Common Heart Problems

MITRAL VALVE PROLAPSE

Patients with mitral valve prolapse have excess connective tissue that results in increased leaflet area and elongation of the tethers of the mital valve( chordae tendineae). Elongation of the chordae often causes displacement of the leaflets toward the left atrium or "prolapse".

AORTIC STENOSIS

Aortic valve stenosis (AS) is a valvular heart disease caused by the incomplete opening of the aortic valve. The aortic valve controls the direction of blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta. When in good working order, the aortic valve does not impede the flow of blood between these two spaces. Under some circumstances, the aortic valve becomes narrower than normal, impeding the flow of blood.

MITRAL REGURGITATION

Mitral regurgitation (MR), a valvular heart disease also known as mitral insufficiency, is the abnormal leaking of blood through the mitral valve, from the left ventricle into the left atrium of the heart.

MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

A heart attack, known in medicine as an (acute) myocardial infarction (AMI or MI), occurs when the blood supply to part of the heart is interrupted. This is most commonly due to occlusion (blockage) of a coronary artery following the rupture of a vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque, which is an unstable collection of lipids (like cholesterol) and white blood cells (especially macrophages) in the wall of an artery. The resulting ischemia (restriction in blood supply) and oxygen shortage, if left untreated for a sufficient period, can cause damage and/or death (infarction) of heart muscle tissue (myocardium).

HYPERTROPHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM, is a disease of the myocardium (the muscle of the heart) in which a portion of the myocardium is hypertrophied (thickened) without any obvious cause. Though perhaps most famous as a leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young athletes HCM's more important significance is as a cause of sudden unexpected cardiac death in any age group and as a cause of disabling cardiac symptoms.

CARDIOMYOPATHY

Cardiomyopathy, which literally means "heart muscle disease", is the deterioration of the function of the myocardium (i.e., the actual heart muscle) for any reason. People with cardiomyopathy are often at risk of arrhythmia or sudden cardiac death or both.

ATRIAL FIBRILLATION

Atrial fibrillation (AF or afib) is a cardiac arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm) that involves the two upper chambers (atria) of the heart. It can often be identified by taking a pulse and observing that the heart beats don't occur at regular intervals.

AORTIC ANEURYSM

An aortic aneurysm is a general term for any swelling (dilatation or aneurysm) of the aorta, usually representing an underlying weakness in the wall of the aorta at that location. While the stretched vessel may occasionally cause discomfort, a greater concern is the risk of rupture, which causes severe pain; massive internal hemorrhage; and, without prompt treatment, results in a quick death.

TIA

A transient ischemic attack (TIA, often colloquially referred to as "mini stroke") is caused by the temporary disturbance of blood supply to a restricted area of the brain, resulting in brief neurologic dysfunction that usually persists for less than 24 hours.

CAROTID ARTERY OCCLUSION

Carotid stenosis is a narrowing of the lumen of the carotid artery, usually caused by atherosclerosis. The unqualified term "carotid stenosis" in common medical usage refers to the stenosis in the proximal part of the internal carotid artery (at the carotid bulb), as this is the by far the most common site of stenosis within the carotid arteries. Stenosis in other parts of the carotid arteries does occur.

PERIPHERAL ARTERY DISEASE

(PVD), also known as peripheral artery disease (PAD) or peripheral artery occlusive disease (PAOD), is a collator for all diseases caused by the obstruction of large peripheral arteries, which can result from atherosclerosis, inflammatory processes leading to stenosis, an embolism or thrombus formation. It causes either acute or chronic ischemia (lack of blood supply), typically of the legs.