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.
Chef Philippe Laloux delights us once again with a simple, comforting treat, perfect for after-dinner bites or sweet-tooth moments: a crisp tartlet filled with tender apples and a smooth brown sugar custard. Easy to make, these mini tartlets are the perfect way to bring a touch of sweetness to your heart… and to your guests!
Stress is one of the heart’s greatest enemies. While a balanced diet and regular physical activity are essential for good cardiovascular health, learning to better manage daily stress is just as important.
Among the most promising approaches, mindfulness meditation stands out for its positive effects on the nervous system, 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, and overall well-being.
Chef Philippe Laloux presents a bite that is as simple as it is refined: Ginger-Marinated Tuna, a creation aptly named “Better than Tartare for this King of the Sea.” A single bite bursting with freshness, fragrance, and crunch.
While working at Roper Hospital in Charleston, Dr. Smithy developed a particular interest in aortic stenosis—a disease affecting the valve at the heart’s exit. His interest, however, was not purely academic: he himself suffered from severe narrowing of both the aortic and mitral valves.
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 bypass surgery aims to reroute 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 around blocked heart arteries caused by atherosclerotic plaques—fatty deposits that slow down or block 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 flow.
Much like a road bridge that allows vehicles to cross a river or obstacle, this procedure creates new pathways so that oxygen-rich 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 can continue to nourish the heart muscle, despite existing blockages.
As the name suggests, cardiac syncope is caused by a problem within the heart. This type of syncope requires special attention because it may indicate a more serious heart condition.
In the vast majority of cases, it is related to an abnormal heart rhythm.
This type of syncope occurs when there is a drop in 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 upon moving from a lying or sitting position to a standing one.
The underlying mechanism is related to the effect of gravity, which causes temporary pooling of 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 in the veins of the legs. This reduces the amount of 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 returning to the heart and consequently lowers 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.
Syncope related to carotid sinus syndrome is a type of reflex syncope, meaning a brief loss of consciousness caused by an overreaction of the nervous system.
Considered by some as a pioneer of cardiac surgery and by others as the father of open-heart surgery, Dr. Bailey had a remarkable career.
Situational syncope is part of the reflex syncope family, just like vasovagal syncope. It is triggered by a specific situation that causes an exaggerated reaction of the nervous system, leading to a drop in 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.
It can occur, for example, during a coughing fit, a forceful sneeze, or after urination.
Elle peut survenir, par exemple, lors d’une quinte de toux, d’un éternuement violent ou après avoir uriné.
Vasovagal syncope belongs to the family of reflex syncopes and is by far the most common type. It is estimated that one in four people will experience at least one episode of vasovagal syncope in their lifetime.
In most cases, it is triggered by prolonged standing, particularly in a warm environment, intense emotional stress, or sudden pain.
Syncope is a temporary loss of consciousness caused by a decrease in 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 flow to the brain. It can have multiple causes, which vary depending on the individual and the circumstances.
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.
