The valves in the heart are located between the four chambers and keep the blood flowing in the right direction. These valves can be damaged from heart disease, congenital defect, injury or from infection. These types of damage can lead to...
Leaking valves of the heart are referred to as having insufficiency or regurgitation. The most common valves to be affected are the aortic and mitral valves. Leaking valves are caused by several conditions, including myxomatous degeneration,...
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...
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...
Heart failure means that the heart no longer works at optimal efficiency to pump blood to the rest of the body. According to the MayoClinic.com, some of the underlying causes include a heart attack, leaking heart valves, congenital abnormalities,...
Food allergies are abnormal immune system reactions triggered by certain foods or substances in food. These allergies differ from conditions called food intolerances, which don’t involve immune system responses. In some cases, people with...
Normal heart function is regulated by electrical flow throughout heart tissue, which maintains a regular beat and rhythm. Sometimes, disruptions in the normal flow of electricity can cause disturbances in heart beat and/or rhythm. In...
Atrial fibrillation is a type of heart arrhythmia that causes a fast and irregular pulse. This disorder occurs when the top heart chambers, or atria, pulse in a chaotic way due to abnormal functioning of the heart's electrical system. Atrial...
If you've been diagnosed with a heart murmur, your doctor has likely advised you on whether your murmur is benign, or whether it's the sign of an underlying condition, and she has likely advised you on what types of activities are safe to engage...
The human heart consists of four chambers: the two upper chambers known as the right and left atria, and the two lower chambers known as the left and right ventricle. Blood flows from one chamber to another through heart valves, which open and...
Rheumatic heart disease is a condition of the heart caused by damage from rheumatic fever. A strep throat infection can progress to rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever affects many of the body's connective tissues, especially in the heart, brain,...
Varicose veins are enlarged veins caused by blood pooling in the lower extremities, according to MayoClinic.com. They're caused by long hours of standing or walking, making it more difficult for blood to pump upward against gravity. Small valves...
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...
Your heart relies on four valves to ensure that blood can move through your heart without leaking backward. If you experience weakness or damage to one of your heart valves, your physician may recommend heart valve replacement to restore your...
As you reach the end of your pregnancy, you might start to focus on preparing for labor. Walking, on a treadmill or around your neighborhood, is a popular recommendation for starting labor. In women with a normal pregnancy and no history of...
A stroke is any interruption to the flow of blood in the brain. This happens either because the blood flow has been blocked, or a hemorrhage has occurred and blood is leaking. According to the American Heart Association, 700,000 people suffer a...
When trying to lose weight quickly diet pills may seem like a good option. Some weight loss medications prescribed by physicians that are generally considered safe, but there are also many prescription and over the counter pills that may cause...
Heart conditions affect children, adolescents, young adults and seniors. Congenital heart defects may show up at birth, or they may manifest later in life. Heart disease is any condition that affects the normal function of the heart's rhythm and...
Interleukin 2 or IL-2 is a synthetic form of a protein in the body that is part of our immune system. It is used as therapy for patients with melanoma skin cancer and kidney cancer. IL-2 is also used to treat HIV patients to help boost the immune...
According to the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, aortic replacement is a surgery that is performed to treat the narrowing or leakage of the aortic valve. The aortic valve is a valve that opens up to let blood flow out of the left ventricle without...
Pulse pressure is a measurement relative to blood pressure and can be used by your doctor as a tool to help diagnose certain conditions. Both a high pulse pressure and a low pulse pressure are strong indications of heart trouble, Dr. Sheldon Sheps...
Pregnancy is not only exciting, but it can also often become overwhelming. Although it may seem like information-overload at times, taking the time to learn about what to do and what to avoid will help pregnant women ensure that their baby...
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...
The coronary arteries are blood vessels that supply blood to the heart itself, and coronary artery disease or a heart attack can block the natural flow of blood to the heart. A coronary artery bypass graft, also called a CABG or heart bypass...
For pregnant women, regular exercise can improve your health, give you more energy, control and manage your weight, improve your posture, increase your strength and endurance and help prepare you for labor. If you are pregnant, take precautionary...
Cardiac catheterization is a medical procedure that involves passing a thin, flexible tube, called a catheter, into the heart. The catheter is inserted into a vein in the arm, neck or groin and then threaded into the heart. The procedure is used...
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...
Continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, is a technique that uses mildly increased air pressure to combat the effects of sleep apnea and other respiratory disorders. Users of CPAP machines sometimes experience dry mouth as a side effect of...
Creatinine is a product of creatine, which is found in muscles. Therefore, creatinine basically reflects how much muscle mass you have. Males typically have higher creatinine levels than females, and creatinine levels in adults are fairly...
Cardiogenic shock is the result of inadequate circulation of blood due to ventricle failure; learn about cardiogenic shock in this heart healthy video.
