Author Archives: Pulse Cardiology Team

What are Triglycerides

Our body is made up of many complex components. We keep on hearing about different types of fats, such as saturated and unsaturated. Well, to simplify what it is, triglycerides are the most common type of fat found in the blood which is generated after the food which we eat gets broken down. Triglycerides are fats in the body that are used by blood to give energy to the body.

It is essential to understand the importance of triglycerides and how it can potentially harm your health if not taken care of. It is vital to note that high triglyceride levels may increase the risk of heart disease leading to conditions, such as a heart attack. The optimum triglyceride levels for each person depends on each persons’ lifestyle, physical routine, and body type. However, triglycerides are needed for the human body as this is the fat that provides the energy for its normal function.

As for each cholesterol levels, it has to be made sure that proper triglyceride levels are maintained in the body. High triglycerides can certainly lead to heart problems. To check triglyceride levels in the body, a Lipid Profile test will need to be done. By having lipid profile testing completed, one gets checked for triglyceride level, total cholesterol level, HDL cholesterol (known as good cholesterol) and LDL cholesterol (known as bad cholesterol). This test can help in ascertaining the proper triglyceride levels, as well as cholesterol levels, needed for a healthy body function.

Click here to learn more about triglycerides and its affect on the heart

Conclusion

It is very important to ensure a nutritious diet to maintain good health. As we know, triglycerides are fats which we find in foods, such as sugar, butter, oil, potatoes, pastas, and all items which are high in fat content. In order to maintain the balance in the body, we should have a proper balanced diet. Our daily meals should not only contain fats, but should have a proper balance of protein and carbohydrates (Macro-nutrients). If ones’ body is not able to maintain the proper balance, then one should seek advice of a medical professional for assistance. It is critical to keep in mind, an effective diet plan and proper exercise can improve triglyceride levels.

What is Cardiomyopathy?

Cardiomyopathy is a condition of the heart in which heart muscle gets affected. In cardiomyopathy, mostly the heart muscle becomes enlarged, rigid or thick and also in some cases, muscle tissue scar also occurs.

Now, there are 5 different types of Cardiomyopathy. Let us try and check out each one of them and the difference between each of them.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy

This is the most commonly found type in which the heart muscles becomes enlarged. This is also known as DCM. The heart muscles become too weak to pump blood efficiently. In Dilated Cardiomyopathy, the heart muscle stretches and becomes thin. This condition can be hereditary, or can be due to coronary artery condition.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

This is fairly the most common type of cardiomyopathy. The heart muscles become thick and prevents the flow of blood to the heart. One of the common reasons for this is genetics. It can also be caused due to long term blood pressure conditions, diabetes or thyroid conditions as well. Aging is also another factor for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Restrictive Cardiomyopathy

Out of all the types of cardiomyopathy, Restrictive Cardiomyopathy is the least common form of heart condition. It occurs when the walls of the ventricles of the heart stiffen and end up being filled with blood. It is said that the condition of Restrictive Cardiomyopathy occurs after a heart transplant due to scarring of the heart. However, in certain cases, it can also occur due to the result of underlining heart conditions.

Left Ventricular Non-Compaction

Left Ventricular Non-Compaction, also known in short as LVNC, is a heart condition in which the left ventricle growth is abnormal and it becomes thick and spongy. In LVNC, the left chamber of the heart, also known as the left ventricle, which helps the heart pump blood is not developed correctly. The muscles are not smooth and firm but due to improper growth, the heart muscle is thick and spongy. This condition is found both in children and adults.

Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia

Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia, also known in as ARVD, is a very rare form of cardiomyopathy which is usually caused due to severe genetic condition. It is a type of genetic cardiomyopathy in which fat and extra fibrous tissue replace the muscle of the right ventricle which leads to abnormal heart rhythms.

Click here to learn more about Cardiomyopathy, Symptoms, and Treatment

These are some of the types of cardiomyopathy which are found, but there are more types which are very rare. In most of the cases, recovery can be good only if the diagnosis is done in time. If the condition is properly treated, then by various methods available, both intrusive and non-intrusive, recovery is possible. In addition to that, it is very important that a healthy lifestyle is maintained for a healthy heart.

