Facts on File Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

P pacemaker A small, implanted electronic device that emits electrical impulses to maintain a regular HEART RATE. The most frequ ...

when the heart feels as if it were pounding, and right before falling asleep at night. SUBSTANCES THAT CAN CAUSE PALPITATIONS al ...

percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PCTA) See ANGIOPLASTY. pericarditis INFLAMMATION of the PERICARDIUM, the membran ...

ENDOCARDITIS; HIV/AIDS; MYOCARDITIS; TAMPONADE, CARDIAC. pericardium A tough, two-layer membranous sac that encloses the HEART. ...

approaches, which must include lifestyle modifica- tions to be successful, often can slow its progress. Risk Factors and Prevent ...

prescribe a beta blocker for persistent PVCs, after ruling out other cardiovascular conditions. See also ECTOPIC BEAT; MEDICATIO ...

TION TESTSto assess LUNG CAPACITYand the ability of the lungs to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide, and CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION ...

ARRHYTHMIASin which the heart contracts but does not eject blood with the contraction, such as with some tachycardias, may resul ...

R radiofrequency ablation A therapeutic proce- dure to treat ARRHYTHMIAdisorders such as WOLFF- PARKINSON-WHITE SYNDROME or PARO ...

ally restores normal circulation and ends the symptoms. Stress and anxiety may sometimes ini- tiate the symptoms. Relaxation met ...

Many health experts question whether the risk of age is more a reflection of cumulative variable risks than itself an independen ...

S sexual activity and cardiovascular disease HEART ATTACK, STROKE, major HEARTsurgery such as CORONARY ARTERY BYPASS GRAFT (CABG ...

For further discussion of the SA node within the context of cardiovascular structure and func- tion please see the overview sect ...

soy and cardiovascular health Soy protein appears to help lower cholesterol blood levels, particularly low-density lipoprotein c ...

stroke An interruption of BLOODflow and oxy- gen supply to the BRAIN, sometimes called a brain attack. Stroke strikes about 700, ...

beyond this window of opportunity typically includes ANTICOAGULATION THERAPY for ischemic stroke to prevent further clots from f ...

Other causes of syncope include neurologic events (such as vasovagal response), medication side effects, heat, DEHYDRATION, fear ...

T tachycardia See ARRHYTHMIA. tamponade, cardiac A life-threatening compres- sion of the HEARTthat prevents it from expanding to ...

clots, such as with myocardial infarction or stroke, the doctor injects the agent into a vein for distri- bution throughout the ...

uses a laser to create several dozen tiny channels through the wall of the heart’s left ventricle to improve the flow of BLOOD a ...