Aortic Valve Disease Tips

Pulmonary Function Tests or PFTs are a set of tests that are used to determine, measure or observe the functioning of the lungs. The most common pulmonary function tests used are spirometry, gas diffusion, and lung plethysmography.

Highlights of pulmonary function tests

A spirometry test is used to measure the amount of air inhaled and exhaled. It also measures the amount of time taken to complete a respiration cycle.
Lung plethysmography measures the amount of air in the l...more

There are valves in each of the four chambers of the heart. These valves make sure that blood flows in one direction only. The blood flows from the atria into the ventricles through the mitral and the tricuspid valves. The pulmonic and the aortic valves allow the blood to flow out of the ventricles. Valve problems occur when the normal functioning of the valve is impaired.

Impaired valve function leads to blood flow obstruction, which in turn can lead to stenosis of the valve. This put...more

Cardiomyopathy is a heart muscle disease that makes it difficult for your heart to supply blood to the rest of the body. This disease affects the heart s size, shape and structure, hence resulting in heart failure. Some of the common types of cardiomyopathies are

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Restrictive cardiomyopathy
dilated cardiomyopathy.
The disease is generally inherited and some family members might get more affected than others, while others may not suffer at all or co...more

Spinal surgery is a process used for correcting the problems in your spine. The process involves welding two bones or vertebrae into one single bone. This reduces the movement of those bones, which in turn, helps to reduce back pain and stabilize the spine.

This type of surgery is performed when physiotherapy and medicines have not helped cure your back pain. The specialists recommend this option when they are able to understand the actual reason behind your pain.

To locate the...more

If you are experiencing difficulty in breathing or rapid breathing, shortness of breath and low blood pressure, you might have been affected with acute respiratory distress syndrome or ARDS. This is a fatal lung condition in which the supply of oxygen to the lungs and into the blood gets prevented. The symptoms of this syndrome develop within two days of the illness.

Here are 10 important facts about ARDS you should know about:

Because of the low level of oxygen in the blood, ...more

Carotid artery disease occurs when an oily, waxy substance called plaque builds up inside the carotid arteries. These are arteries that supply oxygenated blood to your brain, face, scalp, and neck.
Carotid artery disease is very serious as it can cause a brain stroke. It, in fact, starts with damage to the inner layer of the carotid artery. To stem this damage your body starts a healing process and this leads to a build up of plaque at the point where the artery is damaged.

When thi...more

Aortic valve stenosis is a heart condition in which the valve to the biggest artery- the one which provides oxygen-rich blood to our body, called aorta, is narrowed. This prevents the valve from opening fully, obstructing the blood flow from your heart into your body.

When the aortic valve doesn t open, your heart needs to work harder to pump blood to your body making the heart muscle weak. If left undiagnosed aortic stenosis is fatal.

Symptoms

These symptoms should sp...more

When you suffer from dry, chronic cough along with shortness of breath, it is normal to get worried and annoyed. You will want to know the cause and the cure. Note that it might be due to a condition called the interstitial lung disease.

Including almost more than 200 different lung conditions, interstitial lung disease refers to the inflammation and scarring caused in the lungs, which leads to less oxygen entering the blood. Mainly affecting the interstitial part of the anatomic struct...more

Cardiomyopathy is a heart muscle disease that makes it difficult for your heart to supply blood to the rest of the body. This disease affects the heart s size, shape and structure, hence resulting in heart failure. Some of the common types of cardiomyopathies are

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Restrictive cardiomyopathy
dilated cardiomyopathy.
The disease is generally inherited and some family members might get more affected than others, while others may not suffer at all or co...more

If you are experiencing difficulty in breathing or rapid breathing, shortness of breath and low blood pressure, you might have been affected with acute respiratory distress syndrome or ARDS. This is a fatal lung condition in which the supply of oxygen to the lungs and into the blood gets prevented. The symptoms of this syndrome develop within two days of the illness.

Here are 10 important facts about ARDS you should know about:

Because of the low level of oxygen in the blood, ...more