Cardiac Catheterization: Before Your Procedure
Learn what a cardiac catheterization is, how it is done, and how to prepare.
Cardiac Catheterization: Returning Home
Find out how you'll feel after a cardiac catheterization and how to take care of yourself at home.
Cardiac Device Monitoring
Cardiac devices include pacemakers and ICDs (implantable cardioverter-defibrillators). Cardiac devices have very advanced features. Your doctor can program your device to work in different ways depending on your needs. Doctors check, or monitor, cardiac devices on a regular basis to make sure that they are working right...
Cardiac electrophysiologist
Cardiac electrophysiologists are cardiology doctors (cardiologists) who have specialized training in the heart's electrical system. They specialize in diagnosing and treating heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias) such as atrial fibrillation. Cardiac electrophysiologists can be board-certified through the Board of Internal...
Cardiac Enzyme Studies
Cardiac enzyme studies measure the levels of enzymes and proteins that are linked with injury of the heart muscle. The test checks for the proteins troponin I (TnI) and troponin T (TnT). If your heart muscle is injured, such as from a heart attack, troponin proteins leak out of damaged heart muscle cells, and their...
Cardiac ischemia: Fast Facts
Learn what cardiac ischemia is.
Cardiac Output
For the body to function properly, the heart needs to pump blood at a sufficient rate to maintain an adequate and continuous supply of oxygen and other nutrients to the brain and other vital organs. Cardiac output is the term that describes the amount of blood your heart pumps each minute. Doctors think about cardiac...
Cardiac Perfusion Scan
A cardiac perfusion scan measures the amount of blood in your heart muscle at rest and after it has been stressed. It is often done to find out what may be causing symptoms like angina (such as chest pain or pressure). It may be done after a heart attack to see if areas of the heart are not getting enough blood or to...
Cardiac Rehab: How It Can Help
Hear how cardiac rehab helped others have less fear and be more sure about how to live with a heart problem.
Cardiac Rehab: What Is It?
Learn how cardiac rehab works and how it can help you get stronger and feel better.
Cardiac Rehabilitation
Discusses cardiac rehabilitation (rehab), which helps you feel better and reduce risk of future heart problems with exercise and lifestyle changes. Looks at rehab for people who have heart conditions such as heart attack, heart surgery, or heart failure.
Cardiac rehabilitation (rehab)
Cardiac rehabilitation (rehab) is a supervised program that uses exercise, education, and support to help people who have a heart problem. Cardiac rehab programs are designed based on a person's needs and overall health. Cardiac rehab can help you feel better, have a better quality of life, and lower your risk of future...
Cardiac Rehabilitation Team
In cardiac rehabilitation (rehab), you work with a team of health professionals. The team designs a program just for you, based on your health and goals. Then they give you education and support to help you succeed. The following health professionals may be part of your team: Doctors and surgeons. Your family doctor, as...
Cardiac Rehabilitation: Emotional Health Benefits
Recovering from a heart problem means not only getting back your physical strength but also getting back your emotional and mental well-being. Having a positive outlook during your recovery and rehabilitation may help you recover physically, emotionally, and mentally. Remember that you are going to start feeling better...
Cardiac Rehabilitation: Exercise
Exercise is an important part of cardiac rehab. You may do some new exercises and may be asked to monitor yourself when you exercise. Your rehab team will design a specific exercise program for you. It might range from a supervised program monitored by an exercise professional to an independent, self-managed program...
Cardiac Rehabilitation: Home Program
Your cardiac rehabilitation (rehab) might include an exercise program that you do at home. You might start this program after you go home from the hospital. The home program can be one part, or phase, of your cardiac rehab. The goals of a home program include: Making a smooth transition from hospital to home. Taking...
Cardiac Rehabilitation: Hospital Program
Cardiac rehabilitation (rehab) may start while you are in the hospital. The hospital (inpatient) program is one part, or phase, of your cardiac rehab. This phase emphasizes exercise and education. A hospital program may include: A customized exercise program, based on your medical history, clinical condition, and...
