Clinical Trials Related to Cardiology
Cardiology is a branch of medicine that deals with disorders of the heart, and parts of the circulatory system. These disorders include atherosclerosis, atrial fibrillation, congestive heart disease, heart failure, high cholesterol and triglycerides, hypertension, tachycardia, and stroke.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Certain health conditions such as high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol levels, diabetes, and obesity are the leading causes of cardiovascular disease.
Participate in a clinical trial to help find alternative treatment options for different cardiovascular diseases.
Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is an irregular and often very rapid heart rhythm that can lead to blood clots in the heart. Atrial fibrillation increases the risk of stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications. During atrial fibrillation, the heart’s upper chambers beat chaotically and out of sync with the lower chambers of the heart. Some people will have no symptoms, but others may experience a fast, pounding heartbeat, shortness of breath, or weakness.
Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular disease is an umbrella term used to describe a set of conditions that involve the narrowing or blocking of blood vessels which restricts the amount of oxygenated blood pumped to and from the heart. Several factors can contribute to cardiovascular disease, including smoking, unhealthy diet, obesity, high blood pressure, physical inactivity, high cholesterol, and genetics.
Heart Failure
A heart attack occurs when the blood flow that brings oxygen to the heart muscle is severely reduced or cut off completely (View an animation of blood flow). This happens because coronary arteries that supply the heart muscle with blood flow can slowly become narrow from a buildup of fat, cholesterol and other substances that together are called plaque. This slow process is known as atherosclerosis. When a plaque in a heart artery breaks, a blood clot forms around the plaque. This blood clot can block the blood flow through the heart muscle.
Hypertension
Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a medical condition where the force of blood against the walls of the arteries is consistently too high, causing damage to the blood vessels and potentially leading to serious health complications such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. It is often referred to as a “silent killer” because it may not have noticeable symptoms but can cause significant damage over time. Hypertension can be managed and treated with medication, lifestyle modifications, and regular monitoring.
High Cholesterol
With high cholesterol, you can develop fatty deposits in your blood vessels. Eventually, these deposits grow, making it difficult for enough blood to flow through your arteries. Sometimes, those deposits can break suddenly and form a clot that causes a heart attack or stroke. High cholesterol can be inherited, but it’s often the result of unhealthy lifestyle choices, which make it preventable and treatable. A healthy diet, regular exercise and sometimes medication can help reduce high cholesterol.
