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.
Healthy Lifestyle Habits — A Patient Partner’s Perspective; Can you really change your lifestyle after years of smoking, physical inactivity, and excess? Donald shares the turning point that, following heart surgery, profoundly changed the way he lived.
Vertigo and dizziness are common symptoms that may be caused by an inner ear disorder, low 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, a heart rhythm disorder, or many other medical conditions. This article explains the main causes, the signs to recognize, and the situations in which the heart may be responsible.
Complete AV block (third degree) is a heart rhythm disorder characterized by a total interruption of electrical conduction between the atriaThe atria are the two upper chambers of the heart. They act as reservoirs for blood that will fill the ventricles. and the ventricles, diagnosed by ECG and usually treated with the implantation of a pacemaker.
Second-degree atrioventricular block (AV block) is a disorder of the heart’s electrical conduction system that has two main forms: type 1 AV block (Mobitz I or Wenckebach) and type 2 AV block (Mobitz II). Learn about their differences, causes, symptoms, and management.
First-degree AV block is not considered a “true blockage,” but rather a slowing of electrical conduction between the atriaThe atria are the two upper chambers of the heart. They act as reservoirs for blood that will fill the ventricles. and the ventricles. It differs from second- or third-degree AV block, where some — or even all — impulses fail to pass through the AV node.
Atrioventricular blocks (AV blocks) are delays or interruptions in the electrical signal traveling between the atriaThe atria are the two upper chambers of the heart. They act as reservoirs for blood that will fill the ventricles. and the ventricles. This pathway, controlled by the AV node — the heart’s “electrical gatekeeper” — can be slowed to varying degrees.
Three degrees of AV block are recognized, ranging from a simple delay to a complete interruption of the signal.
The heart never takes a vacation. Even during the summer, cardiovascular diseases remain a concern. Chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, heart failure, 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, or forgetting to take prescribed medications should never be ignored. Learn the essential precautions to take before and during your vacation, the warning signs that require prompt medical attention, and the healthy habits that can help you travel safely while living with cardiovascular disease.
A chronic total occlusion (CTO) is a coronary arteryThe two coronary arteries, the right and the left, form the blood network that supplies the heart with oxygen and nutrients. They are located directly on the surface of the heart and branch into smaller vessels that that has been completely blocked for several months. Learn about its symptoms, diagnostic tests, risks, and the treatment options available to reopen the artery and improve quality of life.
Pericarditis is an inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart, often caused by a viral infection. It typically causes chest pain and usually resolves without long-term consequences. Fluid may sometimes accumulate around the heart and requires monitoring, but treatment is generally straightforward and recovery is usually complete.
This sage parsnip ravioli is served with a beet and turnip carpaccio enhanced by an orange vinaigrette. A colorful and elegant recipe created by Chef Philippe Laloux.
Most of the treatments used today are the result of clinical research. By participating in a clinical study, patients help advance medical knowledge and improve the care that will be available to future generations.
Palpitations"Palpitation" is a symptom related to an abnormality in heartbeats. There are several types of arrhythmias. This term is like a surname that encompasses several first names., dizziness, atrial fibrillation, Apple Watch, KardiaMobile, Cardiomemo, or extended Holter monitoring: several technologies are now available to monitor the heart’s electrical activity over extended periods. Learn how these different external cardiac monitoring systems work, their advantages, limitations, and their role in diagnosing heart rhythm disorders.
