MAIN Health Diseases Heart Disease Heart Disease Treatments

As a result of so much attention being been paid by the medical community to heart and coronary artery disease, there is a wide range of treatment options available today to help control, relieve or even eliminate causes and symptoms.

Drugs and medications can help lower blood pressure or cholesterol, dissolve blood clots ("clot busters"), relieve painful angina symptoms or strengthen and regulate heart contractions.

Physical exams, electrocardiograms, treatmill tests and halter monitors help diagnose heart disease, while sophisticated surgery for treating heart problems includes procedures such as coronary artery bypass grafts, coronary angioplasty, stenting, pacemaker implants, heart transplants, and operations for congenital defects.

Of course, medications and surgical procedures can help correct the life-threatening consequences of heart disease, but afterwards patients also must take personal charge of eliminating risk factors by exercising, dieting and avoiding fatty foods, quitting the smoking habit, reducing stress, and other changes that contribute to a heart-healthy lifestyle.

Find out more about what patients and medical science can do to treat heart and coronary artery disease with more information on corrective measures, surgeries, tests & procedures along with detailed facts on the drugs & medications typically prescribed before or after surgery, and related diets and meal plans specifically designed with the heart patient in mind ....

HeartSite.com - Comprehensive consumer education on heart disease tests & treatments with information on what to expect from physical exams, electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, angiograms, treadmill tests, stents, balloon angioplasty, and related procedures including pictures, illustrations, video & interactive presentations.

Heart Resource Center - On-target directory leading to information on treatments & therapies, including heart drugs & medication guides, angioplasty procedures, open heart & bypass surgery, aortic & heart valve replacment, heart transplant surgery, plus links to more facts on recovery and risk reduction.

What is Cardiac Bypass Surgery? - Illustrated step-by-step tutorial on the procedure clearly explaining benefits, risks & complications, how to prepare for surgery, recovery time, with related FAQ, glossary & references.

Coronary angioplasty and stenting: Opening clogged arteries - Information on the procedure that widens blocked arteries with discussions on pre-surgery testing & preparation, how the operation is performed, stenting procedures, and facts on recovery with related links and resources.

Congenital Cardiovascular Defects Treatments - Detailed fact sheet from the American Heart Association with information on surgical procedures performed on children with congenital birth defects including the arterial switch, shunts, balloon valvuloplasty, and related procedures & therapies.

Heart Disease and Medications - Extensive information on common medications & drugs used in heart disease patients including aspirin, ACE inhibitors, nitrates & nitroglycerine, calcium channel blockers, anticoagulants, and related therapies with more on generic & brand names, risks & benefits, side effects & drug interactions.

Nutrition and Exercise: Healthy Balance for a Healthy Heart - Good introduction to why and how nutrition and exercise combine to maintain heart health with a heart-healthy diet tip sheet, advice on exercise regimens, with related links to more on nutrition, low-carb and fad diets.

This information is intended as reference and not as medical advice.
All treatment decisions should be made by medical professionals.