Heart Disease

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Tachycardia is a fast heart rate that is more than 100 beats per minute — it can start in the heart's lower chambers (ventricles) or upper chambers (atria). At these elevated rates, the heart is not able to efficiently pump oxygen-rich blood to the rest of your body.When your heart beats too fast you may experience various symptoms.  These symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Sudden weakness
• Fluttering in the chest
• Lightheaded
• Fainting

high blood pressure can often show no symptoms, particularly in the early stages, and can quietly damage your body for years. Once it has elevated, it can become a serious condition, and if left uncontrolled, can lead to various serious complications such as heart attack, stroke, or kidney failure.

While each hypertension patient is different and requires a personalized treatment regimen in collaboration with his or her physician, there are some changes to daily routines that can reduce the risks. These include lifestyle changes like losing weight, exercising regularly, or giving up smoking.

Atrial fibrillation, known as AF or Afib, is an irregular, rapid heart rate that cause symptoms like heart palpitations, fatigue, and shortness of breath. AF occurs when the upper chambers of the heart (atria) beat out of rhythm. As a result, blood is not pumped efficiently to the rest of the body, causing an unusually fast heart rate, quivering, or thumping sensations in the heart.  Not only can AF negatively impact your quality of life, but those who have AF are five to seven times more likely to form blood clots and suffer a stroke. Fortunately, AF may be treated with medication, cardioversion (a surgical procedure), or a catheter ablation procedure.    

If left untreated, AF as a disease continues to progress:

• Paroxysmal (occasional) – AF occurs from a few seconds to days, then stops on its own
• Persistent – AF will last for more than seven days and will not correct on its own
• Permanent – AF is a consistently high, erratic heartbeat that cannot be corrected

Heart failure, also known as congestive heart failure, occurs when your heart isn’t pumping enough blood to meet your body’s needs. As a result, fluid may build up in the legs, lungs, and in other tissues throughout the body. 

Heart failure can occur for several reasons. Common causes of heart failure include:

• Coronary artery disease
• Previous heart attack (myocardial infarction)
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Valve disease
• Congenital heart disease (condition you are born with)
• Cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart)
• Endocarditis
• Myocarditis (infection of the heart)
• Diabetes

Heart failure symptoms aren't always obvious. Some people in the very early stages of heart failure may have no symptoms at all. Others may dismiss symptoms like fatigue or shortness of breath as signs of growing older.

Sometimes, however, heart failure symptoms are more obvious. Because of the heart's inability to efficiently pump blood and supply your organs (such as the kidneys and the brain), you may experience a number of symptoms, including:

• Shortness of breath
• Swelling of the feet and legs
• Lack of energy, feeling tired
• Difficulty sleeping at night due to breathing problems
• Swollen or tender abdomen, loss of appetite
• Cough with "frothy" mucus or phlegm
• Increased urination at night
• Confusion
• Impaired memory

To rule out or confirm the diagnosis of heart failure, your doctor may order one or several of these diagnostic tests:

• Echocardiogram
• Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Chest x-ray
• Exercise test (stress test)
• Cardiac catheterization

TREATMENT OPTIONS?

CARDIAC RESYNCHRONIZATION THERAPY- Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), which is an implantable heart device, like a pacemaker.

CRT is a clinically proven treatment option for some individuals with heart failure. It sends small electrical impulses to both lower chambers of the heart to help them beat together in a more synchronized pattern. This may improve the heart’s ability to pump blood and oxygen to your body.

LIFESTYLE CHANGES

Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, limiting your sodium intake, losing weight, or reducing your stress level.

HEART MEDICATIONS

Many kinds of medications are used for treating heart failure. Your doctor may prescribe ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, blood thinners, and diuretics, among others. In general, a combination of heart medications is typically used.

and lastly, HEART SURGERY.