What Happens During an Echocardiogram, and How Long Does the Scan Usually Take?
A standard echocardiogram, the ultrasound scan of the heart done through the chest wall, usually takes 15 to 60 minutes according to the NHS,…
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Blog Category
Heart & Metabolism
Articles on the heart and metabolism: blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, heart rhythm and the risk factors that link them. Chest pain, breathlessness or fainting need urgent care, not reading.
Type 1 vs Type 2 Diabetes: The Difference, and Which Is More Serious
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system destroys the pancreas's insulin-producing cells, so insulin must be replaced from diagnosis…
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How to Lower Cholesterol Naturally: What Moves LDL Without a Prescription
You can lower LDL cholesterol meaningfully without medication by replacing saturated fats with unsaturated ones, eating 5 to 10 grams of soluble fiber daily…
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ECG Explained: What It Shows, How Long It Takes and What Happens
An ECG (electrocardiogram) records your heart's electrical activity through sticky skin electrodes, showing heart rate, rhythm, and patterns that can suggest arrhythmias, reduced blood…
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Stable vs Unstable Angina: What the Difference Means for Your Treatment Plan
Stable angina is chest discomfort that follows a predictable pattern, arrives with exertion or stress, and eases within minutes of rest; it is usually…
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How to Read an ECG and Work Out the Heart Rate from It
To read an ECG, first check the paper speed (usually 25 mm per second), then identify the P wave, QRS complex, and T wave,…
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Lymphatic Drainage: The Massage Trend vs the Physiology
Lymphatic drainage refers both to the body's normal process of returning excess tissue fluid to the bloodstream and to a gentle massage technique meant…
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Alcohol and Type 2 Diabetes: What Is Safe, What to Avoid and How Drinks Affect Blood Sugar
Most adults with type 2 diabetes can drink alcohol in moderation, if their blood sugar is well managed and their care team agrees. The…
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Is AF Hereditary, How Serious Is Paroxysmal AF, and Can You Fly with It?
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is partly hereditary: having a parent or sibling with AF raises your own risk, and a small subset of families carry…
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Heart Rate Zones: Training by Effort, Explained Simply
Heart rate zones divide exercise effort into bands based on a percentage of your estimated maximum heart rate, often figured as 220 minus your…
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Parasite Cleanse: The Viral Claim vs Actual Parasitology
A parasite cleanse, an herbal supplement regimen marketed to expel intestinal parasites, is unnecessary for most people and unsupported by clinical evidence.…
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How to Lower Your Resting Heart Rate: Training a Stronger Pump
Regular aerobic exercise is the most reliable way to lower a resting heart rate; consistent endurance training typically trims several beats per minute within…
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Blood Sugar Levels After Eating: Normal Ranges, Spikes and What Your Numbers Mean
For most people without diabetes, blood sugar after eating typically peaks within about an hour and stays below 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) two hours…
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Pyrexia: The Medical Term for Fever, Its Grades and Causes, and When It Becomes Dangerous
Pyrexia is the medical term for fever: a body temperature of about 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, driven by the brain raising its thermostat in…
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Dizzy After Eating: Why It Happens, Postprandial Hypotension and When to See a Doctor
Feeling dizzy after eating most often comes from a temporary drop in blood pressure as blood shifts toward the digestive system, a condition called…
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Diaphoresis (Cold Sweats): What Excessive Sweating Can Signal and When It Is an Emergency
Diaphoresis is sudden, heavy sweating that the surroundings do not explain: no heat, no exertion, often with cool, clammy skin. It is a sign,…
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Cholesterol Numbers Explained: Is 5.3, 5.5 or 5.7 High?
A total cholesterol of 5.7 mmol/L (about 220 mg/dL) is above the 5.0 mmol/L level that UK guidance considers ideal for healthy adults and…
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Thyroid Symptoms You Do Not Expect: Itching, Hair Loss, Headaches, Dizziness
Thyroid-related itching is usually generalized rather than confined to one spot, though many people notice it most on the shins, forearms, scalp, and back,…
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