Tag Archives: heart

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 …

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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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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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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 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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Betapace (sotalol) for Arrhythmias: Side Effects & Interactions

Generic drug: sotalol Brand name: Betapace What is Betapace (sotalol), and how does it work? Betapace (sotalol) is a prescription medicine used to treat the symptoms of arrhythmias. Betapace may be used alone or with other medications. Betapace belongs to a class of drugs called Antidysrhythmics, II; Antidysrhythmics, III; Beta-Blockers, Nonselective. What are the side effects of Betapace? WARNING LIFE …

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Vyndaqel and Vyndamax for Heart Disease: Dosage & Interactions

Generic drug: tafamidis meglumine and tafamidis Brand name: Vyndaqel and Vyndamax What is Vyndaqel and Vyndamax, and how does it work? Vyndaqel and Vyndamax are prescription medicines used to treat adults with cardiomyopathy of wild-type or hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis (ATTR-CM) to reduce death and hospitalization related to heart problems. It is not known if Vyndaqel and Vyndamax are safe and …

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What Causes Low Diastolic Blood Pressure?

A diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of somewhere between 60 and 90 mm Hg is good in older people. Causes of low DBP include bed rest, dehydration, loss of water, alcohol use, hormone deficiencies, allergic reactions, nutritional deficiencies and prolonged standing leading to blood pooling in the legs. A decrease in your diastolic blood pressure (DBP) probably represents age-related stiffening of …

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Which Blood Pressure Number Is the Most Important?

The blood that flows through the arteries (blood vessels carrying blood from the heart to other parts of the body) exerts pressure against the arterial walls. The number above (120) is called the systolic blood pressure and the number below (80) is called the diastolic blood pressure. Though both readings are important, many doctors believe that systolic blood pressure is …

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