heart

What Foods Are Good to Treat Heart Failure?

What diet should you follow to treat heart failure? Following a heart-healthy diet is one of the most important steps you can take to treat heart disease. If your congestive heart failure is mild to moderate, you may be able to lead a nearly normal life by making important lifestyle changes. These may include exercise …

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Verquvo (vericiguat): Heart Failure Drug Side Effects & Interactions

What is Verquvo (vericiguat), and what is it used for? Verquvo (vericiguat) is a prescription medicine used in adults who are having symptoms of their chronic (long-lasting) heart failure, who have had a recent hospitalization or the need to receive intravenous (IV) medicines and have an ejection fraction (amount of blood pumped with each heartbeat) of less than 45 percent: …

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What Are the Four Main Functions of the Heart? Common Heart Diseases

What is the structure of the human heart? The heart is located beneath the rib cage slightly to the left of the center of the chest between the lungs and above the diaphragm. A healthy adult heart is approximately the size of a closed fist. The valves and chambers of the heart work together to pump oxygen-rich blood to nourish …

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What Is Pulse Pressure and Why Is It Important?

Pulse pressure is the difference between your systolic and diastolic blood pressure numbers and can help determine your risk of heart disease Pulse pressure is the difference between your systolic (upper) and diastolic (lower) blood pressure numbers. When you measure your blood pressure, your reading has two numbers: Systolic blood pressure: Pressure exerted by blood against the artery walls as …

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How Serious Is Left Bundle Branch Block? Symptoms & Treatment

Left bundle branch block (LBBB) is an abnormality in the heart’s electrical conduction system. Learn about symptoms and treatment Left bundle branch block (LBBB) may not be serious if you do not have any underlying heart conditions. Many people with LBBB have no symptoms, and some don’t require any treatment at all. However, whether or not you have symptoms, LBBB …

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How Serious Is a Right Bundle Branch Block? RBBB Complications

For most people, a right bundle branch block (RBBB) is not a concern since it doesn’t result in symptoms and treatment is not required. Here is when it may be a concern. A right bundle branch block (RBBB) refers to a total or partial blockage of the right branch of the heart’s conduction system. Many people have had RBBB for …

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Carospir (spironolactone): Heart Medication Side Effects & Warnings

What is Carospir (spironolactone), and how is it used? Carospir (spironolactone) oral suspension is an antagonist of aldosterone used to treat heart failure and reduced ejection fraction to increase survival, manage edema, and reduce the need for hospitalization for heart failure. It is also used as an add-on therapy for the treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk …

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How Is Porphyria Diagnosed? Blood Tests for Porphyrin

Porphyria, also known as “vampire disease,” is diagnosed through special tests, such as blood tests, fecal tests and urine tests, to look for excessive levels of porphyrin in the body. Also known as “vampire disease” because of its ability to cause extreme photosensitivity, porphyria is a rare, hereditary condition that affects fewer than 200,000 people in the United States. It …

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How Long Can You Live With Heart Failure? Survival Rates

What is the life expectancy of people with heart failure? Learn about survival rates and determining factors Heart failure is a condition in which your heart becomes so weak that it is unable to pump blood effectively to other parts of your body. This can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, edema (swelling) of the legs, and bloating in …

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Digitek (digoxin): Heart Failure Drug Side Effects & Warnings

Generic drug: digoxin Brand name: Digitek What is Digitek (digoxin), and how does it work? Heart Failure: Digitek (digoxin) tablets are indicated for the treatment of mild to moderate heart failure. Digoxin increases left ventricular ejection fraction and improves heart failure symptoms as evidenced by exercise capacity and heart failure-related hospitalizations and emergency care, while having no effect on mortality. …

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