It may sound like a top-secret gadget employed by the CIA or MI-6, but in fact, a Holter monitor is just a battery-operated portable device that continuously measures and records your heart’s activity for 24 to 48 hours or longer. It’s the size of a small camera and has wires with electrodes that attach to your chest, so it can record your ECG (electrocardiography) as you go about your daily business. You may be wondering why anyone – including you – would want or need to wear a Holter ... [Read More]
heart disease
What is a Heart Murmur?
Your heart is one of the most important organs in your body because it does a very important job: pump blood through your body. As blood pumps in and out of the heart, a sound can be detected made up of two beats. Sometimes, another sound can interrupt the normal beating of the heart. This is called a heart murmur. A heart murmur is a different than a heart beat, typically sounding similar to a “whooshing” noise. A doctor can detect a heart murmur through a stethoscope. Although it may sound ... [Read More]
Diagnosing Structural Problems in The Heart: Echocardiograms and Your Heart Valves
Could You Have Heart Disease, and Not Know About It? If you have been experiencing fatigue, high blood pressure, shortness of breath, leg cramping, or chest pain/tightness, you could have a heart condition and should see your doctor for evaluation. About 60 million people, or 20 to 25 percent of adults in the United States, suffer from structural heart defects. These heart defects include diseases of the heart valves (valvular). What Is Structural Heart Valve Disease (SHD)? Heart valves ... [Read More]
Why Would Your Doctor Request an Echocardiogram?
Cardiovascular or heart health is an important medical topic that should not be taken lightly, but rather seriously. Did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women? To put it in perspective, approximately 610,000 people in the United States die from heart disease or heart related issues annually, which equates to one in every four deaths. So, when your doctor recommends certain diagnostic scans such as an echocardiogram, it’s time to get serious about your heart ... [Read More]
What is a Nuclear Stress Test?
No need to “stress” about getting a nuclear stress test. Your heart health is extremely important. If your heart isn’t functioning properly, not only does your quality of life suffer, your life itself becomes at risk. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the United States, about 610,000 people die of heart disease (also known as cardiovascular disease) every year. This means one in every four deaths are due to heart disease. Early action is crucial for preventing death ... [Read More]
