A Library Journal Best Consumer Health Book of 2010 Heart rhythm problems can be a matter of life or death. In this easy-to-read guide, Dr. Todd Cohen provides comprehensive information to help people with heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias) get an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Dr. Cohen tells readers what they need to know about palpitations, rapid heart rhythms (tachycardias), slow heart rhythms (bradycardias), cardiac arrest, and other conditions related to irregular heartbeats. With the goal of informing and empowering heart patients, Dr. Cohen describes the heart's basic function, the various conditions associated with arrhythmia, and recommended courses of treatment. He discusses such procedures as tilt table testing, electrophysiology studies, catheter ablation, and device implantation (including cardiac monitors, pacemakers, defibrillators, and biventricular devices); explains the essentials of CPR and the use of Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs); and presents the latest guidelines from the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association, and the Heart Rhythm Society. A Patient's Guide to Heart Rhythm Problems will help readers understand • how the heart works and what can go wrong • the tests and other diagnostic procedures they may undergo • how their doctor reaches a diagnosis • what their diagnosis means • how their doctor might treat the problem • when medication alone is sufficient treatment • when pacemaker, defibrillator, or biventricular therapy is appropriate • how to get the best possible medical care—in and out of the hospital Endorsed by the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association, this essential resource features tables highlighting key information, as well as patient narratives that provide personal insight into arrhythmia tests, treatments, and technologies.

This engaging book covers a multitude of topics related to heart rhythm disorders (HRDs) and uniquely familiarizes readers with the development of treatment modalities over the past several decades, including the evolution of anti-arrhythmic drugs, pacemakers, defibrillators, and catheter ablation. Organized in ten sections, this title serves as both an archival and a contemporary resource for clinicians. The first section describes the discovery of the circulatory system by William Harvey in 1628 and outlines the development and understanding of HRD since the advent of intra-cardiac electrophysiology. Subsequent sections discuss the historical evolution of abnormal heart rhythms, such as supra and ventricular rhythms and sudden cardiac death, their treatment with drugs, surgery, pacemakers, implantable defibrillators and catheter ablation. Section nine offers a fascinating narration of the clinical evolution of overcoming heart attacks and its impact on HRDs. The final section explores potential new frontiers in HRD and the factors that may contribute to the prospective rise of cardiovascular diseases. A ground-breaking and invaluable addition to the clinical literature, Heart Rhythm Disorders: History, Mechanisms and Management Perspectives details the pervasive nature of cardiovascular diseases in human history, their ramifications, and their projected effects on at-risk demographic populations and human health in general.

Pathological heart rhythms are a major health issue. In this book experts from various fields provide an important context for understanding the complicated molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie normal and pathophysiological cardiac rhythms. Individual chapters cover a full range of topics, including the ionic basis of pacemaking, the role of specific channels and transporters in sinoatrial node pacemaking, altered intracellular Ca2+ handling in response to disease, computer modeling of the action potentials of pacemaker and working cardiomyocytes, genetic and molecular basis of inherited arrhythmias and a review of established and novel antiarrhythmic agents. Due to the key importance of the specialized pacemaker cells and tissue (sinoatrial and atrioventricular nodes) in maintaining heart rate and rhythm, special emphasis is placed on the peculiar electrophysiology of these cells.

Offers a method for learning disorders of the heartbeat from an electrocardiogram. The user learns the dynamics of the autonomic nervous system and cardiac drugs are integrated throughout the text.