What is Atrial Fibrillation and Atrial Flutter?

To simplify in an easy way is that both of these terms refer to heart conditions that are somewhat common. Both are forms of abnormality of the heart. Atrial Fibrillation is also known as Afib.

How are they different?

As mentioned, they are both forms of abnormality of the heart. Here is a comprehensive list explaining the major differences:

1. Atrial flutter is a heart condition in which the rhythm of the heart is abnormal and irregular wherein Atrial Fibrillation is a condition when the heart beats at a very fast pace, the rhythm is normal but the pace is very fast.
2. Atrial Flutter is a less severe heart condition than Afib. A person suffering from Atrial Flutter can, if not treated, effectively develop Afib.
3. The symptoms of Atrial Flutter are less severe and easily controlled as compared to Afib. 
4. Although both conditions are very similar, with Atrial Flutter, the electrical impulses are irregular but still organized. Afib condition, the electrical impulses to the heart are way chaotic and unorganized that makes it more serious.
5. What might surprise some is that although it seems Atrial Flutter is less severe but it is still a less common condition in patients where as Atrial Fibrillation is more commonly found in people.
6. Atrial Flutter has more percentage of getting cured with radiofrequency ablation, whereas the case is not the same with Atrial Fibrillation.
7. The reason why radiofrequency ablation is successful in Atrial Flutter because it is able to destroy the tiny area generating the abnormal electrical impulse. Whereas this procedure isn’t quite as successful in treating Afib because it is more difficult to locate and destroy all the trouble spots triggering the problem.

Symptoms and Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation

Both conditions are heart related and there is not an easy way to say that everything related to the heart is a serious condition. It is extremely important that the heart condition gets diagnosed in time and once that is done, a proper course of treatment is followed. Once you know your heart condition, make sure to follow the doctor’s instructions to ensure a healthy lifestyle.

What is Endocarditis?

First of all we need to understand what exactly is Endocarditis. Endocarditis is the inflammation of the heart which is caused due to infection from bacteria. The hearts inner lining, which is called the endocardium, gets inflamed due to infection and makes the heart loose its efficiency.

It is hard to detect endocarditis at the start since the symptoms of this disease are not that severe and can get ignored as usual day to day illness.

Symptoms

Some of the symptoms associated with this illness are :-

1. Fever
2. Cough
3. Shortness of Breath
4. Nausea or vomiting
5. Muscle and joint pains
6. Night Sweats
7. Loss of appetite
8. Pale Skin
9. Swollen legs and feet
10. Unexplained loss of weight
11. Heart murmur
12. Blood in urine
13. Enlarged spleen
14. Red or purple spots under the skin or eyes due to ruptured capillary vessels

As you can see from the list above that many of the endocarditis symptoms are of common flu and therefore detection of it at the start is a hard one. At times, it also gets diagnosed as pneumonia. At a later stage, the patient shows other severe symptoms which are not associated with the flu. Therefore, the patient gets checked for other diagnosis and comes to know that he/she is suffering from endocarditis.

The signs and symptoms of endocarditis varies from person to person and their appearance and severity also varies to each person. The seriousness of endocarditis symptoms depends on the heart condition of the patient. If the person has a healthy heart then the effect of the infection is less severe. However, if the person is already suffering from any heart ailment then it would be more severe. Such people who already have an underlying heart condition should be very alert and consult a doctor immediately if they suffer from any of the symptoms.

Click Here to learn more about the different types of Valvular Heart Disease

Treatment

Now comes the most important part: How can the condition of endocarditis be treated?

Well, there are 2 options for treating endocarditis :-

1. Antibiotics:-  Since it is an heart infection caused by bacteria, the first and foremost treatment which is suggested is by using antibiotics which can help reduce the inflammation of the heart and make it recover from the infection.
2. Surgery:- In cases where endocarditis goes on undetected for a longer period of time or where the heart damage is more, it cannot be controlled or improved by antibiotics only. Therefore, the immediate course of endocarditis treatment is surgery in which the infected heart tissue is removed or if there is any fluid collection then it is drained. In extreme cases, the heart valves are damaged beyond repair that they are replaced.

