Heart disease

The aorta is the main artery carrying blood out of the heart. When blood leaves the heart, it flows through the aortic valve, into the aorta. In aortic stenosis, the aortic valve does not open fully. This decreases blood flow from the heart.

Aortic insufficiency is a heart valve disease in which the aortic valve weakens or balloons, preventing the valve from closing tightly. This leads to the backward flow of blood from the aorta (the largest blood vessel) into the left ventricle (the left lower chamber of the heart).

Chest pain is discomfort or pain that you feel anywhere along the front of your body between your neck and upper abdomen.

Endocarditis is inflammation of the inside lining of the heart chambers and heart valves (endocardium). See also:

Cardiogenic shock is a state in which the heart has been damaged so much that it is unable to supply enough blood to the organs of the body.

Dilated cardiomyopathy is a condition in which the heart becomes weakened and enlarged, and it cannot pump blood efficiently. The decreased heart function can affect the lungs, liver, and other body systems. There are several different types of . Dilated cardiomyopathy is the most common form. ...

Mitral stenosis is a heart valve disorder that involves the mitral valve. This valve separates the upper and lower chambers on the left side of the heart. Stenosis refers to a condition in which the valve does not open fully, restricting blood flow.

Acute mitral regurgitation is a disorder in which the heart’s mitral valve suddenly does not close properly, causing blood to flow backward (leak) into the upper heart chamber when the left lower heart chamber contracts. See also:

Stable angina is or discomfort that typically occurs with activity or stress. Angina is a type of chest discomfort caused by poor blood flow through the blood vessels (coronary vessels) of the heart muscle (myocardium). See also:

A pulmonary embolus is a blockage of an artery in the lungs by fat, air, a blood clot, or tumor cells.

Neurogenic bladder is a urinary problem in which the bladder does not empty properly due to a neurological condition. See also:

VIPoma is a very rare type of cancer that usually grows from cells in the pancreas called islet cells.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a rare disorder in which a weakened heart is diagnosed within the final month of pregnancy or within 5 months after delivery.

Human bites are usually caused by one person biting another, although they may result from a situation in which one person comes into contact with another person’s teeth. In a fight, for example, one person’s knuckles may come into contact with another person’s teeth, and if the ...

A heart attack is when blood vessels that supply blood to the heart are blocked, preventing enough oxygen from getting to the heart. The heart muscle dies or becomes permanently damaged. Your doctor calls this a myocardial infarction.

Ischemic cardiomyopathy is a term that doctors use to describe patients who have reduced heart pumping (squeezing) due to coronary artery disease. These patients often have congestive heart failure. “Ischemic” means that an organ (such as the heart) is not getting enough blood and ...

Multiple sclerosis is an that affects the brain and spinal cord ().

Pulmonary valve stenosis is a heart valve disorder that involves the pulmonary valve. This valve separates the right ventricle (one of the chambers in the heart) and the pulmonary artery. The pulmonary artery carries oxygen-poor blood to the lungs. Stenosis occurs when the valve cannot open wide ...

Mitral valve prolapse is a heart problem in which the valve that separates the upper and lower chambers of the left side of the heart does not close properly.

Spinal cord trauma is damage to the spinal cord. It may result from direct injury to the cord itself or indirectly from damage to surrounding bones, tissues, or blood vessels.

Cor pulmonale is failure of the right side of the heart brought on by long-term in the pulmonary arteries and right ventricle of the heart.

An arrhythmia is a disorder of the (pulse) or heart rhythm, such as beating too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or irregularly.

A skin graft is a patch of skin that is removed by surgery from one area of the body and transplanted, or attached, to another area.

Bowel incontinence is the loss of bowel control, leading to an involuntary passage of stool. This can range from occasionally leaking a small amount of stool and passing gas, to completely losing control of bowel movements. , a separate topic, is the inability to control the passage of urine.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a condition in which the heart muscle becomes thick. The thickening makes it harder for blood to leave the heart, forcing the heart to work harder to pump blood.

Congenital heart disease refers to a problem with the heart’s structure and function due to abnormal heart development before birth. Congenital means present at birth.

Heart failure, also called congestive heart failure, is a condition in which the heart can no longer pump enough blood to the rest of the body.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a narrowing of the small blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. CHD is also called coronary artery disease. See also:

A is a medical emergency. The average person waits 3 hours before seeking help for symptoms of a heart attack. Many heart attack victims die before they reach a hospital. The sooner someone gets to the emergency room, the better the chance of survival. Prompt medical treatment also reduces the ...

Tricuspid regurgitation is a disorder in which the heart’s tricuspid valve does not close properly, causing blood to flow backward (leak) into the right upper heart chamber (atrium) when the right lower heart chamber (ventricle) contracts.

Ablate means “to destroy.” Cardiac ablation is a procedure that is used to destroy small areas in your heart that may be causing your . During the procedure, small wires called electrodes are placed inside your heart to measure your heart’s electrical activity. These electrodes ...

A stroke is an interruption of the blood supply to any part of the brain. Stroke is the leading cause of disability among adults in the United States. It is the country’s third leading cause of death. This article discusses recovery from stroke. How well a person does after a stroke depends ...

A pacemaker is a small, battery-operated device that senses when your heart is beating . It sends a signal to your heart that makes your heart beat at the correct pace.