A heart catheterization - otherwise known as heart cath, coronary angiogram or coronary arteriograms - is an invasive test done to determine whether there are any blockages in the coronary arteries or valvular heart disease. A small plastic catheter is inserted into the femoral artery and threaded up to the heart. X-ray dye is then injected into the coronary arteries and an x-ray is taken to show whether there is any narrowing or blockage of the artery.

Patients having heart catheterization are asked to fast from midnight the night before their test. We want you to take your usual morning medications, however, we ask that you do not take any medication for diabetes that morning. If you take Coumadin, you will need to be off this medication for three full days prior to the procedure. If you are allergic to iodine, be sure to let your physician or his nurse know as the "dye" does contain iodine.

The decision to have a nuclear stress test, echocardiogram or a catheterization is primarily based on the judgement of your doctor. Different tests provide different kind of information. Depending upon the condition of your heart, your doctor will choose the the test which is best for you. Sometimes more than one test is required to assess the heart condition. The order in which these tests should be performed is based upon the judgement of your doctor.

Repeat heart catheterization one year after receiving Tracleer™ may be performed; you and your physician will make this decision.

In order for Medicare to cover combined left and right heart catheterization, providers must report a diagnosis from the list of codes supporting medical necessity for the left and the right heart catheterization. For conditions that appear on both lists, reporting the diagnosis code once on the claim is sufficient, as long as the documentation in the medical record supports medical necessity for doing both. A diagnosis code may not support medical necessity by itself.

This is a procedure done on the heart. In it, a doctor inserts a thin plastic tube (catheter) (KATH'eh-ter) into an artery or vein in the arm or leg. From there it can be advanced into the chambers of the heart or into the coronary arteries. Catheters are also used to inject dye into the coronary arteries. This is called coronary angiography (an"je-OG'rah-fe) or coronary arteriography (ar-te"re-OG'rah-fe).

Yes. One in three American women dies of heart disease. In 2003, almost twice as many women died of cardiovascular disease (both heart disease and stroke) than from all cancers combined. The older a woman gets, the more likely she is to get heart disease. But women of all ages should be concerned about heart disease. All women should take steps to prevent heart disease. Both men and women have heart attacks, but more women who have heart attacks die from them.

Yes. African American and Hispanic American/Latina women are more likely to get heart disease because they tend to have more risk factors such as obesity, lack of exercise, high blood pressure, and diabetes than white women. Women of color also are more likely than white women to die of heart disease. If you're a woman of color, take steps to reduce your risk factors.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women. They do tend to have heart trouble at a somewhat older age than men do, but they catch up quickly.

Most heart failure patients have this disorder as the result of either severe heart disease or damage that has occurred over many years. Given that heart disease is completely reversible in only a very few patients, the treatment for heart failure is usually life long. There may be alterations in medications or dosage adjustments but in general most patients will need to take some form of medication treatment, forever.

The nurse practitioner will determine how often you need to be seen after your initial consultation. Most often your heart failure clinic visits are staggered in between your visits with your primary physician and cardiologist.

When a heart attack becomes a full cardiac arrest, the heart most often goes into uncoordinated electric activity called fibrillation. The heart twitches ineffectively and cannot pump blood. The AED delivers electric current to the heart muscle, momentarily stunning the heart, stopping all activity. This gives the heart an opportunity to resume beating effectively.

The FDA says that diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol that include 25 grams of soy protein per day may reduce the risk of heart disease.

Heart rate monitors are helpful, but not essential. They can help you to avoid overtraining and provide confidence as you see your overall fitness level improve, but are optional. More

Heart disease is a number of abnormal conditions affecting the heart and the blood vessels in the heart. Types of heart disease include: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type and is the leading cause of heart attacks. When you have CAD, your arteries become hard and narrow. Blood has a hard time getting to the heart, so the heart does not get all the blood it needs. CAD can lead to: Angina. Angina is chest pain or discomfort that happens when the heart does not get enough blood.