Although different options are available and is curable, it still is very important to take good care of your body and avoid any types of infections. In case you feel that you may suffer from endocarditis, it is important that you get an early detection of your problem as that can lead to better treatment.

Valvular Heart Disease is a medical condition that should be treated as soon as it is diagnosed in a patient. The heart consists of 4 valves that are responsible for the consistent functioning of the organ and ensuring that all of the blood flows in through one direction and flows out the other when passing through the heart. These valves are – Mitral, Pulmonic, Tricuspid and Aortic valves.

A breakdown in the functionality of any of these valves can lead to major issues with the overall circulatory function within the body. Specific issues with the functioning of any of these valves can be responsible for specific types of valvular diseases. Here is a detailed description of each of the types of valvular heart disease causes that can affect your body without proper attention and care taken for your heart.

Stenotic Valvular Disease

This particular disorder occurs when any of the valves turn stenotic or narrow down than their regular size. This valvular stenosis makes it harder for the heart to pump blood and thus causes strain to the heart muscles. It also messes the circulatory system making it hard for certain parts of your body to receive proper blood flow.

Regurgitant Valvular Disease

When either of the valves become regurgitant or in other words, they seem to be not closing all the way through, they can start letting impure blood move in the other direction. This backward flow of blood can start making your heart work in overdrive to pump the purified blood towards the other parts of the body. When your organs start receiving insufficient blood flow, valvular heart disease symptoms can start cropping up.

Bicuspid Valvular Disease of the Aorta

This disease specifically occurs when the aortic valve develops two cusps or leaflets instead of the required three. The absence of the third cusp can either cause the valve to become stenotic or regurgitant.

Acquired Valvular Disease

This usually occurs when a normally functioning heart suddenly develops a valvular defect. You can find many different factors leading up to such a situation. Primarily, infections such as endocarditis or even the onset of rheumatic fever have shown to trigger this kind of valvular disease. The inflammation of the cusps, sticking together of the cusps to become rigid or even scarring of the leaflets can be seen during the occurrence of acquired valvular disease. Bacterial endocarditis can even introduce germs that are known to cause foreign growths on the valve itself. This causes scar tissue or even holes to develop that may easily cause the valves to start leaking or becoming narrowed.

Click here if you want to learn more about Valvular Heart Disease, its Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

During Valvular Heart Disease treatment doctors have also found many other reasons for acquired valvular diseases. This includes but not limited to heart attacks, coronary arterial diseases, and cardiomyopathy which is a direct disease of the heart muscle (weakening or scarring of the heart muscle tissue).

What is Valvular Heart Disease?

Valvular Heart Disease is a medical condition that should be treated as soon as it is diagnosed in a patient.

Here, a single or more than one valves present in the patient’s heart could fail to work properly thus leading to a myriad of symptoms.

The immediate and alarming side effect of Valvular Heart Disease is a disruption in the once normal blood flow through the heart and subsequently to the various parts of the body.

This disease has two known types:

Valvular stenosis

This condition arises when the opening of a valve of the patient’s heart is smaller than usual – a result of fused or stiffened leaflets.

Valvular insufficiency

Otherwise known simply as a leaky or incompetent valve that promotes regurgitation in the patient’s heart. It is the result when the affected valve in the patient’s heart is unable to close tightly.

Causes

Valvular heart disease causes are as follows:

• Congenital valve disease – this affects the pulmonic or aortic valve.
• Bicuspid aortic valve disease – this affects the aortic valve which results in the valve not opening or closing properly.
• Acquired valve disease – it can be the result of other diseases or infections such as rheumatic fever or endocarditis.
• Other causes – syphilis (an STD), a recent heart attack, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy (a type of heart muscle disease), hypertension (the medical term for high blood pressure – a result of excess work-related stress), connective tissue diseases and aortic aneurysms.
• Valvular heart disease could also be the side effect of tumors, drugs and radiation therapy.

