Genetics of the APOL1 Marker in Sudden Cardiac Death What is sudden cardiac death (SCD)? SCD can happen when you don’t get immediate help for a cardiac arrest. Your heart stops beating because of an electrical issue, and you lose consciousness. Without CPR and other first aid, death can Read more…
Genetics of Coronary Heart Disease What is coronary heart disease? Coronary heart disease is a type of disease that affects your heart. It happens when your blood vessels that bring blood to your heart become narrow or blocked. This can cause chest pain or even a heart attack. It’s Read more…
Genetics of Cardiometabolic Conditions What is Cardiometabolic? Cardiometabolic (CM) is a term that refers to the study of how the heart (cardio) and the process of how the body uses food for energy (metabolics) are related. CM conditions can be a cluster of disorders such as having diabetes and liver Read more…
What is Hypertension? Hypertension, also called high blood pressure, happens when blood pushes too hard against the walls of blood vessels. This puts extra stress on organs like the heart and kidneys. Things like unhealthy eating, not exercising enough, and being overweight can cause high blood pressure. However, changing one’s Read more…
Genetics of Hypertension and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Adolescents What is Hypertension? Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a serious health condition that affects many people, including children. When a child has hypertension, it means that their blood is pushing against the walls of their blood vessels too Read more…
Sudden cardiac death, or SCD, is a big health problem. In SCD, your heart stops beating. And you stop breathing. Something messes up or stops the signals that tell your heart to beat. It is different from a heart attack. In a heart attack, part of your heart does not Read more…
Hypertension means high blood pressure. It is when pressure in your arteries stays higher than it should. Arteries carry blood to your body. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a type of high blood pressure. It affects the arteries in your lungs. And the right side of your heart. The right Read more…
Our hearts have 4 sections. The top 2 get blood. The bottom 2 push blood out. The right side deals with blood that needs oxygen. The left side with blood that has oxygen. Electrical pulses control the timing of all this. They control the rhythm of our heart. And how Read more…
Our hearts have 4 sections, or chambers. The top two take in blood. The bottom two pump blood out. Blood goes through valves as it goes in and out of each chamber. The valves make sure blood only flows one way. The bottom left chamber pumps blood to your body. Read more…
Triglycerides, or TGs, are a type of fat. They are in the foods we eat. Like butter and oils. And anything made with these. Like cakes, cookies, or fried foods. Meat and dairy also have TGs. We also make TGs if we eat more than we need. Our liver changes Read more…