The heart is made up of four chambers: the right and left atria and the right and left ventricles. Blood enters the heart in the right atrium and travels to the right ventricle, then to the lungs (via the pulmonary artery). Blood re-enters the...
Nocturnal reflux is a type of acid reflux disease that occurs during the night. In the December 2005 issue of "Practical Gastroenterology," Philip O. Katz points out that often nocturnal reflux is asymptomatic, but the damage still exists inside...
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the American Heart Association. In healthy people, the four heart valves--consisting of the tricuspid, pulmonary, mitral and aortic valves--regulate blood flow through...
Your heart consists of four chambers. Two upper atrium and two lower ventricles. Blood returning to the heart after delivering oxygen to the body enters the right atrium. It is then pushed through the left ventricle and into the lungs to be...
The human heart consists of four chambers; the right and left atria---the upper chambers---that receive blood and the right and left ventricles---the lower chambers---that pump blood. Heart valves reside between the atria and the ventricles, as...
The Food and Drug Administration regulates diet supplements. The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 helps protect consumer safety. Manufacturers have to ensure that the product label is not misleading and truthful. Claims, package...
Learning you have heart disease can be devastating, and the road to recovery can seem endless. If you have not been an ardent exerciser in the past, your doctor's admonition to begin an exercise program may seem like one more thing you're not...
Each of the heart’s four valves--aortic, pulmonary, mitral and tricuspid--is susceptible to developing problems. Sometimes, the pathway through the valve may narrow, resulting in a condition called stenosis. Alternatively, the valve may fail...
Painless swelling of the foot may occur due to many reasons, according to MedlinePlus. The natural effect of gravity upon the body can result in painless feet swelling. This occurs when fluids shift from within the blood vessels of the lower...
A leaky valve in the heart, called valvular insufficiency or regurgitation, occurs when one of the valves becomes weak. This allows blood to flow backward instead of forward. According to Jeffrey R. Bender, M.D., congestive heart failure is a...
Kawasaki disease is a disease of unknown cause. It commonly affects children under the age of five and is the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children. Boys and children of Asian descent are more likely to get Kawasaki disease. The...
Disorders related to abnormal heart valve functions fall into two main groups. The first group includes disorders that cause narrowing of the valve, during which the process of opening and closing fail, and obstruct the forward flow of blood...
The heart’s valves help direct blood flow into and out of the heart in one direction. When functioning properly, these valves open and close shut completely. However, malfunction resulting from birth defects, infection and age-related...
Heart disease is a broad term used to describe the various types of diseases affecting the heart and its blood vessels. The effects of heart disease can be serious, resulting in reduction of blood flow to the heart, heart valve defects and...
Many people get that burning pain in the center of their chest. Oodles of over-the-counter remedies verify that occasional heartburn is part of the human condition. But a vast difference exists between occasional heartburn brought on by a person...
Specifically, mitral valve disease indicates either mitral stenosis or mitral regurgitation. Mitral stenosis has been linked to rheumatic fever or any complication causing inflammation of the heart, such as streptococci infection, states Leonard...
The simplest, most accessible method to notice the movement of blood through the heart is using your ears. Physicians use a stethoscope to amplify the "lub-dub" sounds of heart valves, which open and close to facilitate blood flow in the correct...
Pulse strength is a direct indicator of how efficiently your heart is able to work. Pulse types are usually classified by their strength and pattern. A specific pattern of strong or weak pulses can aid in diagnosis of heart and arterial problems,...
The heart valve stent is a prosthetic heart implant that is used to support and preserve the heart valve in its natural shape and function. The heart valve stent may be made from metal or polypropylene, a bioprosthetic material that mimics those...
There are many types of heart disease, all of which have some effect on the heart. Different diseases will cause different effects but at the same time, one effect can be due to more than one disease. More than one disease can interfere with the...
Acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is a condition that occurs in patients with a weakened lower esophageal sphincter. The lower esophageal sphincter is responsible for preventing stomach acid and other fluids from...
Blood pressure is measured as two numbers: the systolic pressure over the diastolic pressure. Systolic pressure is the pressure achieved when the heart is contracting, and diastolic pressure is measured when the heart is relaxing. Changes in blood...
Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a very common condition. In the past, many patients (especially women) were told they had MVP if they had palpitations of any form of anxiety. In fact, many people who had echocardiograms done for palpitations or...
Your heart has valves that are designed to keep your blood flowing in the right direction. If these valves become damaged, your heart will be less efficient at pumping blood. Age, lifestyle choices and disease can all do damage to your heart...
The World Health Organization estimates that at least 15.6 million people have rheumatic heart disease. Rheumatic heart disease is caused by rheumatic fever and the associated inflammation of the heart. Andrew G. Moore M.D., co-author of "Mayo...
Fatigue is a common symptom in many illnesses and daily routines. It becomes a concern when it is not relieved by rest, good nutrition and a reduction in the stress level. A sudden onset of extreme fatigue from an unknown cause indicates the need...
Numerous herbs may be effective for heart failure. According to the Texas Heart Institute, congestive heart failure, or heart failure, is a condition in which your heart is not pumping as well as it should. If you have heart failure, your heart is...
The circulatory system, composed most notably of the heart and blood vessels, is responsible for sending oxygenated and nutrient-rich blood to body cells. Because the system is largely mechanical in nature—the heart acts like a pump, and the...
Carcinoid tumors are slow-growing tumors usually found in the intestine or an airway of the lung. They are abnormal growths of nerve and hormone-producing tissues and can be cancerous. These tumors produce chemicals such as serotonin that are...
Tricuspid regurgitation is a heart condition wherein the tricuspid valve fails in systole. Learn about the different causes, symptoms, and treatments for Tricuspid Regurgitation in this video.
