This eMedTV page shares important facts about heart disease and provides links to more information. By arming yourself with this knowledge, you can make lifestyle choices that prevent heart disease or minimize its impact if you already have it.
This eMedTV page examines the causes of heart disease, which involve a hardening or narrowing of the arteries. While not causes of the condition per se, certain risk factors (such as having diabetes) can increase a person's chances of developing it.
As this eMedTV page explains, heart disease risk factors include having high cholesterol, being overweight, and smoking. This article discusses these and other risk factors in detail and provides links to additional resources.
Common symptoms of heart disease include chest pain, shortness of breath, and nausea. This page on the eMedTV Web site discusses these and other signs and symptoms, including those associated with a heart attack.
As this eMedTV Web page explains, in order to diagnose heart disease, the doctor will consider your symptoms, perform a physical exam, and recommend certain tests, such as stress tests or an electrocardiogram (EKG/ECG).
As this eMedTV article explains, a CRP (C-reactive protein) test is a simple blood test that is used to show the presence of inflammation in the body. This segment talks about the possible use of a CRP test for heart disease.
There are several tests a doctor may use to assist with a heart disease diagnosis. This eMedTV resource explains the various procedures used to help diagnose heart disease, such as EKGs, stress tests, and cardiac catheterization.
For some people, heart disease treatment may only require lifestyle changes. This segment of the eMedTV library takes an in-depth look at these and other treatment options, including descriptions of angioplasty and open heart surgery.
This eMedTV Web page explains that, while there is no heart disease cure, you can help prevent it or minimize its effects by adopting a healthier lifestyle, which includes regular exercise, routine checkups, and maintaining a healthy weight.
This page of the eMedTV library explains the role of lifestyle changes (such as quitting smoking) in preventing heart disease. It also discusses how knowing your personal risk factors and making good health choices can prevent or minimize risk.
There are many myths regarding women and heart disease. This eMedTV resource debunks such myths and provides statistics on how heart disease affects women, including the fact that heart disease kills more American women than breast cancer.
Knowing some key heart attack facts can help you recognize if you or someone else is having a heart attack. This eMedTV segment contains heart attack facts concerning risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of heart attacks.
As this eMedTV article explains, research is being done to improve how heart disease is diagnosed, treated, and prevented. This page offers an overview of current areas of research and looks at the potential benefits of participating in research studies.
An estimated 11.5 percent of Americans had some form of heart disease in 2004. This eMedTV resource provides other heart disease statistics, including facts and figures about risk factors and associated costs.
