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 September 15th, 2018
Angioplasty is a minimally invasive procedure used to open a narrowed or blocked blood vessel, which could be an artery that carries blood from the heart to the body or a vein that carries blood back to the heart.
The procedure may be used to treat patients with atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, carotid artery stenosis, and... Read More
Posted on September 1st, 2018
A coronary angiogram is the most common type of cardiac catheterization used to diagnose heart conditions. Specifically, a coronary angiogram uses dye and an x-ray machine to look closely at the blood vessels in your heart to see if blood flow is restricted in any way.
Your doctor will likely perform several other diagnostic tests before recommending a coronary angiogram. Other tests may include... Read More
Posted on August 13th, 2018
Heart failure is a chronic condition where the heart can’t pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. It affects six million Americans, and more than 900,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. It’s not a sudden stoppage of the heart like cardiac arrest or blocked blood flow like a heart attack, but rather something that gets worse over time.
The heart tries to keep up in several ways,... Read More
Posted on August 3rd, 2018
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a relatively common condition affecting more than 80 million people in the United States. Untreated high blood pressure can result in heart attack, heart failure, stroke, aneurysm, vision loss, and other serious conditions.
As your heart beats and blood moves through your body, it pushes against the sides of your blood vessels. The strength at which... Read More
Posted on July 23rd, 2018
Atherosclerosis is a condition affecting the arteries, which are responsible for carrying oxygen-rich blood from your heart to your body. Atherosclerosis involves the buildup of fats, cholesterol, and other substances on the artery walls. The buildup is called plaque, and it can restrict blood flow in the body.
Reduced blood flow through your arteries means less oxygen supplied to the organs and... Read More
Posted on July 2nd, 2018
Atrial fibrillation (commonly known as AFib) is the most common heart rhythm disorder in the United States and affects approximately 5.5 million people. Symptoms include heart palpitations, shortness of breath, fatigue, light-headedness, dizziness, and sometimes passing out.
On its own, atrial fibrillation is not generally a life threatening condition, but it can cause stroke or congestive heart... Read More
Posted on June 15th, 2018
Myocarditis is a rare but serious disease involving inflammation of the heart muscle, or myocardium. Myocarditis can cause damage to the heart muscle and may affect the heart’s electrical system, which can reduce the heart’s ability to pump blood and cause rapid or abnormal heart rhythms.
What causes myocarditis?
Most cases of myocarditis are caused by a viral infection, and it... Read More
Posted on June 1st, 2018
Deep vein thrombosis, commonly known as DVT, is a blood clot that forms in a deep vein in the body, typically in the leg or thigh. If the clot breaks loose, it can travel to the lungs and cause a pulmonary embolism, which can cause permanent damage to the lungs and other organs and even result in death.
DVT occurs when something limits circulation of the blood or when abnormal clotting occurs.... Read More
Posted on May 17th, 2018
Veins are an important part of the circulatory system as they help carry blood from the body back to the heart. Veins have valves that open and close to prevent the backflow of blood into the legs. When the valves in the veins stop working correctly, the blood backflows and begins to collect in your legs.
The early symptoms of vein disease may seem minor and patients may dismiss them as a... Read More
Posted on May 1st, 2018
Endocarditis is inflammation in the inner lining of the heart chambers and heart valves, which is called the endocardium. It typically occurs when bacteria or germs from another part of your body enter the bloodstream and spread to your heart. If not treated quickly, endocarditis can cause severe damage to the heart valves and result in life-threatening complications.
Symptoms of... Read More