Monitor Your Heart Health

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The heart is an amazing organ if you really think about it. Day after day - year after year - it keeps beating and, in most cases, the constant refrain of the heart is well balanced and keeps our body supplied with life giving oxygen carried by the blood.

But, in certain cases, the rhythm of the heart or the rate the heart beats can be altered. Sometimes it is a disease state, in other cases a medication and in many cases we are not even sure why it happens, but when the beat of the heart is impacted the result can be all sorts of symptoms including shortness of breath, weakness, or dizziness.

The good news is that there are medications and even interventional procedures that can help but you need to see your physician for an evaluation. It is worth it.