In Canada, 750,000 people live with heart failure, a condition where the heart can’t pump blood effectively, with a further 100,000 Canadians diagnosed every year. Contrary to what the name suggests, heart failure doesn’t mean the heart has stopped, but rather that it’s not working as efficiently as it should. A popular question among…
Each time winter approaches or flu season hits, a symphony of coughs can be heard across offices, public transport, and homes. Coughs are typically associated with colds, allergies, or the flu, but what happens when a cough won’t go away? Coughing is normal, and while there are common culprits that frequently top the…
Halloween is almost here, and with it comes all kinds of fun scares that might make our hearts beat faster. But, what about those other times when our hearts race, and there’s no scare in sight? Sometimes, a fast heartbeat might be telling us something important about our heart health that we shouldn’t ignore.…
Imagine a world where, if someone’s heart suddenly stopped in public, the odds of survival were slim to none. That was the scenario before automated external defibrillators came into the picture. And it wasn’t just about the lack of this life-saving tool – it was about the absence of a quick, accessible solution…
Did you know that every 40 seconds, someone has a heart attack? A heart attack occurs when blood flow to a part of your heart is blocked. This interruption in blood flow can damage or destroy a part of the heart muscle, causing severe chest pain and discomfort. But, how long does a…
According to the World Health Organization, 22.3% of the world’s population smoke, which contributes to an annual toll of 8 million deaths attributed to tobacco use. Smoking harms nearly every organ in the body, but its effects on the heart are particularly profound. It’s a leading risk factor for heart disease, and the impact…
Heart disease, also known as cardiovascular disease, represents a collection of conditions that affect the structure and function of the heart. It is a leading cause of death globally (killing one Canadian every five minutes), signifying a major health concern. Heart disease can manifest in several forms, from clogged arteries preventing the flow of blood…
Each year, sudden cardiac arrest claims hundreds of thousands of lives worldwide. It can occur without warning and result in death if the patient does not receive emergency intervention via an AED. In fact, for every one minute delay in defibrillation, the survival rate of a cardiac arrest victim decreases by 7 to 10%. …
As we all know, monitoring our health is essential to living a healthy life, and one of the critical aspects is remembering to monitor your blood pressure. But, exactly how often should you be doing this? In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how often you should monitor blood pressure to…
Fresh air is essential for good health. It has numerous benefits on the body, including improving mood and boosting energy levels. But, did you know that the benefits of fresh air extend to the heart? Breathing in fresh air can help to improve blood pressure, heart rate, and overall cardiovascular health. In this…