Carotid artery disease, also called carotid artery stenosis, is the narrowing or blockage of one or both carotid arteries. The carotid arteries are the two main blood vessels on either side of the neck. They supply blood to the brain, other parts of the head, and the neck. Carotid artery disease increases your risk for […]
Category Archives: Medical knowledge
Carotid angioplasty with stent is a procedure to open or widen an artery in the neck (carotid artery) that has become narrowed. This is done by inflating a small balloon inside the artery and then placing a small piece of metal that looks like a coil or spring (stent) inside the artery. The stent helps […]
What Is Rheumatic Fever? Rheumatic fever is an uncommon inflammation of the heart, nervous system, skin, and joints after a recent bacterial infection. Rheumatic fever usually occurs in children younger than 18. Rheumatic fever cannot be caught, but the infection that causes it can. What Causes Rheumatic Fever? Rheumatic fever is an autoimmune disorder, which […]
CARING FOR YOUR CHILD WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE (HYPERTENSION) What Is Hypertension? Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against artery walls. Hypertension is blood pressure that’s the same as or higher than 95% of children of the same sex, age, and height. What’s normal for children changes as they grow, so there’s […]
Cardioverter Defibrillator Implantation An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is a device that identifies and corrects abnormal heart rhythms. Cardioverter defibrillator implantation is a surgery to place an ICD under the skin in the chest or abdomen. An ICD has a battery, a small computer (pulse generator), and wires (leads) that go into the heart. The […]
Cardioverter-Defibrillator: A Treatment for Arrhythmia What is an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator? An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (often called an ICD) is a device that keeps track of your heartbeat and, if necessary, sends an electric current through the heart. An ICD is “implanted” in your body, meaning it is put in your body surgically. It is not much […]
What is CPR? Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an important lifesaving technique that involves chest compressions and giving breaths. This technique can help keep oxygenated blood circulating in the body, which can help prevent brain and organ damage. When is CPR important? CPR may be done when a person is showing signs of no breathing or […]
Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is a test that is used to evaluate how well your heart and lungs are able to respond to exercise. This is called your exercise capacity. During this test, you will walk or run on a treadmill or pedal on a stationary bike while tests are done on your heart and […]
Overview What is cardiomyopathy? Cardiomyopathy (say: “car-dee-oh-my-ah-puh-thee”) is a disease of the muscles in the heart. It can have many causes. It may be caused by coronary artery disease (blocked arteries), high blood pressure, infections, certain medicines, diabetes, thyroid disorders or alcohol abuse. Rarely, cardiomyopathy can happen during the last trimester of pregnancy or the […]
Shock is a life-threatening condition. It happens when vital organs in the body do not get the blood, oxygen, and nutrients that they need. Cardiogenic shock is a type of shock that happens when the heart fails to pump blood effectively throughout the body. The usual cause of this problem is a damaged or weakened […]