Read about the advanced therapies performed for heart rhythm disorders at Oklahoma Heart Hospital and stay connected with the Heart Rhythm Institute.
Heart Rhythm Institute Blog
Posted on June 1st, 2017
Long QT syndrome is a genetic condition that affects the heart’s electrical system. About 1 in 2500 people in the United States have some form of Long QT syndrome, which can cause cardiac arrest if untreated.
Long QT syndrome is caused by a defect in the ion channels (potassium, sodium, calcium, or chloride) in the heart. An ion channel defect means the heart doesn’t recharge... Read More
Posted on May 15th, 2017
A stroke is a loss of blood supply to the brain, either through a blocked artery or a broken artery that causes bleeding. Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide.
Stroke risk generally increases for older individuals due to weakening of the artery walls, but stroke can affect anyone. A buildup of plaque in the arteries can break lose and cause a blockage, an aneurysm can... Read More
Posted on May 1st, 2017
A stroke occurs when blood flow is obstructed to the brain, which means that no oxygen gets to part of the brain and brain cells die. In the United States, there are about 795,000 new strokes each year. Worldwide, stroke is the second leading cause of death.
While are numerous risk factors for stroke, there are two ways that blood can be cut off from the brain — by a blood clot that... Read More
Posted on April 15th, 2017
In recent years, the presence of automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) in public spaces like schools, athletic complexes, and even shopping malls has increased. An AED is a portable device that scans a person’s heart rhythm and sends an electrical shock to try and restore a normal heart rhythm. It is similar to the electric shock given by first responders or doctors, except that the device is... Read More
Posted on April 1st, 2017
When someone’s heart stops suddenly, vital organs like the brain no longer receive oxygen because blood is not moving through the body. The use of CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) as soon as possible after the heart stops can save a person’s life because it continues to circulate blood through the body until emergency medical personnel arrive.
The Oklahoma Heart Hospital offers a... Read More
Posted on March 15th, 2017
An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is a common tool used to diagnosis and assess heart conditions. It’s a road map of the electrical activity in the heart that a physician can follow to see what is or isn’t working properly. The ECG can present different patterns, but the more important use is identifying why a certain pattern has developed. At the Oklahoma Heart Hospital, ECGs... Read More
Posted on March 3rd, 2017
SVT (supraventricular tachycardia) is a general classification of heart rhythm issues that occur in the upper part of the heart (the atria). As with other heart rhythms, SVTs occur because of a disruption in the heart’s normal electrical rhythm. Symptoms may include heart palpitations, light-headedness, dizziness, shortness of breath, fatigue, or passing out.
Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is... Read More
Posted on February 15th, 2017
While heart attacks (myocardial infarction) and cardiac arrest sometimes go hand-in-hand, they are two distinctly different events in the heart. A heart attack is damage to the heart tissue due to a loss of blood flow to the heart. During cardiac arrest, the heart stops beating suddenly. Chances of surviving cardiac arrest are much lower — fewer than 1 in 10 people survive to leave the hospital... Read More
Posted on February 3rd, 2017
A heart attack, or a myocardial infarction, is damage to the heart tissue that results from restricted blood flow (oxygen) to the heart. Heart attacks can be caused by a number of things, including fatty deposits (or plaque) in the coronary artery, blood clots from other parts of the body, a spasm of the coronary artery, abnormal heart rhythms that change the oxygen demand, or blood pressure that... Read More
Posted on January 16th, 2017
Wander down the center aisle of any grocery store, and you’ll be amazed at the number of number of claims on the front of those boxes. Now with 50% less fat! Reduced sugar! Low sodium! Sometimes those claims can be helpful, but it’s important to understand the role the carbohydrates (which includes sugar), protein, fat, and sodium play in overall nutrition.
Carbohydrates
Most... Read More