Welcome to the Icardio.ca website, a source of information and popularization dedicated to cardiology.
Please note that this site is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for medical consultation with a healthcare professional.
Icardio.ca is intended to be a support tool for the patient, an extension of the medical consultation. Written in simple, easy-to-understand language, it provides a better comprehension of the structure and functioning of the heart. This is the basis for understanding cardiovascular disease, the diagnostic approach, and the challenges of therapies.
It is also an educational reference for students in the health field and is suitable as well for anyone who wants to know more about cardiology.
Similarly, Icardio.ca is proving to be a very useful reference tool for doctors concerned about their patients’ understanding.
At Icardio.ca, we know that patients can sometimes feel concerned when they see a health professional. Time is often limited, questions are numerous, and understanding the state of one’s heart condition can be complex.
We aim to fill these gaps by providing in-depth general information, which can also be used as a complement to a medical consultation.
Likewise, we aim to be a valuable and appreciated resource for doctors, supporting them in the explanations they provide to their patients, and helping them to gain a clear and precise understanding of their heart problem and its treatment.
Cardiology is a medical specialty that evolves constantly. Technological advances, cutting-edge diagnostic methods, and innovative treatments are improving the quality of life of patients with heart conditions and, in some cases, prolonging their lives.
New treatment options, including the use of hemodynamic catheters, offer a variety of solutions to traditional cardiac surgery in special cases.
Icardio.ca is committed to reporting on the latest advances in cardiology and helping to better understand treatment options for optimal heart health.
The way care is provided has changed significantly over the past few decades. We have moved from paternalism, where the doctor was the only one with the absolute science, to a patient-centered approach to care.
That concept was not ideal as it left the patient with several concerns. The patient’s care should have been more personalized.
Adding the patient-experience approach to the team of caregivers enables the patient to fully understand what is happening. He can then interact with the medical team and actively participate in his treatment plan.
All too often, the reality of the patient’s life is overlooked. Who can best answer questions about his day-to-day way of life? Or, who can fully imagine the confusion and anxiety that a person went through before arriving at the discomfort he feels today?
The patient-partner approach is this new concept of care in which the patient is as much a part of the team as any other healthcare provider, including a peer who previously benefitted from this innovative patient-partner initiative.
After a catheter-based procedure (PCI, stent, TAVI, PFO closure…), it is normal to have questions and sometimes worry. Here you will find simple, practical guidance to take care of yourself at home, follow your medications, and gradually return to your activities with confidence.
TAVI represents a major advancement in cardiology. It offers a second life to many patients whose hearts were exhausted by a rigid and stenosed valve. Less effort for the heart, lower risks for the patient, and often… a pleasant surprise in the following days: breathing returns.
History of John Gibbon, pioneer of extracorporeal circulation and inventor of the heart-lung machine, a decisive breakthrough in modern cardiac surgery.
Inappropriate sinus tachycardia (IST) affects about 1% of the population. It is not strictly considered an arrhythmia, but rather a condition where the heart beats faster than expected, even at rest, and accelerates excessively with minimal effort.
Doping-related cardiomyopathy, unlike the healthy athlete’s heart, causes often irreversible damage that can lead to heart failure, pulmonary congestion, and even sudden death.
The athlete’s heart is a normal adaptation of the heart to intense effort, distinct from pathological cardiomyopathies. Its characteristics vary depending on the type of sport and sex.
Cardiovascular training, whether continuous or interval (HIIT), improves heart health, reduces the risk of cardiac recurrence, and is a cornerstone of cardiovascular prevention. Moving regularly, even a little, extends life expectancy and enhances quality of life.
Testimony of a Patient Who Underwent Coronary Bypass Surgery: From the Diagnosis to Recovery and a Return to Normal Life
History of Dr. Walt Lillehei, pioneer of open-heart surgery through cross circulation, a major milestone in the evolution of modern cardiac surgery.
Chef Laloux offers us an original eggplant with coffee recipe, blending the sweetness of eggplant with the bold aroma of coffee, paired with Mediterranean yogurt and a hint of cinnamon.
Environmental cardiology studies how pollution, industrialized food, urban heat, and the loss of green spaces directly influence the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular diseases. Protecting the air, water, and vegetation becomes a preventive measure as essential as quitting smoking or combating physical inactivity.
Nitrates, such as nitroglycerin and isosorbide mononitrate, are used to treat or prevent angina and high bloodBlood is composed of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. Red blood cells are responsible for transporting oxygen and carbon dioxide. White blood cells make up our immune defense system. Platelets contribute to blood pressure. Learn how to take them, their possible side effects, safety precautions, and the important warning about combining them with erectile dysfunction treatments.
This site is intended to provide information and make cardiology comprehensible for all patients; it is not a substitute for a doctor. It does, however, enable a better understanding of how the heart works, the many heart diseases that exist, the tests required to reach a diagnosis, and the drugs and other methods used to treat them.
Where the masculine is used herein, it shall be all-gender inclusive.
