Coronary Heart Disease

Chest Pain
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), chest pain is one of the most common reasons that people ages 15 and older visit the emergency room. In 2008, about nine percent of all ER visits were related to chest pain. (More »
HLCMS

Shortness of Breath
Breathing difficulties make you feel as though you cannot get enough air. Mild breathing problems, such as fatigue following an aerobics class, are not a concern. Frequently occurring shortness of breath or sudden, intense breathing difficulty ma  More »
HLCMS

Pain
Pain is a universal human experience. The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) defines pain as "an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage or described in terms of such damage...  More »
Gale Encyclopedia of Neurological Disorders

High Blood Pressure
Hypertension, or high blood pressure (HBP), increases the risk of heart attack, stroke & other health problems. Learn HBP symptoms & get treatment under an MD's care.  More »
HLCMS

Back Pain
Back pain (medically referred to as "lumbago") is not a disease; it is a symptom. Back pain usually refers to a problem with one or more of the structures of the lower back such as ligaments, muscles, nerves, or the vertebral bodies (the bony stru  More »
HLCMS

Arteriosclerosis
Your arteries are usually flexible and elastic. But when the insides are lined with plaque, you may develop a condition called arteriosclerosis, which makes your arteries hard and stiff. Plaque is a hard substance that consists of cholesterol, fa  More »
HLCMS

High Cholesterol
High cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia or hyperlipidemia) refers to the presence of higher than normal amounts of total cholesterol circulating in the bloodstream. Cholesterol is a fatty substance (lipid) that is essential to the body as protectio...  More »
Gale Encyclopedia of Children's Health

Diabetes
Learn about diabetes symptoms, causes & treatments.  More »
HLCMS

Obesity
Obesity is an abnormal accumulation of body fat, usually 20% or more over an individual's ideal body weight. Obesity is associated with increased risk of illness, disability, and death. The branch of medicine that deals with the study and treatmen...  More »
Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine

High Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is the force with which blood pushes against the artery walls as it travels through the body. Like air in a balloon, blood fills arteries to a certain capacity—and just as too much air pressure can cause damage to a balloon, too muc...  More »
Gale Nutrition and Well-Being A to Z

Electrocardiogram (EKG)
An electrocardiogram (also known as an ECG or EKG) is a simple, painless test that measures your heart's electrical activity. Every heartbeat is triggered by an electrical signal that starts at the top of your heart and travels to the bott  More »
HLCMS

History and Physical Exam
The health status of populations and of individuals is assessed for many reasons. Assessing needs for care helps guide the allocation of resources— diagnostic assessments guide treatment, prognostic assessments contribute to planning, and assessin...  More »
Gale Encyclopedia of Public Health

Cardiac Echo
An echocardiogram is a test that uses sound waves to produce live images of your heart, allowing your doctor to monitor how your heart and its valves are functioning.An echocardiogram, also referred to as "echo," can help spot blood clots in the h  More »
HLCMS

Exercise Stress Test
An exercise stress test is used to determine how well your heart responds during times when it is working the hardest. During the test, you will be asked to exercise-typically on a treadmill-while you are hooked up to an electrocardiogram (EKG).  More »
HLCMS

Holter Monitoring
A Holter monitor is a small of portable, battery-powered medical device that measures the heart's activity such as rate and rhythm). This testing is ordered when your doctor needs more information about the functioning of your heart than a  More »
HLCMS

Smoking Cessation
Smoking prevalence has been declining in countries such as the United States, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, but these declines are matched by increasing rates in most other countries. The Healthy People 2010 goal in the United States ...  More »
Gale Encyclopedia of Public Health

Heart Bypass Surgery
Coronary artery bypass graft surgery is a surgical procedure in which one or more blocked coronary arteries are bypassed by a blood vessel graft to restore normal blood flow to the heart. These grafts usually come from the patient's own arteries a...  More »
Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine

Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA)
Angioplasty is a term describing a procedure used to widen vessels narrowed by stenoses or occlusions. There are various types of these procedures and their names are associated with the type of vessel entry and equipment used. For example, percut...  More »
Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine

Open Heart Surgery
Open heart surgery is any type of surgery where the chest is cut open and surgery is performed on the muscles, valves, or arteries of the heart. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI ), coronary artery bypass grafting  More »
HLCMS

Angioplasty
Angioplasty is a term describing a procedure used to widen vessels narrowed by stenoses or occlusions. There are various types of angioplasty. The specific names of these procedures are derived from the type of equipment used and the path of entry...  More »
Gale Encyclopedia of Surgery

Simvastatin
SIMVASTATIN (SIM va stat in) is known as a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor or 'statin'. It lowers the level of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. This drug may also reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, or other health problems in patients...  More »
GOLD

Reishi mushroom
Reishi mushroom ( Ganoderma lucidum ), also known as ling zhi in China, grows wild on decaying logs and tree stumps. Reishi occurs in six different colors, but the red variety is most commonly used and commercially cultivated in East Asia and Nort...  More »
NaturalStandard

Atenolol
ATENOLOL (a TEN oh lole) is a beta-blocker. Beta-blockers reduce the workload on the heart and help it to beat more regularly. This medicine is used to treat high blood pressure and to prevent chest pain. It is also used to protect the heart durin...  More »
GOLD

Red yeast rice
Red yeast rice is the product of yeast ( Monascus purpureus ) grown on rice, and is served as a dietary staple in some Asian countries. It contains several compounds collectively known as monacolins, substances known to inhibit cholesterol synthes...  More »
NaturalStandard

Diltiazem
DILTIAZEM (dil TYE a zem) is a calcium-channel blocker. It affects the amount of calcium found in your heart and muscle cells. This relaxes your blood vessels, which can reduce the amount of work the heart has to do. This medicine is used to treat...  More »
GOLD

Heart Attack
In the movies, heart attacks are always very obvious. In reality, heart attacks aren’t always so sudden or dramatic. Read our brief overview for information about heart attacks.  More »
HLCMS

Unstable Angina
Angina is a condition marked by crushing pain in your chest that may also be felt in your shoulders, neck, and arms. The pain is caused by inadequate blood supply to your heart, which leaves your heart deprived of oxygen. There are several types o  More »
HLCMS

Heart Failure
Heart failure is characterized by the heart's inability to pump an adequate supply of blood. Without sufficient blood flow, all major body functions are disrupted. Heart failure is a collection of symptoms and problems that weaken your h  More »
HLCMS

Sudden Cardiac Death
Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is an unexpected death due to heart problems, which occurs within one hour from the start of any cardiac-related symptoms. SCD is sometimes called cardiac arrest.  More »
Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine

Smoking Cessation
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), more than 70 percent of individuals who smoke cigarettes would like to quit.  More »
HLCMS

Regular Exercise
Exercise is any activity requiring physical exertion done for the sake of health. Activities range from walking and yoga to lifting weights and martial arts .  More »
Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine

Eat a Balanced Diet
A balanced diet is one that gives your body the nutrition it needs to function properly. In order to get truly balanced nutrition, you should obtain the majority of your daily calories from fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean prote  More »
HLCMS

Stress Management
Stress is your body's normal response to trying events and emotional challenges in your daily life. But while some stress can be healthy, too much can lead to high blood pressure, a weakened immune system, insomnia, and other health proble  More »
HLCMS