Many different disease processes can cause a heart condition. Inherited abnormalities and errors in the development of the heart while in the womb can lead to malfunctions and malformations of the heart. High blood pressure, elevated blood...
An occasional mixed drink or beer may be tempting, especially during reduced-priced happy hours at the local upscale bar. However, excessive alcohol use can transform into a disease when drinking is done in secret and causes such symptoms as...
Heart failure is a serious condition that develops over time and affects approximately 5 million Americans and results in about 300,000 deaths each year, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. In heart failure, the heart's...
Heart surgery -- once considered a rare and dangerous procedure -- now occurs thousands of times each day in the United States. People have heart surgery for a variety of reasons, including blocked coronary arteries or the need for a new heart...
The cardiovascular system consists of the blood that supplies oxygen and nutrients throughout the body, the blood vessels that allow blood to travel and the heart that pumps the blood. Conditions that inhibit the flow of blood into and out of the...
The treatments for acute decompensated heart failure include restoring circulation, strengthening the failing pump, relieving symptoms and stabilizing the patient until long-term treatment options can be identified and established. Patients with...
Cardiomegaly is an enlarged heart and a symptom of cardiomyopathy, or disease of the heart. Cardiomegaly occurs from multiple causes, and poorly controlled high blood pressure is a common factor. The American Heart Association explains there are...
Orthopnea refers to a symptom in which shortness of breath occurs while lying down. This can cause people to awake in the middle of the night in order to catch their breath. Sometimes, orthopnea is a sign of an underlying medical problem. There...
Congestive heart failure is an acute condition wherein the heart cannot supply the organs of the body with sufficient amounts of blood. According to the American Heart Association, it can be brought on by narrowed arteries, scar tissue that...
