Heart Disease

Coronary artery disease is a heart condition caused by narrow arteries that are unable to provide your heart with oxygen and blood. Your heart's arteries narrow due to a buildup of plaque that...

Poor circulation is usually due to a condition called arteriosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. Poor circulation in itself is not hereditary, but the cause of it, arteriosclerosis disease,...

Coronary artery disease is a medical condition where plaque builds up and stops blood flow in the arteries, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (See References 1). It is...

Approximately 36,000 babies are born each year with congenital heart problems. These are structural problems of the heart that are present at birth and the No. 1 cause of death from birth defects...

Congenital heart disease occurs when the structures of the heart or blood vessels are defective or malformed. This defect happens while a fetus is growing in the uterus, but symptoms may not...

Coronary heart disease is a serious heart condition that occurs due to the buildup of plaque in the arteries. This can cause the arteries to narrow, which reduces blood flow to the heart.

An echocardiogram is an ultrasound test that is used to measure heart function. It is often used to diagnose heart disease, heart valve disease and other heart problems.

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention report as many as five million people in the United States suffer from congestive heart failure in any given year. Conditions like coronary artery...

Third-degree heart block occurs when impulse signals are not transmitted from the atria (upper heart chamber) to the ventricle (lower heart chamber). This is also referred to as a complete...

An arrhythmia is a distinct irregularity of the heartbeat. There are many types, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). Atrial fibrillation, which results in a weakened, quivering...

Heart disease is the leading killer of Americans. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease accounted for just over 27 percent of all deaths in the United States in...

The human heart relies on four valves to function properly. These valves regulate flow of blood to and from ventricles and atria. Unfortunately, problems can arise within these valves. The most...

An enlarged heart, also known as cardiomegaly, refers to a condition where the heart appears bigger than normal on an X-ray or other diagnostic test. An enlarged heart is actually a symptom of...

The abdominal aorta is a large vein that runs directly from the heart down through to the abdomen. Stanford Hospital defines an aneurysm is an abnormal enlargement of a blood vein or vessel. An...

The heart, a fist-sized muscle in the chest, pumps blood through the body to supply it with oxygen and other nutrients. Right side heart blockage indicates occlusion of the right coronary artery,...

A cardiac stent is a method of treatment for stable angina, or a condition where pain is associated with a heart that is pumping harder to keep up with the demands of the body. A stent is a metal...

Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death for men in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it killed 26 percent of all men who died in 2006. It is...

If you want to keep your heart healthy then simply follow these steps to diet for your heart.

Blood pressure can be measured electronically with an electronic blood-pressure machine. In the event that it malfunctions or loses power, a blood-pressure measurement can be taken manually using...

Fish oil supplements are made from tissues of oily fish such as mackerel, tuna, salmon and herring. One of the most important constituents is omega-3 fatty acids. These are beneficial for health...

People have a coronary angiogram performed when they may be experiencing heart problems. Such problems may include unexplained pain in their chest, heart failure or a heart valve problem. The...

The foramen ovale (fo-RA-mun o-valley) is associated with the heart. Occurring as a normal part of our anatomy, it goes to work long before birth to keep blood circulating appropriately. Its job,...

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a disease in which plaque builds up inside the arteries. CAD often takes decades to develop and there may be no signs that you have this condition until you have...

Beta blockers have been touted as one of the most important pharmaceutical contributions to reducing high blood pressure. Blood pressure is expressed with two measurements: the systolic pressure...

Heart palpitations can appear with no warning. One day you may feel your heart flutter, beat too hard or too fast, or maybe you feel it skip a beat. These are heart palpitations, which can lead to...

The metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors in one person that promotes or increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Estimates of the prevalence of metabolic syndrome vary,...

According to the American Heart Association statistics, an estimated 98.6 million Americans have cholesterol levels over 200 mg/dl, the diagnostic threshold for hypercholesterolemia. Cholesterol...

Are you having heart palpitations or what feels like a pounding, fluttering or your heart skipping a beat? Most of the time, these palpitations can be relatively harmless, yet they are very scary...

Toprol (metoprolol) is a prescription medication that is part of the group of medications called beta blockers. Beta blockers function by blocking receptors that bind with epinephrine and...

Coronary artery disease (CAD) occurs when plaque forms within the coronary arteries, decreasing blood flow. This hard material may be caused by chronic health conditions such as high blood...

According to the Cleveland Clinic, congenital heart disease (CHD) can occur during fetal development and affects eight to 10 of every 1,000 babies. About 500,000 U.S. adults live with the...

Patients who suffer from coronary artery disease often have other conditions at the same time. Some comorbidities may exist due to coronary artery disease; others may contribute to the disease.

Heart disease is a category of conditions that involve the heart and circulatory system. Approximately 61 million Americans have some type of heart disease.

Chronic coronary heart disease affects hundreds of thousands of Americans. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Around 630,000 Americans die of the condition each...

There are several different medications that help clogged arteries. Keeping your arteries clear is vital to your health. Clogged arteries can lead to a heart attack or stroke. By changing your...

If you have a history of heart disease or blood pressure problems, you may have a blood pressure monitor in your home. The book "Infection Control in the Home" explains that blood pressure...

The arteries that supply blood to your heart are the coronary arteries. When fatty deposits, called plaque, build up in these arteries, your doctor may diagnose you with coronary artery disease....

High protein diets are being touted at the latest and greatest for weight loss. But not all protein is lean. And excess protein will add pounds just like too many carbohydrates or fat. The...

Abnormal heartbeats, also known as arrhythmias, can be either a simple annoyance or a life threatening emergency. A heart that beats too fast is referred to as a tachycardia and a heart beat that...

Heart disease is a major cause of death among Americans. Heart disease can affect anyone at any age; however, it is most common among obese or diabetic individuals and is the leading cause of...

Heart valve disease is when one or more of the four valves of the heart is not functioning properly. If left untreated, it can progress into congestive heart failure, a condition in which the...

Individuals diagnosed with coronary artery disease must often change their diet, their exercise levels, and living habits. Adjusting to those changes is often difficult for patients, while...

Atherosclerosis is type of arteriosclerosis in which fatty deposits build up along the inner walls of arteries, restricting blood flow to the rest of the body. Fatty buildups, known as plaques,...

Congestive heart failure (CHF) occurs when the heart does not beat adequately to circulate blood throughout the body. This in turn causes excess fluids to build up in the tissues. This buildup of...

Pacemaker defibrillators are small medical devices that are implanted into the chest of a person with a heart condition. When the heart rhythm becomes abnormal, the pacemaker defibrillator "goes...

Peripheral arterial disease, the narrowing or blockage of arteries in extremities like the legs and feet, is often treated by the introduction of stents into the affected artery. These tiny...

Cardiovascular disease, commonly referred to as heart disease, covers a wide range of conditions. According to the Mayo Clinic, "Heart disease is the No. 1 worldwide killer of men and women."

There are a number of types of coronary disease. Keep in mind that coronary arteries supply blood to the heart muscle. Coronary vessel (as in coronary vascular disease) is a more general term that...

The health dangers of smoking cigarettes have been well documented and publicized. There is an alternative cigarette known as a bidi that is touted as a safer product because it is made of natural...

Coronary artery disease is a form of heart disease that can run in families. It is the most common form of heart disease, and the leading cause of death in the United States. While a family...