What Is A Normal Heartbeat
Doctors identify a healthy heartbeat by counting the number of times the heart beats every minute during rest. This is known as the resting heart rate.
The range for a healthy resting heart rate varies between individuals, but the American Heart Association suggests that it is usually between 60 and 100 bpm.
The fitter a person is, the lower their resting heart rate becomes. Olympic athletes, for example, will usually have a resting heart rate of less than 60 bpm, because their hearts are highly efficient.
The heart should beat with a regular rhythm, consisting of double ba-bum beats with even spaces in between each.
One of these beats is the heart contracting to provide oxygen to blood that has already circulated, and the other involves the heart pushing oxygenated blood around the body.
A person can measure their heart rate using their pulse. This is a point at which they can feel the heartbeat through the skin. The best locations on the body for this are:
- the wrists
There are several types of arrhythmia, as described here:
Can Heart Problems Cause Fainting
The best way to know if you should worry about a fainting spell is to see a doctor. At Temple’s Heart & Vascular Institute, we see patients who’ve been referred by a primary care doctor who believes fainting may be because of a serious heart problem.
Most of my patients don’t know that fainting can be caused by an arrhythmia, a problem with the signals that control the heartbeat. An arrhythmia causes an irregular heartbeat fast, slow, skipping beats or fluttering. Some types of arrhythmia can increase the risk of heart failure, stroke or death.
Diagnosing an arrhythmia can be simple but sometimes it’s not. That’s why it’s important to see an experienced heart specialist.
Can You Lead A Normal Life With An Arrhythmia
Even patients with serious arrhythmias can lead normal, healthy lives with an accurate diagnosis and the right treatment. And as I remind all my patients: the best prescription for a healthy life whether you have an arrhythmia or not is maintaining a heart-healthy lifestyle. Stay physically active, follow a healthy diet and dont smoke.
Have you or someone you love had a fainting episode? Don’t put off having it checked out. Schedule an appointment with a Temple Heart & Vascular Institute heart specialist today or call 800-TEMPLE-MED .
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Examples Of Heart Attack In A Sentence
heart attackheart attackheart attack orlandosentinel.comheart attack San Antonio Express-Newsheart attack New York Timesheart attack Dallas Newsheart attack San Francisco Chronicleheart attack Science | AAASheart attack PEOPLE.comheart attack sun-sentinel.com
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word ‘heart attack.’ Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
What Causes Heart Disease
Heart or cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and often can be attributed to the lifestyle factors that increase the risk of atherosclerosis or narrowing of arteries. Smoking, along with poorly controlled hypertension , and diabetes, causes inflammation and irritation of the inner lining of the coronary arteries. Over time, cholesterol in the bloodstream can collect in the inflamed areas and begin the formation of a plaque. This plaque can grow and as it does, the diameter of the artery narrows. If the artery narrows by 40% to 50%, blood flow is decreased enough to potentially cause the symptoms of angina.
In some circumstances, the plaque can rupture or break open, leading to the formation of a blood clot in the coronary artery. This clot can completely occlude or block the artery. This prevents oxygen-rich blood from being delivered to the heart muscle beyond that blockage and that part of the heart muscle begins to die. This is a myocardial infarction or heart attack. If the situation is not recognized and treated quickly, the affected part of the muscle cannot be revived. It dies and is replaced by scar tissue. Long term, this scar tissue decreases the heart’s ability to pump effectively and efficiently and may lead to ischemic cardiomyopathy .
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What Is Silent Ischemia
Many Americans may have ischemic episodes without knowing it. These people have ischemia without pain silent ischemia. They may have a heart attack with no prior warning. People with angina also may have undiagnosed episodes of silent ischemia. In addition, people who have had previous heart attacks or those with diabetes are especially at risk for developing silent ischemia.
Having an exercise stress test or wearing a Holter monitor a battery-operated portable tape recording that measures and records your electrocardiogram continuously, usually for 24-48 hours are two tests often used to diagnose this problem. Other tests also may be used.
Written by American Heart Association editorial staff and reviewed by science and medicine advisers. See our editorial policies and staff.
Last Reviewed: Jul 31, 2015
What Do I Do If I Have A Heart Attack
After a heart attack, you need quick treatment to open the blocked artery and lessen the damage. At the first signs of a heart attack, call 911. The best time to treat a heart attack is within 1 or 2 hours after symptoms begin. Waiting longer means more damage to your heart and a lower chance of survival.
If youâve called emergency services and are waiting for them to arrive, chew an aspirin . Aspirin is a potent inhibitor of blood clots and can lower the risk of death from a heart attack by 25%.
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Being A Woman Is Major Risk Factor
For many years, heart disease was seen as a mans problem. Women got a free pass, says Wexelman, but the tides have changed. Today, 90 percent of women have one or more risk factors for heart disease or stroke, and fewer women than men survive their first heart attack, according to the American Heart Association.
