is a procedure your doctor uses to see images and get information about your child's heart and blood vessels from the inside. It can also be done to repair some congenital heart defects. This is a kind of heart problem that your child is born with. Your doctor doesn't need to make any cuts to do...

Coronary Calcium Scan
Coronary calcium scans use a special X-ray test called computed tomography (CT) to check for the buildup of calcium in plaque on the walls of the arteries of the heart ( coronary arteries). This test is used to check for heart disease in an early stage and to determine how severe it is. Coronary calcium scans are also...

Valvuloplasty for Aortic Valve Stenosis
Valvuloplasty is a procedure that widens a heart valve that is narrow. When you have a condition called aortic valve stenosis, the valve between your heart and the large blood vessel that carries blood to the body (aorta) is narrow. That forces the heart to pump harder to get enough blood through the valve. The...

Valvuloplasty for Mitral Valve Stenosis
Valvuloplasty is a treatment for mitral valve stenosis. It is a procedure that widens the mitral valve so that blood flows more easily through the heart. It's also called a balloon commissurotomy or valvotomy. It's a minimally invasive procedure. You may get medicine that relaxes you or puts you in a light sleep. You...

Transthoracic Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram (also called an echo) uses sound waves to make an image of your heart. A device called a transducer sends sound waves that echo off your heart and back to the transducer. These echoes are turned into moving pictures of your heart that can be seen on a video screen. In a transthoracic echocardiogram...

Leadless Pacemaker
A leadless pacemaker is a small, battery-powered device. It sends mild electrical signals to your heart. This keeps the heart beating normally. These signals are painless. The pacemaker can help stop the dizziness, fainting, and shortness of breath caused by a slow heart rate. A leadless pacemaker is a newer type of...

Cardiac Output
For the body to function properly, the heart needs to pump blood at a sufficient rate to maintain an adequate and continuous supply of oxygen and other nutrients to the brain and other vital organs. Cardiac output is the term that describes the amount of blood your heart pumps each minute. Doctors think about cardiac...

Ischemia
Ischemia means your heart muscle is not getting enough blood and oxygen. It is usually caused by a narrowing or blockage of one or more of the coronary arteries. These arteries supply blood to the heart muscle. When you have ischemia, you may feel angina symptoms. For most people, angina feels like chest pain or...

Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH)
What is left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH)? Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) means that the muscle of the heart's main pump (left ventricle) has become thick and enlarged. This can happen over time if the left ventricle has to work too hard. This part of the heart needs to be strong to pump oxygen-rich blood to your...

Pacemaker
Discusses pacemakers used to treat bradycardia. Discusses various types of pacemakers. Covers how they work and how well they work, risks, and possible side effects.

Coronary Artery Disease: Should I Have an Angiogram?
Guides you through the decision to have an angiogram. Explains why the test is done and what it can show. Discusses why you might or might not want to have the test. Lists risks and benefits. Includes interactive tool to help you decide.

Chest Problems
Briefly discusses possible causes of chest pain, which include angina, heart attack, pneumothorax, and chest wall pain. Covers heart attack symptoms. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.

Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy is a disease that affects the heart muscle and the way it pumps. There are different types of cardiomyopathies. And these types have different causes. Cardiomyopathy may occur as a result of damage to the heart, such as from a heart attack, or a person may inherit the tendency to develop it. Types of...

Maze Procedure
Discusses surgical treatment to control irregular heartbeat and restore normal rhythm of heart. Looks at what to expect after surgery, like taking medicine such as Coumadin. Covers risks.

Cardiac Arrest
What is cardiac arrest? In cardiac arrest, the heart suddenly stops beating. This causes blood to stop pumping to the body. If the heartbeat is not restarted within minutes, the person will die. This problem is also called sudden cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest is different from a heart attack, which happens when part of...

Endocarditis
Discusses infection of the heart's valves or inner lining (endocardium). Covers cause by bacteria (bacterial endocarditis) or fungi (fungal endocarditis). Looks at symptoms like fever. Covers treatment with medicines or possibly surgery.

Cardiac Device Monitoring
Cardiac devices include pacemakers and ICDs (implantable cardioverter-defibrillators). Cardiac devices have very advanced features. Your doctor can program your device to work in different ways depending on your needs. Doctors check, or monitor, cardiac devices on a regular basis to make sure that they are working right...

Cardiac Rehabilitation Team
In cardiac rehabilitation (rehab), you work with a team of health professionals. The team designs a program just for you, based on your health and goals. Then they give you education and support to help you succeed. The following health professionals may be part of your team: Doctors and surgeons. Your family doctor, as...

Cardiac Rehabilitation: Emotional Health Benefits
Recovering from a heart problem means not only getting back your physical strength but also getting back your emotional and mental well-being. Having a positive outlook during your recovery and rehabilitation may help you recover physically, emotionally, and mentally. Remember that you are going to start feeling better...

Cardiac Rehabilitation: Monitoring Your Body's Response to Exercise
There are several ways to measure your body's responses to exercise and other lifestyle changes. You may want to keep track of the following measurements during your exercise sessions at cardiac rehab and at home. Target heart rate Your target heart rate can guide you to how hard you need to exercise so you can get the...

Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) Test
Gives info on test for BNP hormone to tell how well the heart works. Tells how BNP checks for heart failure. Tells how to get ready for test. Includes what results mean. Also discusses things that affect test results, such as some health problems and medicines.