Symptoms

Valvular heart disease symptoms are as follows:

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing normally.
• Unexplained bouts of dizziness or weakness – even when the patient is at rest.
• A patient could also sense discomfort in his/her chest.
• Spells of palpitation is common.
• Ankles, abdomen or the feet of the patient may or may not swell.

Click here to learn how Cholesterol affects the heart

Treatment

Valvular heart disease treatment consists of the following:

Medications – this may or may not include:

• ACE inhibitors – it is a form of vasodilator that prevents heart failure by arresting excessive blood pressure.
• Antiarrhythmic medications – these will help to maintain a normal heartbeat rate.
• Beta-blockers – also act as a high blood pressure arrestor. It is prescribed to patients who suffer from palpitations.
• Anticoagulants (otherwise known as “blood thinners”) – these help in reducing the chances of developing blood clots in the patient’s affected heart valves.
• Diuretics (otherwise known as “water pills”) – These helps in the removal of excess unwanted fluid from your bloodstream thereby reducing the chances of heart failure.
• Vasodilators – eases the pressure on your heart as well as improves overall blood flow in the forward direction.

Surgery and related procedures – this may or may not include:

Completely replacing the affected heart valve or repairing the same using minimally invasive surgical procedures like percutaneous balloon valvotomy.

Whether you are prescribed medications or you were operated on by your doctor, to arrest further deterioration of the valves of your heart, post-treatment, you would need to make significant changes in your lifestyle and diet. The changes could be either comprehensive or brief and will depend on your condition. Be sure to ask your doctor for the best results.

In simple terms, high blood pressure can be explained as a condition where the pressure exerted on the walls of the arteries/blood vessels in an individual’s body is way over the normal limits.

High blood pressure is a medical condition that is, unfortunately, pretty common all across the globe. Back in the day, it was a condition that was often seen in the elderly. But thanks to unhealthy lifestyles, work routines, and eating habits, it is a condition that can be contracted by a person belonging to any age and gender these days.

If this condition goes unchecked, it can lead a person to develop severe or rather fatal diseases like CAD (Coronary Artery Disease).

Symptoms

Hypertension is more or less a silent ailment. This means that a person with hypertension can lead a normal life without ever showing any signs of the ailment. However, in some cases, symptoms may arise.

Hence, it is fair to state that; symptoms may or may not consist of the following:

• Headaches
• Difficulty breathing
• Frequent bouts of nosebleeds
• Feeling flushed
• Frequent bouts of dizziness
• Unexplained pains in the chest area
• Passing blood while urinating

Treatment

If a person is diagnosed with hypertension, his or her doctor will first ask the person to make significant changes in their lifestyle as well as eating habits.

If this fails, then there are a number of medications available that can help an individual to control the symptoms or rather signs of high blood pressure.

Some of them are as follows:

• Beta-blockers

These are being administered into the body of a hypertension patient with the aim of reducing his or her heartbeat rate. This reduces the rate of blood flowing through the arteries and blood vessels of the patient thus reducing the patient’s blood pressure.

• ACE inhibitors

It prevents the body of the patient from producing the biological chemical angiotensin. The primary purpose of this chemical is to tighten up the blood vessels and walls of the artery found in the human body. With the production of this chemical in check, normal blood pressure is restored.

• ARBs (or Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers)

They block angiotensin molecules from attaching with receptors. This keeps the blood vessels of the patient from tightening up thus reducing overall blood pressure.

• Calcium channel blockers

They block excessive calcium molecules from entering the patient’s heart thus reducing the force of each heartbeat. Less force in each heartbeat means the overall blood pressure in the body of the patient will below as well.

• Alpha-2 agonists

It is administered to relax tightened up blood vessels thus reducing blood pressure.

In the end, it is best to keep in mind that regular monitoring of blood pressure is one of the most efficient ways of maintaining and reducing high blood pressure – otherwise known as Hypertension. Furthermore, one should steer clear of processed, as well as junk food items since these contain large amounts of sodium. Consuming excess amounts of sodium is one of the many reasons a person can become the victim of high blood pressure.

Bradycardia is a medical term for conditions where a patient is diagnosed with a slow heart rate.