Cardiac Rehabilitation: Lifestyle Changes
A cardiac rehabilitation (rehab) program can help you make lifestyle changes. In cardiac rehabilitation (rehab), a team of health professionals provides education and support to help you make new, healthy habits. Quit smoking Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do to reduce your risk of future problems. Medicines...
Cardiac Rehabilitation: Maintenance Program
Cardiac rehabilitation (rehab) includes a phase that helps you keep the healthy behaviors and habits that you learned in rehab. This phase, or program, is often referred to as the maintenance part of rehab, because it can help you maintain a heart-healthy lifestyle. Your goals may include: Lowering your risk of future...
Cardiac Rehabilitation: Medicine and Exercise
If you are in a cardiac rehab program, you are probably taking medicines for your heart and for other health reasons. Some prescribed medicines can change your heart rate, blood pressure, and overall ability to exercise. It's important for your rehab team to know what medicines you take. Give your rehab team a list of...
Cardiac Rehabilitation: Monitoring Your Body's Response to Exercise
There are several ways to measure your body's responses to exercise and other lifestyle changes. You may want to keep track of the following measurements during your exercise sessions at cardiac rehab and at home. Target heart rate Your target heart rate can guide you to how hard you need to exercise so you can get the...
Cardiac Rehabilitation: Outpatient Program
Cardiac rehabilitation (rehab) typically includes an outpatient program. This program is one part, or phase, of your cardiac rehab. You will likely take part in a supervised exercise program. You will receive information and tools to have a heart-healthy lifestyle, such as: Not smoking. Healthy eating. Staying at a...
Cardiac Rehabilitation: Weight and Resistance Training
Resistance training may be done with many things, including weights, elastic bands, machines, or your own body weight. Resistance training can help you get the most benefit from your cardiac rehabilitation (rehab) program. Do not start a strength-training program without discussing it with your doctor. Your doctor can...
Cardiac tamponade
Cardiac tamponade is a condition caused by too much fluid in the space between the heart and the sac that surrounds it, called the pericardium. This fluid collection can put weight and pressure on the heart, which means that it cannot expand properly and so it does not fill with normal amounts of blood. If the heart...
Cardiogenic shock
Cardiogenic shock is a condition caused when the blood flow in the body suddenly and severely decreases. Blood flow becomes so low that adequate blood is not able to return to the heart so that it can function normally. When oxygen cannot be delivered to organs and tissue, symptoms that may develop include pale or...
Cardiologist
Cardiologists are medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases or conditions of the heart and blood vessels, such as irregular heart rhythms, high blood pressure, heart failure, or heart attacks. Cardiologists administer tests that show how well a person's heart is working, such as a...
Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy is a disease that affects the heart muscle and the way it pumps. There are different types of cardiomyopathies. And these types have different causes. Cardiomyopathy may occur as a result of damage to the heart, such as from a heart attack, or a person may inherit the tendency to develop it. Types of...
Cardiomyopathy (Holistic)
Breathe easier and return your heart to better health by dealing with the damage caused by cardiomyopathy. According to research or other evidence, the following self-care steps may be helpful. See a specialist Consult a cardiologist for advice on treating your type of cardiomyopathy and its underlying causes. Count on...
Cardiopulmonary Syndromes (PDQ®): Supportive care - Health Professional Information [NCI]
Cancer patients often have comorbid medical problems in addition to their underlying malignant disorders. In fact, patients older than 65 years bear a disproportionate burden of cancer as well as increased prevalence of medical problems such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease, diabetes, and...
Cardiopulmonary Syndromes (PDQ®): Supportive care - Patient Information [NCI]
Cardiopulmonary syndromes are conditions of the heart and lung that may be caused by cancer or by other health problems. Five cardiopulmonary syndromes that may be caused by cancer are covered in this summary: Dyspnea (shortness of breath). Chronic cough. Malignant pleural effusion (extra fluid around the lungs caused...