This book provides an overview of the history, manifestations, and treatment of heart disease and heart rhythm disorders. In addition, it covers the effects on the lives of patients, coping mechanisms, and relationships with doctors, family, religion, and death. The book uniquely intersects the fields of medicine, literature, science, and art. Chapters begin by familiarizing the reader with the historical aspects of manifestations and treatment – discussing both scientific and psychological aspects of the disease. Chapters also discuss the evolution of several treatment modalities. Every chapter of the book contains interesting and evocative patient stories and their treatment. Rhythms of Broken Hearts will be of interest to a wide spectrum of health care practitioners as well as to patients and related family members with interest in understanding their symptoms and disease entity. _____________________________________________________________________ In Rhythm of Broken Hearts, Dr. Gomes distills a multifaceted perspective with a unique story that knits history, physiology, emotion, and wisdom.Jonathan L. Halperin, M.D. If you ever have a broken heart -- romantic or medical -- you will be totally absorbed in this dazzling multicultural read. Grace Schulman Dr. Gomes’s affinity and empathy for his patients and their stories narrated in this book, make universal the experiences of illness that we all must navigate at some point in our lives.Jeremy N. Ruskin, MD

One of the most time-consuming tasks in clinical medicine is seeking the opinions of specialist colleagues. There is a pressure not only to make referrals appropriate but also to summarize the case in the language of the specialist. This book explains basic physiologic and pathophysiologic mechanisms of cardiovascular disease in a straightforward manner, gives guidelines as to when referral is appropriate, and, uniquely, explains what the specialist is likely to do. It is ideal for any hospital doctor, generalist, or even senior medical student who may need a cardiology opinion, or for that ma.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a screening tool called the Listing of Impairments to identify claimants who are so severely impaired that they cannot work at all and thus immediately qualify for benefits. In this report, the IOM makes several recommendations for improving SSA's capacity to determine disability benefits more quickly and efficiently using the Listings.

In recent years our understanding of molecular mechanisms of drug action and interindividual variability in drug response has grown enormously. Meanwhile, the practice of anesthesiology has expanded to the preoperative environment and numerous locations outside the OR. Anesthetic Pharmacology: Basic Principles and Clinical Practice, 2nd edition, is an outstanding therapeutic resource in anesthesia and critical care: Section 1 introduces the principles of drug action, Section 2 presents the molecular, cellular and integrated physiology of the target organ/functional system and Section 3 reviews the pharmacology and toxicology of anesthetic drugs. The new Section 4, Therapeutics of Clinical Practice, provides integrated and comparative pharmacology and the practical application of drugs in daily clinical practice. Edited by three highly acclaimed academic anesthetic pharmacologists, with contributions from an international team of experts, and illustrated in full colour, this is a sophisticated, user-friendly resource for all practitioners providing care in the perioperative period.

Offers a guide for a complete understanding of the disease and conditions most frequently revealed in ECGs recorded in the acute, critical, and emergency care settings Electrocardiogram in Clinical Medicine offers an authoritative guide to ECG interpretation that contains a focus and perspective from each of the three primary areas of medical care: acute care, critical care and emergency care. It can be used as a companion with the book ECGs for the Emergency Physician I & II (by Mattu and Brady) or as a stand-alone text. These three books can be described as a cumulative EGG reference for the medical provider who uses the electrocardiogram on a regular basis. Electrocardiogram in Clinical Medicine includes sections on all primary areas of ECG interpretation and application as well as sections that highlight use, devices and strategies. The medical content covers acute coronary syndromes and all related issues, other diseases of the myocardium, morphologic syndromes, toxicology and paediatrics; dysrhythmias will also be covered in detail. This important resource: • Goes beyond pattern recognition in ECGs to offer a real understanding of the clinical syndromes evidenced in ECGs and implications for treatment • Covers the indications, advantages and pitfalls of the use of ECGs for diagnosis in all acute care settings, from EMS to ED to Critical Care • Examines the ECG in toxic, metabolic and environmental presentations; critical information for acute care clinicians who need to be able to differentiate ODs, poisoning and other environmental causes from MI or other cardiac events • Facilitates clinical decision-making Written for practicing ER, general medicine, family practice, hospitalist and ICU physicians and medical students, Electrocardiogram in Clinical Medicine is an important book for the accurate interpretation of EGG results.

This unique resource provides clear, concise explanations of the conduction patterns that result in the electrophysiologic tracing seen on the electrocardiogram (ECG). It covers basic and advanced dysrhythmia concepts, as well as the nursing implications for each rhythm.