Warfarin (Coumadin®)
WHAT IS WARFARIN? - Warfarin (brand name Coumadin®, Warfilone®) is a prescription medication that inhibits normal blood clotting (coagulation). Because it interferes with the formation of blood clots, it is also called an anticoagulant. Many ... [... more]
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Abdominal aortic aneurysm
DEFINTION - An aortic aneurysm occurs when the walls of the main blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart (the aorta) bulges or dilates. An abdominal aortic aneurysm is located in the abdominal area, near the navel (show figure 1). ... [... more]
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Angina treatment — medical therapy
Angina may be provoked by an activity or exercise or any other physical or mental stress, which increases the heart's demand for blood. Angina can be "stable" or "unstable". Angina is unstable when there is a change in the usual [... more]
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Angina treatment — medical versus interventional therapy
INTRODUCTION - Coronary heart disease causes narrowing of the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the heart muscle (show figure 1). The consequences of coronary heart disease include stable angina (intermittent, but predictable chest pain), ... [... more]
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Chest pain
INTRODUCTION - It is hard to know what to do when you feel pain or discomfort in the chest. Is it a heart attack or another, less serious problem? Because chest pain can be a sign of a heart attack, it is important to seek help and get treatment ... [... more]
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Antibiotics before procedures
INTRODUCTION - Many people are told that they need to take an antibiotic before having a dental, surgical, or other invasive medical procedure. This topic discusses the benefit of taking a pre-procedure antibiotic, who should take antibiotics, as ... [... more]
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Atrial fibrillation
INTRODUCTION - Atrial fibrillation (also called AF or a-fib) is an abnormal rhythm of the heart. It is relatively common, affecting 2.3 million adults in the United States. Most people who develop atrial fibrillation are more than 65 years of ... [... more]
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Radiofrequency catheter ablation
INTRODUCTION - Radiofrequency catheter ablation is a procedure that is performed to correct a disturbance in heart rhythm. A brief review of how a normal heart rhythm occurs and a description of some of the rhythm problems that are treated with ... [... more]
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Coronary artery bypass graft surgery
INTRODUCTION - In coronary heart disease (CHD), the coronary arteries become clogged with calcium and fatty deposits. The deposits, called plaques, narrow the arteries that carry blood to the heart muscle (show figure 1). Blood supplies the heart ... [... more]
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Recovery after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG)
INTRODUCTION - Coronary artery bypass graft surgery, also known as CABG or bypass surgery, can help to restore blood flow to an area of the heart. However, surgery does not stop the progression of atherosclerosis (coronary heart disease), which ... [... more]
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Cardioversion
INTRODUCTION - Cardioversion is used to treat different types of disruptions in the normal heart rhythm (also called cardiac arrhythmias). During cardioversion, an electrical shock is delivered to the heart to restore its rhythm to a normal ... [... more]
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Claudication
INTRODUCTION - Claudication is defined as a pain or discomfort in a group of muscles, usually in the legs, hips, or buttocks. It is worsened by exercise and relieved with rest. Although many underling medical problems can cause claudication, the ... [... more]
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