Heart

If you experience palpitations, remember that most are not life threatening and are not caused by a serious problem. If your doctor has determined that they are not due to a serious cause, here’s what you can do when they happen. Lie down and try to remain calm. Panic can aggravate the problem. Splash cold […]

Here are some frequently asked questions related to palpitations. Q: My doctor says I need to take medicine for my palpitations, but I’ve heard that they can have side effects. Should I be concerned? A: Almost all medications have some side effects and that includes antiarrhythmic drugs. Fortunately, most of the side effects of antiarrhythmic drugs

Here is a summary of the important facts and information related to palpitations. Palpitations are a sensation that the heart is beating rapidly, slowly, forcefully, or irregularly. The majority of palpitations are not of major significance and are not a sign of underlying heart disease. They are more common as you get older. If your

Here are definitions of medical terms related to palpitations. Adrenaline: One of the chemical messengers in the body that causes the heart to beat faster. Arrhythmia: Any rhythm that is not the normal rhythm of the heart; it may mean a slow or fast heart rate or an irregular rhythm. Arteries: The blood vessels that carry blood away

Here are some reliable sources that can provide more information on palpitations. Mitral valve prolapse, a deformity of one of the heart’s four valves, is another heart-related cause of palpitations. If your palpitations are due to mitral valve prolapse (MVP), you may want to visit the MVPS Research and Support Web site at http://www.mvpsupport.com, for more

Palpitations are the awareness that your heart is beating forcefully, rapidly, or irregularly. There often is a feeling of “skipping beats” or “fluttering in the chest.” They can occur in normal healthy people, as well as in people with heart problems. Palpitations can be very frightening. But most palpitations do not indicate underlying heart disease. If you

The heart is a muscle. It has four chambers: two upper ones, called the atria, and two lower ones, called the ventricles. Blood flows in and out of the heart through these chambers. The Heart As A Pump The heart pumps blood to the lungs to absorb the oxygen we inhale. It then pumps this oxygen-rich blood

Palpitations usually occur when something disrupts the normal electrical activity or function of the heart. They may be felt when the heart is beating quickly, slowly, or irregularly (an arrhythmia) or when the heart is contracting more forcefully than usual. Sometimes, palpitations occur for unknown reasons in people with no evidence of heart disease or arrhythmias.

Palpitations can be very frightening. But most palpitations do not indicate underlying heart disease. If you are having palpitations, there is a good chance that nothing is seriously wrong. See What are palpitations. So when are palpitations serious? Palpitations could be a reason for concern if they are caused by an underlying heart disorder (such as heart valve

When we get more cholesterol than we need – either because our body makes too much or because we eat too many cholesterol-rich foods – the surplus cholesterol circulates in the bloodstream. Along with other fat-like substances, certain kinds of this circulating cholesterol tend to deposit in the inner lining of the blood vessels. These

Risk for heart disease and stroke increases with rising blood cholesterol levels. As blood cholesterol exceeds 220 ml/dl (milligrams per deciliter-the units used to measure blood cholesterol in the United States), risk for heart disease increases at a more rapid rate.   All adults should have their blood cholesterol level measured at least once every

How Does Fat in the Diet Affect Blood Cholesterol? How Does Cholesterol in the Diet Affect Blood Cholesterol? How Do Carbohydrates in the Diet Affect Bloot Cholesterol? How Does Dietary Fat Affect Blood Cholesterol? There are three main types of fats in food, and they affect blood cholesterol in different ways: Saturated fat – Found in