In 1875, blood clots in the heart were found to cause strokes. It was established that blood clots were not only capable of developing in arteries and veins, but inside the heart as well. A blood clot in the heart--also referred to as cardiogenic...
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a broad term that embodies numerous heart defects that generally appear at birth. On average, over 35,000 newborns are afflicted with CHD every year, making it the most common birth defect. Congenital heart...
To identify pericarditis means understanding what the pericardium is and how it works. The pericardium is a two-layer sac or membrane that covers the heart and holds it in place, helping it to work properly. The sac consists of an inner layer and...
Congestive heart failure (CHF), which is sometimes shortened to the term heart failure, is a condition that affects 5 million Americans, at a rate of around 550,000 new cases each year, reports Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute. Contrary to popular...
An inadequate blood and oxygen supply to the heart causes cardiac muscle to die off and form areas of necrotic (ischemic) tissue. Whether large or small, the areas of ischemia compromise cardiac function and reduce systemic perfusion. Over time,...
Cardiac output refers to how much blood is pumped out of the heart per minute. It is measured as the stroke volume, which is how much blood is ejected from the heart with each beat, times the heart rate, which is how many times the heart beats in...
Heart disease, also called cardiovascular disease, is a general term used to describe any disease that affects the heart and surrounding blood vessels. The most common forms of heart disease include coronary artery disease, arrhythmias and...
Heart disease and its complications are the leading cause of death in the United States, according to 2009 information from MayoClinic.com. The heart is solely responsible for pumping blood to the entire body, from the feet and hands to the brain....
Strokes are a condition during which the supply of blood to a portion of the brain is cut off. As a result of the decrease of blood supply, the affected portion of the brain begins to die. The severity of the stroke varies with the location and...
Magnetic resonance imaging is commonly referred to by the abbreviation MRI. An MRI scan is a noninvasive medical procedure used to detect a wide range of diseases and conditions. The MRI machine uses a magnetic field and radio signals to create...
Some people experience chest pain and a racing heart after exercise. These two symptoms can indicate a variety of diseases and conditions, some potentially life-threatening. If you experience chest pain or a racing heart after you exercise, make...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States, kills more Americans every year than all cancers combined. Heart disease is a blanket term that describes many...
Your risk of heart disease or a heart attack increases if you have a parent or sibling who has had a heart attack or stroke. Research seems to show the risk is mainly seen when a male relative has had a heart attack before the age of 45 (or 55 if...