A person is suffering from Bradycardia when his or her heart beats less than 60 times per minute. The normal heart rate is sixty to a hundred times a minute.

Bradycardia is more common in people with a history of heart disease, drug or alcohol abuse. Age could also become a contributing factor. Regular heart health check-up and leading a healthy lifestyle is a great deterrent for this medical condition.

Causes

A patient diagnosed with heart disease is a primary candidate for getting diagnosed with Bradycardia.

Other causes of Bradycardia are as follows:

• Alcohol abuse
• High blood pressure
• Excessive stress or anxiety
• Drug abuse
• Sleep apnea
• Smoking

Symptoms

Bradycardia symptoms may or may not consist of the following:

• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Light-headedness
• Difficulty breathing
• Chest pain
• Confusion
• Fainting

Treatment

Bradycardia treatment will depend on the cause, the patient’s overall health, age as well as the condition of his or her heart.

With that stated, here is a rundown of the various ways a doctor would treat a patient diagnosed with this disease:

• Change in the dosage of prescribed medications – Some medications can slow the heart rate of a patient. Hence, a doctor may or may not decrease the dosage of problematic medications as well as offer alternate solutions for the same with the aim of controlling the issue before things get out of hand.
• ICD (or Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator) – It is a medical device that is powered by a battery. It is implanted under the skin of the patient. The role of this device is to keep track of the patient’s heart rate. If the patient’s heart rate drops below normal, the device will restore the heart rate by delivering an electric shock.
• Pacemaker – It is also a battery-powered medical device that emits electrical pulses the moment it detects abnormal heart rate. The electrical impulses excite the heart tissue of the patient thus restoring its ability to function normally.
• Treating underlying conditions (if any) – Bradycardia could also be the result of underlying medical conditions of a patient, especially if the individual has any form of heart disease. Another disease that can cause bradycardia is Hypothyroidism. It is a medical condition where the patient will suffer from imbalances in electrolyte content in their body. Sleep apnea can also cause bradycardia. A doctor will try to treat medical issues like these in order to indirectly treat bradycardia, in the process.

Here are multiple reasons why you need an EKG

Bradycardia is a by-product of heart disease. Hence to keep yourself from getting diagnosed with this disease you would need to keep your heart healthy. To do that, you would need to lead an active, healthy lifestyle.

You would need to:

• Stop smoking
• Stop consuming alcohol
• Stop using recreational drugs
• Stop consuming red meat, processed food items as well as stay away from saturated fats
• You would also need to control your stress levels and your anger

Follow these tips diligently and keep yourself from contracting heart disease. For the best results, be sure to monitor your heart health as well!

If you require assistance with your cardiovascular health, please schedule an appointment: +1 (909) 881-7400

What is an Angioplasty?

Angioplasty is a minimally invasive medical procedure that is prescribed by doctors to patients who are diagnosed with Coronary Artery Disease. The purpose of this is simple – it helps in restoring normal blood flow through the arteries of a person diagnosed with CAD.

When the arteries of a person get constricted or simply blocked by a sticky substance called plaque, then this condition is known as Coronary Artery Disease or CAD.

Angioplasty Procedure

At first glance, an angioplasty procedure can appear to be a bit complicated to a person from a non-medical background but that is not the case.

The process begins with the doctor inserting a catheter – a thin, soft and long tube into a blood vessel. There are two identified locations in the human body that are ideal for catheter insertion – one is in the wrist and the other, the groin.

Post insertion, the doctor’s primary goal would be to guide the catheter carefully through the blood vessel of the patient until the same reaches the target artery/arteries.

Types of Angioplasty

There are two types of angioplasty. They are as follows:

• Balloon Angioplasty – Here an inflatable balloon is placed in the target artery/arteries. The pressure of the inflated balloon allows the doctor to clear the target artery/arteries from blockage or plaque. This type of angioplasty is a means of last resort adopted by doctors for cases where stent placement is impossible.
• Stent Angioplasty – Here the doctor would place a stent in the area where the plaque is blocking the artery thus restoring normal blood flow.

What is a Stent?

