Friday, June 26, 2009

On Coronary Artery Disease and EKG Machines (Part 2): A Cardioline ar2100view 3 Channel EKG Product Review

As for the second part of the On Coronary Artery Disease and EKG Machines article series, we will be discussing here the conditions that can leas to coronary artery disease such as the Pathophysiology and Angina.

So what is Pathophysiology? This is the limitation of blood flow to the heart causes ischaemia (cell starvation secondary to a lack of oxygen) of the myocardial cells. Myocardial cells may die from lack of oxygen and this is called a myocardial infarction (commonly called a heart attack). It leads to heart muscle damage, heart muscle death and later myocardial scarring without heart muscle regrowth. Chronic high-grade stenosis of the coronary arteries can induce transient ischemia which leads to the induction of a ventricular arrhythmia, with may terminate into ventricular fibrillation leading to death.

Myocardial infarction usually results from the sudden occlusion of a coronary artery when a plaque ruptures, activating the clotting system and atheroma-clot interaction fills the lumen of the artery to the point of sudden closure. The narrowing of the lumen of the heart artery before sudden closure is often not severe, according to clinical research completed in the late 1990s and using IVUS examinations within 6 months prior to a heart attack. The events leading up to plaque rupture are not understood despite many theories. Myocardial infarction is almost never caused by temporary spasm of the artery wall occluding the lumen, a condition also associated with atheromatous plaque and CAD.

CAD is associated with smoking, diabetes, and hypertension. A family history of early CAD is one of the less important predictors of CAD. Most of the familial associations of coronary artery disease are related to common dietary habits. Screening for CAD includes evaluating high-density and low-density lipoprotein (cholesterol) levels and triglyceride levels. Despite much press, most of the alternative risk factors including homocysteine, C-reactive protein (CRP), Lipoprotein (a), coronary calcium and more sophisticated lipid analysis have added little if any additional value to the conventional risk factors of smoking, diabetes and hypertension.

And what about Angina? Angina(chest pain) that occurs regularly with activity, after heavy meals, or at other predictable times is termed stable angina and is associated with high grade narrowings of the heart arteries. The symptoms of angina are often treated with betablocker therapy such as metoprolol or atenolol. Nitrate preparations such as nitroglycerin, which come in short-acting and long-acting forms are also effective in relieving symptoms but are not known to reduce the chances of future heart attacks. Many other more effective treatments, especially of the underlying atheromatous disease, have been developed.

Angina that changes in intensity, character or frequency is termed unstable. Unstable angina may precede myocardial infarction, and requires urgent medical attention. It may be treated with oxygen, intravenous nitroglycerin, and aspirin. Interventional procedures such as angioplasty may be done.

Allow me to stop there for a moment to give a review on this yet another superb EKG device from the Cardioline brand: Cardioline ar2100view 3 Channel EKG. Also being listed in the EKGShop.com website, Cardioline ar2100view 3 Channel EKG is regarded as one of the recommended EKG Machines available in the market today as being used by most doctors and medical hospitals or clinics.

Cardioline ar2100view 3 Channel EKG combine multiple levels of performance in a multichannel ECG recording.

This said EKG Machine has up to $30 reimbursement per test. It pays for itself after 90 tests. This ECG Machine has a full Interpretation, Prints full-page size, 8.5" X 11" or 210mm wide, Letter Size, Roll or Z-fold paper and the easy view LCD Flat Screen Display allows the user to preview the ECG for signal quality.

Aside from the abovementioned specs, this EKG also includes these features: the LCD displays following ECG parameters: HR, filters in use, print format, print speed, print sensitivity, display speed, display sensitivity, the dimensions of the viewing screen are 4.75" wide by 3.5" tall, QWERTY full alphanumeric keypad for quick and easy patient data entry, adult & Pediatric ECG interpretation by the HES ECG Analysis Program, multi-channel print formats: 3, 6x1, 6x2, 3x4+Rhythm Lead and 3x4+3 Rhythm Leads and 12 Channel formats, dual power supply - AC and internal rechargeable NIMH battery - battery capacity for 1 hour of continuous printing or 220 ECG recordings, memory of the last ECG recording and printing of additional copies, recording of an ECG in either automatic, manual mode and pre-programmed and compact, lightweight only 13 Lbs.

Moreover, if you buy EKG on the website (www.ekgshop.com), they offer a 2 year manufacturers warranty and a 2 year extended warranty which is available for $ 299 only. Extended warranty plans available including free loaners and our exclusive Rapid Response Service.

For more info regarding this brand, you may visit the link below:

http://www.ekgshop.com/Product/ar2100view-3-Channel-EKG.html

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