Its interesting because in my work with the American Heart Association, you cant get people emotional about heart disease. If you talk to women about breast cancer, its an emotional thing. You can cut the emotion with a knife. When you talk about heart disease its Oh, you know, my uncle had a heart attack, my neighbor had a heart attack, they are back to work, theyre fine, its all good. Theres no emotion. But the reality here is that 1 out of every 8 women could perhaps get breast cancer, 1 out of every 3 women will die of a heart attack or stroke in the US. That is huge.”
1 out of every 8 women will get breast cancer 1 out of every 3 women will die of a heart attack or stroke in the US.
Witches Spell: Bring Heart Health Spell
Witches are just like anyone else. Sometimes we meet people when we are out and about in the world, or even online, they tell us a little bit about their lives and their struggles and we simply feel the need, a deep desire to try to do something to help them with their problems. That is one of the perks of being a witch. We do not have to sit and cry over things we learn, we dont have to feel ineffectual because there is nothing we can do to help. As a witch, we can become inspired to craft a spell to help, we can perform the spell, and we can send a copy to the person so they can do the spell, too. We can even choose to share the spell online with others who may have a similar need or who may know someone who does.
This spell is for heart related problems. It can be used for specific issues that are known and diagnosed, so they can be specifically targeted. It can also be used for generic issues or for issues that cause trouble where the specificity of the trouble has not been diagnosed.
Beginning with a long straight pin, awl, or similar sharply pointed tool, you will want to carve the first side of the chosen candle with the runes: Laguz , Uruz , nauthiz , Sowulo from top to bottom in any order. If you know enough specificity of the issue, you may use one rune multiple times however I have included these four to cover all the bases.
| Laguz | Nauthiz | Sowulu |
| Anatomical | Stylized |
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How Do I Know If I’m Having A Heart Attack
Your arteries carry blood, oxygen and nutrients to the heart and to the rest of the body. A heart attack occurs when an artery of the heart is suddenly closed or blocked by a blood clot.
Although the closure happens suddenly, it often results from plaque that has built up in the arteries over time. This process is called atherosclerosis. It is also known as hardening of the arteries. When the artery closes, the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart drops suddenly and sharply. This lack of oxygen causes damage to the heart.
When To See A Doctor
Its never too early to see a doctor to discuss your risk for heart disease. In fact, the new primary prevention guidelines say that the earlier the risk factors for heart disease are prevented or treated, the less likely you are to develop heart disease later in life.
So, if youre concerned about your risk for heart disease, make an appointment to discuss how you can prevent this highly preventable condition. You can connect to a cardiologist in your area using the Healthline FindCare tool.
If youre having any symptoms at all, its very important to discuss these with your doctor as heart disease can masquerade in many different ways.
Its easy to dismiss many warning signs of heart disease like fatigue, indigestion, and shortness of breath as just a normal part of life or mild illness. But because a heart attack can happen suddenly, its important not to ignore any potential warning signs.
If you have any of the above symptoms of heart disease, especially if you also have risk factors, see a doctor.
Medical Emergency
- other specialized lipid tests
Other tests include:
A doctor might also suggest a continuous EKG or ambulatory arrhythmia monitor, where you wear a device that constantly records your hearts electrical signals. Depending on your symptoms, you might wear this device for a few days or a few weeks.
If these tests are inconclusive, you may need more invasive tests to diagnose heart disease. These include:
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Can Cardiovascular Disease Be Prevented
It may take 10 to15 years from the beginning of a plaque formation in a coronary artery to narrow that artery to constrict blood flow.
The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology have developed guidelines so that health-care professionals may counsel and treat their patients to decrease the risk of developing heart disease. New attention is being paid to the role of weight reduction, diet, exercise, and the use of cholesterol-lowering medications called statins.
In the past, the goal for statin drugs like atorvastatin, was to lower the blood cholesterol level to a specific number and statins were prescribed for patients with high cholesterol levels or those who had had heart attacks. The new guidelines recommend that more patients may benefit from these statin drugs. Rather than having specific cholesterol numbers as a goal, the new goal is to lower the blood cholesterol level by 50% in high-risk patients and by 30% to 50% in those who are at lower risk to develop heart disease. You and your doctor should discuss which goals are best for your condition.
Preventing cardiovascular disease is a lifelong commitment to control blood pressure, high cholesterol, quit smoking, and diabetes. Now, new opportunities exist to decrease risk even further with these new guidelines. These are also the steps to take to decrease the risk of stroke and peripheral artery disease.
Which specialties of doctors treat heart disease?
What Is Another Name For Coronary Artery
4.7/5blood
Synonyms. coronary heart disease coronary thrombosis heart attack thrombosis. Etymology. coronary coronarius
Subsequently, question is, does everyone have a Ramus artery? and Dr Henry Knipe ? ? et al. The ramus intermedius is a variant coronary artery resulting from trifurcation of the left main coronary artery1. It is present in ~20% 2-3 of the population.
