Heart Health

Recently Answered

• QWho should have a computerized tomography (CT) heart scan?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A HCA Virginia answered

  If you have two or more of the below symptoms you may be a candidate for a computerized tomography (CT) heart scan: 

  • Men over 40 or women over 50
  • History of smoking
  • High blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes
  • Family history of heart disease
  • Inactive lifestyle
  • High stress levels
  • Overweight

  Regardless of risk factors, you could be at risk for heart disease, the number one killer of both men and women in the United States.
• QAre women at greater risk for coronary artery disease?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine answered

  Heart disease is slightly more common in men than in women; however, it is the leading cause of death in both men and women. Heart disease killed one in five women who died from 2012 to 2013.

• QHow should I prepare before seeing a cardiologist?

  2 Answers

  A

  

  A Regional Medical Center answered

  Before seeing a heart specialist, you should be prepared to give the details about what led you to your appointment.

  See All 2 Answers
• QWhat is inadequate heart rate response to exercise?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A MountainView Hospital answered

  Inadequate heart rate response to exercise means the heart does not speed up during exercise. Pacemakers help treat this condition.

• QWhat are some common issues with heart rhythms?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A MountainView Hospital answered

  The most common heart rhythm issues are atrial fibrillation and palpitations. Doctors can treat all these rhythm issues.

• QWhat are common symptoms of cardiac issues?

  2 Answers

  A

  

  A MountainView Hospital answered

  Chest pain and shortness of breath are common symptoms of cardiac issues. Patients may not always notice cardiac symptoms.

  See All 2 Answers
• QHow can I improve my heart health?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine answered

  You can improve your heart health by following a healthy lifestyle. This includes eating a healthy, well-balanced diet and participating in regular exercise of at least 30 minutes daily, five days a week. Maintaining a normal weight is also important, as is managing and controlling medical conditions that can place you at increased risk, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol levels. If you are a smoker, quitting smoking should be a priority.

• QWhy is it important to know the cause of heart palpitations?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A Sky Ridge Medical Center answered

  When people complain of heart palpitations, doctors need to know why, since some palpitations are just a nuisance and others can be dangerous. Sometimes, palpitations may be caused by anxiety or too much caffeine. They can be caused by an overactive thyroid. Palpitations can also be due to a heart arrhythmia where the heart is suddenly triggered to go into a rapid rhythm.

  Palpitations caused by heart rhythm disturbances require specific therapy. Sometimes the therapy is medication, and sometimes it's a procedure called ablation, where an electrophysiologist finds the area that's causing the rhythm disturbance and ablates (removes) it with cryotherapy or radiofrequency therapy. This actually destroys the area that caused the abnormal rhythm.

• QWhere is the access site for heart catheterization?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A Sky Ridge Medical Center answered

  Traditionally, doctors have performed heart catheterization through the femoral artery in the right or left groin. A catheter, or straw-like tube, is inserted into this area and threaded up the artery to the heart.

  However, more recently, researchers have developed a different access site, which is through the wrist. The advantage of going through the radial artery in the wrist is decreased bleeding complications at the puncture site. The radial artery is only the width of a spaghetti noodle; any bleeding is visible and easily controlled. In contrast, the traditional approach through the groin involves a much larger artery, which is the width of a thumb. If there is any bleeding, it is hidden under deep tissue as well as difficult to control because it's such a large artery.

  If the groin is used as an access site, you have to lay flat for four to six hours after the procedure. With the access site at the wrist, you can sit upright. Doctors place a clear plastic band that is inflated with air over the wrist puncture site. This remains on the wrist for three hours.