You are reading the radiologist’s report on your chest x-ray when you notice the word “cardiomegaly.” You look it up and learn that it means...
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Understanding Anticoagulants: How Blood Thinners Work, Who Needs Them, and What to Know About Risks and Side Effects
Most people refer to them as “blood thinners.” Technically, they’re called anticoagulants. Whatever term is applied to them, these medications help to prevent dangerous blood...
Understanding Heart Arrhythmia: Causes, Symptoms, Types and Effective Treatments
Most of us don’t give our heart rhythm a second thought until it becomes too fast, too slow, or irregular. Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) can...
Cardiomyopathy: Symptoms, Causes, Types, and Treatment
You probably have heard of heart failure, but are you familiar with the conditions that can cause it? Cardiomyopathy is one of them, and it...
Gum Disease and Heart Disease: Understanding the Link and How to Protect Your Health
People with periodontal disease have a 1.5-fold to twofold greater risk of developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) than people without periodontal disease. As such, they’re...
Heart Attack Recovery: Practical Steps for a Healthier, Stronger Future
A heart attack is a frightening event that leaves many people reeling. “Most patients are shocked that it happened and feel a profound sense of...
What Is Cholesterol? A Simple Guide to LDL, HDL, and Healthy Levels
Cholesterol. You probably know it best by the assorted letters and numbers on the results of your blood work. And you know that when you...
Heart Failure Symptoms: How to Recognize the Warning Signs and Take Action
If you have received a diagnosis of heart failure, you may worry that your heart is about to give out. In reality, the term means...
Resistant Hypertension: Causes, Diagnosis and Effective Treatment Strategies
High blood pressure (hypertension) is notoriously hard to control. It’s not uncommon to require two or three drugs from different classes to bring blood pressure...
How Serious Is a Heart Catheterization? Understanding the Risks, Benefits and What to Expect
Heart catheterization is the gold standard test for identifying the presence and extent of fatty plaques obstructing blood flow through the coronary arteries. More than...
How to Lower LDL Cholesterol: Practical, Expert-Backed Steps for a Healthier Heart
At some point in your routine annual physical, your doctor probably reminds you of the steps you should be taking to control your cholesterol levels....
What Is an Echocardiogram? A Guide to Heart Ultrasound Tests
Echocardiograms are one of the most common noninvasive tests performed in cardiology. Echocardiograms use ultrasound to look inside a beating heart from outside the body....