Beside this, what are coronary arteries?
The Coronary Arteries are the blood vessels that supply blood to your heart. They branch off of the aorta at its base. The right coronary artery, the left main coronary, the left anterior descending, and the left circumflex artery, are the four major coronary arteries.
Which coronary artery is most commonly blocked?
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How Do You Prepare For A Cardiac Ablation
Your doctor may order tests to record your hearts electrical activity and rhythm. Your doctor may also ask about any other conditions you have, including diabetes or kidney disease. Women who are pregnant shouldnt have cardiac ablation because the procedure involves radiation.
Your doctor will probably tell you not to eat or drink anything after midnight the night before the procedure. You may need to stop taking medications that can increase your risk of excessive bleeding, including aspirin , warfarin , or other types of blood thinners, but some cardiologists wish you to continue these medications. Make certain that you discuss it with your doctor before surgery.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Heart Disease
- The classic symptoms of angina, or pain from the heart, are described as a crushing pain or heaviness in the center of the chest with radiation of the pain to the arm or jaw. There can be associated shortness of breath sweating and nausea.
- The symptoms tend to be brought on by activity and get better with rest.
- Some people may have indigestion and nausea while others may have upper abdominal, shoulder, or back pain.
- Unstable angina is the term used to describe symptoms that occur at rest, waken the patient from sleep, and do not respond quickly to nitroglycerin or rest.
Other heart disease symptoms and signs
Not all pain from heart disease have the same signs and symptoms. The more we learn about heart disease, the more we realize that symptoms can be markedly different in different groups of people. Women, people who have diabetes, and the elderly may have different pain perceptions and may complain of overwhelming fatigue and weakness or a change in their ability to perform routine daily activities like walking, climbing steps, or doing household chores. Some patients may have no discomfort at all.
Often the first signs and symptoms of heart disease may be a heart attack. This can lead to crushing chest pressure, shortness of breath, sweating, and perhaps sudden cardiac death.
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When Should I Worry About Fainting
While occasional fainting is harmless, if youre older and have certain risk factors, more than one episode of fainting could signal a dangerous problem with your heart. Fainting, when associated with exercise or exertion, shouldnt be taken lightly, either. Typically in a benign fainting spell, someone will have some recall just prior to passing out.
But when someone has no memory of the event whatsoever, it can suggest than an arrhythmia was the culprit.
Your doctor will test your hearts electrical system with an electrocardiogram in the office. Theyll also ask questions about your family members, since family history can help provide deeper clues as to whether or not passing out is harmless or a bigger problem.
Your doctor will often ask if anyone in the family experiences or has experienced passing out spells, seizures, sudden unexplained death , single car accidents or heart attacks at a young age, says Dr. Aziz.
All these seemingly weird questions can suggest a life-threatening arrhythmia may run in the family.
People over age 60 are more likely to faint for heart-related reasons than those who are younger. For example, its not unusual to take too much blood pressure medicine, which makes your pressure drop too low. Once the dose is adjusted, you should stop passing out.
Of much greater concern is fainting caused by episodes of a slow or fast rate. The most dangerous is a heart rhythm disturbance called ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation .
Tips For Heart Attack Prevention
The goal after your heart attack is to keep your heart healthy and lower your risk of having another heart attack. Take your medications as directed, make healthy lifestyle changes, see your doctor for regular heart checkups, and consider a cardiac rehabilitation program.
Why do I need to take drugs after a heart attack?
You might take certain drugs after a heart attack to:
- Prevent blood clots
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What Is The Medical Treatment For Heart Disease
- An aspirin may be used for its antiplatelet activity, making platelets less sticky and decreasing the risk of heart attack. The decision to use aspirin routinely depends upon whether other risk factors for heart disease are present.
- Medications may be prescribed in patients with heart disease to maximize blood flow to the heart and increase efficiency of the pumping function of the heart.
- Beta blocker medications help block the action of adrenaline on the heart, slowing the heart rate. These medications also help the heart beat more efficiently and decrease the oxygen requirements of the heart muscle during work.
- Calcium channel blockers also help the heart muscle contract and pump more efficiently.
- Nitrates help dilate arteries and increase blood flow to the heart muscle. They may be short-acting to treat acute angina symptoms or long-acting preparations may be prescribed for prevention.
- Should there be significant stenosis or narrowing of the coronary arteries, angioplasty and/or stenting may be considered to open the blocked areas. These procedures are performed in conjunction with cardiac catheterization. Depending upon the patient’s anatomy and the extent of the blockage present, coronary artery bypass graft surgery may be required.
- If a stent is placed, other antiplatelet medications like clopidogrel may be prescribed.