People who suffer from sleep apnea are at a higher risk for heart disease, according to the results of a study released by the American Heart Association. Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder where the individual experiences an interruption in his or her breathing during sleep. This condition affects approximately 24 percent of men and nine percent of women. Snoring is one symptom, but people who have sleep apnea may also experience drowsiness during the day, a lack of quality sleep and a choking or gasping sensation when they wake up. Headaches in the morning may also be a sign of sleep apnea. The study followed a total of 4,422 participants (1,927 men and 2,495 women) over a 8 1/2 year period. When the study started, all of them were screened and had healthy hearts. The male study su...

An implantable cardiac defibrillator is (ICD) is about the same size as a pager. It is worn internally to continuously monitor the heart. Like a pacemaker, the ICD can send a signal to a heart that is not beating quickly enough. It can also administer an electric shock to correct a situation where the heart is beating too rapidly. How an Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator Works The ICD is positioned in the chest, near the collarbone. Wires connect the device to the heart. The ICD provides continuous monitoring of the heart, and takes steps to correct any abnormalities in the heart rate or rhythm. Who Needs a ICD? A person who has or is experiencing irregular heartbeats may be a good candidate for a ICD. Another case where the doctor may recommend a ICD is where the patient has had a heart a...

Most people think of childhood heart failure as something that affects older people, but the young – adolescents – can be diagnosed this condition as well. In this case, “heart failure” refers to a heart that is working but not functioning as efficiently as it should. When this condition is diagnosed in adults, it is usually caused by the following: Coronary artery disease Diabetes Heart valve problem High blood pressure Smoking Heart failure has been diagnosed in newborn babies, children and teens. When younger people are affected by this condition, it is caused by two factors: pump failure or overcirculation failure. Pump Failure Pump failure occurs when the heart muscle becomes damaged and no longer works properly. A virus may be responsible for the damage or ...

Heart failure is a chronic health condition. It occurs when the heart can’t pump enough oxygenated blood throughout the body to keep its cells nourished appropriately. To try to keep the blood flowing properly, the heart may become enlarged so that it can pump more blood. The heart may also start beating faster to keep blood flowing where it’s needed. The signs of heart failure indicate that these measures are no longer working. Over time, the heart can’t keep up and the condition worsens. Signs of Heart Failure If you have any of the following symptoms, do see your doctor to determine the cause. They may be caused by other conditions, but you need to be properly diagnosed to ensure that your health is monitored appropriately. Buildup of fluid in the body’s tissues...

The asthma drug Xolair has been linked to heart failure, blood clots, stroke, heart enlargement and cardiac arrhythmias. The Food and Drug Administration announced Thursday that it will be assessing the preliminary results to determine whether “further regulatory actions are necessary to protect patients.” The medication has been approved for use by children over the age of 12 and adults who have asthma that is complicated by severe allergies. The issue of a possible connection between the drug and heart ailments came to light as the result of a trial involving 5,000 people taking Xolair and 2,500 participants who were not using the drug. In 2007, the manufacturer or Xolair, Genentech, was ordered to include a “black box warning” on the packaging to advise patients ...

Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle itself. The most common cause of this condition is a virus, but it may also be caused by systemic lupus. Pregnant women are also at risk for developing myocarditis. The condition may develop at the same time as, or right after, a throat or chest infection. Some kinds of viruses that have been linked to myocarditis are: Epstein-Barr Influenza Mumps Rubella (German Measles) Polio Varicella (Chicken Pox) Yellow Fever The viruses responsible for Hepatitis A and C can also cause myocarditis. After the person recovers from the virus, the inflammation to the heart may not settle down, and this inflammation can have long-term health consequences. Symptoms of Myocarditis If the inflammation is mild, the person may not have any symptoms of the dis...

If you find it hard to stay awake during the day, you may want to schedule an appointment to see your doctor. A French study of elderly people has found that otherwise healthy older people who were sleepy during the day had a 49 percent better chance of dying from cardiovascular problems, including heart failure and myocardial infarction. Researchers have not yet determined whether feeling tired during the day is a symptom of heart disease or whether having heart disease makes people feel sleepy. Feeling tired during the day can be caused by a number of health problems, and it’s worth getting checked out by a doctor anyway. ...

In the United States, approximately 2,300 heart transplants are successfully performed each year. Another 800 people died while on the waiting list. The surgery takes several hours and is one of the most common transplant surgeries performed in North America. A donor heart is obtained from a person who is brain dead and on a respirator. After the donor heart is harvested, it is kept in a special solution to preserve it until it can be given to the patient who is waiting for it. During surgery, the patient is given a general anesthetic. The surgeon must first cut through the breast bone to get access to his or her health. A heart-lung bypass machine is used to keep the blood full of oxygen and circulating. The patient’s heart is removed and replaced by the donor heart. After the new h...