It is a tiny tube inserted into a blocked artery in order to keep the same open thus restoring normal blood flow to and from the heart.

Types of Stents

There are currently five types of angioplasty stent available all over the globe. They are as follows:

• DTS (or Dual Therapy Stent) – These are particularly designed to keep arteries from narrowing as well as accelerate the healing process thus reducing the chances of developing scar tissue inside the target artery/arteries.
• BVS (or Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold) – It is constructed using a scaffolding structure that can be dissolved by the patient’s body.
• Bio-engineered Stent – It is coated with antibodies. The purpose of coating the stent with antibodies is simple – to accelerate the healing process for the inner lining of the target artery.
• DES (or Drug-Eluting Stent) – These are coated with medication that keeps the target artery from developing scar tissue.
• BMS (or Bare Metal Stent) – These are made using stainless steel. These types of stents do not come with any form of specialized coating.

Angioplasty is a minimally invasive procedure which means the person who has had the procedure will be able to get back to their normal routine in just a few hours. That stated, the person should avoid driving home the next day or after a few hours once they have had the procedure. The reason is simple – the sedatives could still remain active in their body and driving while sedated is a big NO! Furthermore, they should avoid strenuous activities for about a week from the day they have had the procedure. For more details, it is best that one gets in touch with their doctor.

Please call our office to schedule an appointment with one of our cardiologists: +1 (909) 881-7400

What is Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy is a form of heart disease that primarily affects the heart tissue. If a person is diagnosed with the disease, it will become hard for their heart to pump blood.

Cardiomyopathy should be treated right away post-diagnosis since it is one of the primary reasons for heart failure.

Types of Cardiomyopathy

• DCM or Dilated cardiomyopathy – In this case, the heart tissue of the patient becomes thin which leads to the enlargement of the left ventricle. This brings down the efficiency of the heart since it is now unable to pump blood properly.
• HCM or Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy – Where the heart muscle thickens. The left ventricle of the heart is generally affected in this case.
• RCM or Restrictive cardiomyopathy – Here the muscle of the heart becomes stiff. This keeps the same from relaxing which further keeps blood from filling up its chambers. This leads to a drop in the overall efficiency of the heart since its relaxation rate is abnormal.
• LVNC or Left Ventricular Non-Compaction – There are bundles of muscle in the left ventricle of the human heart. These bundles of muscle extend into the left chamber of the heart. These bundles come with a medical name trabeculations. Now, in case these trabeculations become compact, it can result in the alteration of the heart tissue from soft to rigid. This is very bad for the patient since now; their heart is unable to pump blood properly due to an abnormal compaction rate of the same. This is called LVNC.
• ARVD or Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia – Is a rare type of cardiomyopathy. If a person is diagnosed with this type then their heart’s right ventricle will be replaced by fibrous tissue.

Cardiomyopathy Symptoms

Cardiomyopathy Symptoms may or may not consist of the following:

• Breathlessness – when the person is doing any physical activity or even when the same is at rest
• Excessive swelling seen in the legs, feet, and ankles
• The abdomen of the patient can also show signs of bloating. This is a clear indication that fluid is building up in their abdomen
• Excessive fatigue – even when the patient has had a good night’s sleep
• Rapid heartbeat rate
• Feeling of pressure or discomfort in the chest area of the patient
• Frequent bouts of fainting
• Lightheadedness

Click here if you want to learn more about Heart Attacks, Symptoms, and its Treatment

Cardiomyopathy Treatments

In case the patient does not show any signs or dangerous symptoms, then the doctor may not suggest any Cardiomyopathy Treatment.

That stated, treatment is compulsory for patients who show dangerous symptoms or have other types of the disease. It is to be kept in mind that the treatment for the disease varies on the type one has as well as their overall health and age.

Cardiomyopathy Treatment consists of the following:

• Lifestyle changes – as suggested by the doctor
• Prescription medicines
• Nonsurgical procedures
• Surgery
• Device implants

Most of the time, one can keep themselves from getting diagnosed with Cardiomyopathy. The first step is to conduct a bit of research into your family history. If your family has a history with the disease, you should let your doctor know about this fact.