February is American Heart Month | 5 Ways to Observe

cardiogram Healthy Habits, Heart Health

February is typically known for Valentine’s Day, the day of love. However, there’s another heart-centric cause that coincides with this holiday: American Heart Month.  American Heart Month is a time to spread awareness of cardiovascular health. It’s also especially a time to focus on making improvements towards positive heart health outcomes, and to become proactive in the prevention and management …

Types of Arrhythmias

What Are the Different Types of Arrhythmias?

cardiogram Arrhythmia, Atrial Fibrillation, Heart Health, Supraventricular Tachycardia

A cardiac arrhythmia affects the heart’s physiological rhythm. This is basically a disease that alters the electricity of your heart.  As a result, your heart can beat too fast, too slow, or too early. In some cases, it contracts erratically, which is referred to as fibrillation. According to research, up to 5% of the population may have some type of …

Obesity and Heart Disease

cardiogram Heart Health

Obesity has become a real public health issue over the past few decades. The rates of obesity, particularly in modern countries are staggering. In fact, over 40% of all U.S. adults are obese. And, sadly, the negative ripple effects obesity can have on our health and hearts is wide ranging. However, obesity can be prevented and reversed. Let’s look at exactly …

How Does Smoking Tobacco Negatively Impacts Heart Health?

cardiogram Cigarette Use, Heart Health

There’s an abundance of scientific research that links smoking tobacco to cardiovascular disease.1 This is because the toxic substances found in tobacco products will gradually wreak havoc on your heart and vessels.  However, it is not all doom and gloom! By quitting smoking (and it’s never too late) there’s a good chance that over time, your risk of heart disease …

Happy New Year, Cardiogram Fam!

cardiogram Cardiogram

Dear Cardiogram Fam,  Just like that, our year comes to an end.  For some of us, this year was one full of growth and joy. For others, it was one full of obstacles and heartache.  For all of us, it was a temporary part of the journey.   With the new year approaching, we all share the same goal of becoming …

SVT and Me (Part 3)

Shay Guest Blogger, Heart Health, Supraventricular Tachycardia, Uncategorized

SPECIAL GUEST BLOGGERHi, Cardiogram Fam! In Part 3/3 of her SVT and Me series, Shaquana Graves (also known as Shay), a fellow Cardiogram member and cardiovascular technologist, details her experience with cardiac ablation. Once Cardiogram helped to validate my condition and concerns (all of which I share in Part 2), I was finally able to be truly heard by my medical …

SVT and Me (Part 2): How Cardiogram Allowed My Condition to Be Taken Seriously

Shay Guest Blogger, Medical Conditions, Supraventricular Tachycardia

SPECIAL GUEST BLOGGERHi, Cardiogram Fam! We’d like to introduce a special guest blogger, Shaquana Graves (also known as Shay), a fellow Cardiogram member and cardiovascular technologist, as she shares Part 2 of her journey with SVT.Rewind from where we left off in Part 1… I was at work, doing my typical duties (assessing and treating patients, completing diagnostic testing, etc.) …

SVT ECG read out, text on graphic: Shay's Story What It's Like to Experience Supraventricular Tachycardia?

SVT and Me (Part 1): What it’s like to experience supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)

Shay Medical Conditions, Supraventricular Tachycardia

SPECIAL GUEST BLOGGERHi, Cardiogram Fam! We’d like to introduce a special guest blogger, Shaquana Graves (also known as Shay), a fellow Cardiogram member and cardiovascular technologist, as she shares Part 1 of her journey with SVT.Supraventricular tachycardia (or SVT) is intermittent, unprovoked rapid heart rate that occurs when there is a disruption of the heart’s electrical system. This disruption causes …

artist rendering of inside of a blood with fat cells floating

What is the Relationship Between Dyslipidemia and Coronary Artery Disease?

cardiogram Coronary Artery Disease, Dyslipidemia

Over the years, high cholesterol levels have become a source of public fear due to mainstream media narratives. However, there’s more to the story.  Doctors refer to an abnormal lipid panel as dyslipidemia. This is a disease that involves abnormal cholesterol levels and can . Diagnosis usually involves a simple blood draw and there are treatment and preventative protocols that …