How the Heart Works

The hardworking heart
The heart's four chambers at work
The heart's electrical system
The heart is also a furnace

The Vessels

The arteries
The capillaries
The veins

Blood, Oxygen, and the Lungs

Oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs

Blood Pressure

What blood pressure measures
What is target blood pressure?
Your pulse

How the Heart Develops

Early development

The developing circulation

Angina Defined

What is angina pectoris?
Angina - what happens in the heart?
What causes an angina attack?
Are chronic angina attacks predictable?

Other Types of Angina

Cardiac Syndrome X
Silent ischemia
Unstable angina
Variant angina

Coronary Artery Disease

What is coronary artery disease?
Inflammation and CAD
Genes and CAD
Fats—the bad and the good

Women and Heart Disease

A woman's health problem
Heart disease later — but more serious
Higher rates of angina, including Syndrome X
Hormone Replacement Therapy: No evidence of heart protection

Heart Disease, Race, and Ethnicity

Race and ethnicity play a role in heart disease
Heart disease is a product of the environment and genes

Diagnosing Angina

Blood pressure and heart rate
Blood tests
Electrocardiogram
Exercise tolerance testing
Thallium stress testing
Coronary angiography

Risk Factors

Smoking
High cholesterol and triglycerides
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Obesity
Lack of exercise
Female hormones
Depression
Homocysteine
Age
Family history
Gender
Economic factors

When Angina Gets Worse

Unstable angina
Heart attacks
Sudden death
Another related problem: heart failure

Diabetes and Heart Disease

Diabetes defined
Diabetes may increase your risk of heart disease
Diabetes management
Metabolic syndrome

Heart Failure

Heart failure defined
Heart failure - diagnosis and treatment

Treatment

Managing Angina and CAD

The changing face of angina and CAD
Initial treatment
A = Aspirin
A = Anti-anginal therapy
B = Beta-blockers
B = Blood pressure
C = Cigarette smoking
C = Cholesterol
D = Diet
D = Diabetes
E = Exercise
E = Education

Angina Medications

Drugs for angina pain control
Beta-blockers
Calcium channel blockers
Nitrates
Drugs for cutting heart attack risk
Quality of life

Surgery and Related Therapies

Balloon angioplasty (PTCA)
Angioplasty and stents (PCI)
Bypass surgeries
Your life after surgery

Alternative Treatment Options

Why treatments don't always work
Non-traditional alternatives

Potential Therapies

Drug-coated stents
Cardiac function modulators
Therapeutic angiogenesis
Human Genome project

Dietary Supplements

The truth about supplements

Quality of Life

Living Longer, Living Better with Angina

What is quality of life?
People with angina are living longer—but not necessarily better
How quality of life is measured
Talk to your doctor about quality of life

Nutrition Matters

Healthly food tips
Consider the Mediterranean diet
Cut back on the salt
The alcohol connection

Exercise for Heart Health

Start slowly and be smart
Tips for sticking with it
Count the benefits

Managing Stress with Heart Disease

The heart works harder when it's stressed
Ways to reduce stress

Understanding Chronic Angina Pain

Chronic pain — a definition
Angina Pain — causes and symptoms
Chronic pain is physical — and emotional
Angina treatments help — but may not halt — the pain
Managing your angina pain or discomfort

Depression and Heart Disease

Depression is hard on the heart
Women are especially at risk
Catching depression early is key
Positive thinking may help, too

Stop Smoking For a Healthier Heart

Smoking - Bad for the heart and lungs
Kick the habit!

Angina - You and Your Family

Heart attack ... me? Never!
Is it really a heart attack?
Handling an emergency
Being prepared
Rights and Obligations for Insurance

Advice for Caregivers

Caregiver burnout
Advice for caregivers
A Caregiver's Bill of Rights