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Showing posts from October, 2020

Overview of Nuclear Imaging

  Nuclear imaging uses small amounts of radioactive materials called radiotracers that are typically injected into the bloodstream, inhaled or swallowed. It is a method of producing images by detecting radiation from different parts of the body after a radioactive tracer is given to the patient. Nuclear medicine imaging provides unique information that often cannot be obtained using other imaging procedures and offers the potential to identify disease in its earliest stages. The nuclear imaging can be used to monitor functional and molecular processes by radiolabeling of specific chemicals of a biological specimen. This branch of radiology is often used to help diagnose and treat abnormalities very early in the progression of a disease, such as thyroid cancer . Why its need Nuclear medicine imaging procedures are noninvasive. With the exception of intravenous injections, they are usually painless. There are legitimate concerns about possible cancer induction even by low levels o

Overview of Hormonal Imbalances

  Hormones are your body’s chemical messengers. Produced in the endocrine glands, these powerful chemicals travel around your bloodstream telling tissues and organs what to do. They help control many of your body’s major processes, including metabolism and reproduction. It’s normal for your levels to shift at different times of your life, such as before and during your period or a pregnancy, or during menopause. But some medications and health issues can cause them to go up or down, too. Causes of Hormonal Imbalances Numerous culprits contribute to these hormonal imbalances, and sometimes they overlap.  Chronic stress Stress is a biological response to demanding situations. It causes the body to release hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline. Many factors can trigger a stress response, including dangerous situations and psychological pressures, such as work deadlines, exams, and sporting events. The physical effects of stress usually do not last long. However, some pe

Symptoms & Types of Arrhythmia

Heart arrhythmia  also referred to as cardiac arrhythmia, is an abnormal rhythm of the heart. An arrhythmia (ah-RITH-me-ah) is a problem with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat. During an arrhythmia, the heart can beat too fast, too slow, or with an irregular rhythm. Arrhythmias can be associated with serious symptoms that can affect your ability to function. Lack of blood flow can damage the brain, heart, and other organs. When the heart rate is too fast, too slow, or irregular, the heart may not be able to pump enough blood to the body. Lack of blood flow can damage the brain, heart, and other organs. Symptoms of Arrhythmia Arrhythmias may not cause any signs or symptoms. In fact, your doctor might find you have an arrhythmia during a routine examination. Symptoms of heart arrhythmia include: Chest pain Chest pain is one of the most common reasons that people visit the emergency room. Chest pain varies depending on the person. Chest pain is only one of the possible sign

Interventional Cardiology & Coronary artery disease

Interventional cardiology has grown to bridge many specialties, which were traditionally seen as somewhat isolated from one another. There are many things that can go wrong with the heart, and sometimes the symptoms that something is wrong are not always obvious. Cardiology is a branch of medicine which deals with the study, diagnosis, and care of the cardiovascular system. Interventional cardiology is the subspecialty of cardiology that deals specifically with the catheter-based treatment of heart diseases. There are several main interventional cardiology procedures, including the following: Angioplasty and Stenting Atherectomy Embolic Protection Percutaneous Valve Repair Balloon Angioplasty What is Coronary artery disease? Coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease. It is the leading cause of death in the United States in both men and women. Coronary artery disease is a serious condition caused by a buildup of plaque in y

Types & Benefits of Echocardiography

  An echocardiogram is a test that uses high-frequency sound waves to take pictures of your heart. His common test allows your doctor to see your heart beating and pumping blood. Your doctor can use the images from an echocardiogram to identify heart disease. Echo also can pinpoint areas of the heart muscle that aren't contracting well because of poor blood flow or injury from a previous heart attack. Doppler ultrasound shows how well blood flows through your heart's chambers and valves. An echocardiogram uses ultrasound, or harmless sound waves, to quickly and efficiently obtain valuable information about your heart. Our doctors regularly use an echocardiogram or echo, when they have questions about the size, shape, and performance of your heart and its valves. Types of Echocardiography There are several types of these tests. Transthoracic echocardiogram A transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) is the most common noninvasive type of echocardiogram, which uses high-freque

Symptoms & Types of Arrhythmia

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Arrhythmias occur when the electrical signals that coordinate heartbeats are not working correctly. Your heartbeats don't work properly, causing your heart to beat too fast, too slow or irregularly.  When the heart beats faster than normal, it is called tachycardia. When the heart beats too slowly, it is called bradycardia. If you feel something unusual happening with your heartbeat, get medical help right away so doctors can find out why it's happening and what you need to do about it. Symptoms of Arrhythmia Arrhythmias may not cause any signs or symptoms. In fact, your doctor might find you have an arrhythmia before you do, during a routine examination. When arrhythmias last long enough to affect how well the heart works, more serious symptoms may develop: Dizziness Dizziness is the feeling of being lightheaded, woozy, or unbalanced. It affects the sensory organs, specifically the eyes and ears, so it can sometimes cause fainting. Dizziness isn’t a disease, but ra

Benefits & Need of Cardiology

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  Cardiology is a branch of medicine that concerns diseases and disorders of the heart, which may range from congenital defects to acquire heart diseases such as coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure. A person with heart disease or cardiovascular disease may be referred to as a cardiologist. Subspecialties of the cardiology field include cardiac electrophysiology, echocardiography , interventional cardiology, and nuclear cardiology.  You might also visit a cardiologist so you can learn about your risk factors for heart disease and find out what measures you can take for better heart health. Texas Heart Institute cardiologists are listed in the professional staff directory. Benefits of Cardiology Cardiologists  provide health care services that significantly affect patient care and treatment success. However, they do not perform surgical procedures like cardiac surgeons and other surgeons do. As a cardiologist, you will be specializing in the diagnosis, prevention a

Types of Ablation & its work

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Cardiac ablation is a procedure that can correct heart rhythm problems. Ablation is a procedure used to treat an irregular heart rhythm is called arrhythmia that starts in the heart's upper chambers.  Cardiac ablation can also treat atrial fibrillation, a type of irregular heartbeat. If this is the case, your doctor might call it atrial fibrillation ablation. During the procedure, small wires called electrodes are placed inside your heart to measure your heart's electrical activity. When the source of the problem is found, the tissue causing the problem is destroyed. How Ablation is work Each beat of your heart is triggered by an electrical impulse normally generated from special cells in the upper right chamber of your heart. The most common problems result from the use of the catheters long, thin tubes doctors insert into your arteries or veins. Inserting the tubes can occasionally damage your blood vessel or cause bleeding or infection. These problems are rare. The