Cardiology - Heart Conditions
Arrhythmias
An abnormal heart rhythm, or an arrhythmia, is a change in either the speed or pattern of the heartbeat. During an arrhythmia, the heart may beat too rapidly, too slowly, or irregularly.
An arrhythmia may be experienced as a skipping or fluttering sensation in the chest (palpitations). It may also cause light-headedness, fainting spells, chest pain, or shortness of breath.
Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial Fibrillation is an abnormal heart rhythm that involves the upper chambers of the heart (atria). Atrial fibrillation causes irregular and usually rapid beating of the heart.
The abnormal heart rhythm may lead to a decrease in the amount of blood delivered to the brain and other organs. In turn, this may cause symptoms of fatigue, dizziness, and shortness of breath.
Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy is a serious disease in which the heart muscle becomes inflamed and doesn’t work as well as it should.
Dilated Cardiomyopathy: The heart cavity is enlarged and stretched (cardiac dilation). The heart is weak and doesn’t pump normally, and most patients develop congestive heart failure. Abnormal heart rhythms may also occur.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: In this condition, the muscle of the left ventricle enlarges. In one form of the disease, the wall between the two ventricles becomes enlarged and obstructs the blood flow from the left ventricle. In the other form of the disease, the enlarged muscle doesn’t obstruct blood flow.
Restrictive Cardiomyopathy: The heart muscle of the ventricles becomes excessively rigid, so it’s harder for the ventricles to fill with blood between heartbeats.
Claudication
Intermittent claudication - A severe pain in the calf muscles that occurs during walking but subsides with rest.
Coronary Artery Disease
The term “coronary artery disease” refers to any abnormal condition of the coronary arteries that interferes with the delivery of an adequate supply of blood to the heart muscle. More than 95% of all coronary artery disease is due to a build-up of fat, cholesterol and calcium.
When the heart muscle does not get enough oxygenated blood to meet its demands, it experiences a hunger for more oxygen. This hunger is felt by the patient as a painful tightening, pressure, or fullness in the chest which we term “angina pectoris”. The total occlusion of a coronary artery leads to a heart attack (myocardial infarction).
Heart Failure
The term “heart failure” means that the heart is not pumping as well as it should. Usually the heart has been weakened over time by an underlying problem, such as clogged arteries, high blood pressure, a defect in its muscular walls or valves, or some other medical condition.
Hypertension
Blood pressure is the force in the arteries when the heart beats (systolic pressure) and when the heart is at rest (diastolic pressure). It’s measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). Hypertension in an adult is defined as a blood pressure greater than or equal to 140 mmHg systolic pressure or greater than or equal to 90 mmHg diastolic pressure.
Mitral Valve Prolapse
In mitral valve prolapse, one or both valve flaps are enlarged and some of their supporting strings are too long. As a result, when the heart contracts or pumps, the mitral valve flaps do not close smoothly or evenly. Instead, part of one or both flaps collapses backward into the left atrium. This sometimes allows blood to leak backward through the valve.
Myocardial Infarction “Heart Attack”
A condition caused by partial or total occlusion of one or more coronary arteries. The symptoms of a “heart attack” include prolonged chest pain, pressure, tightness, heaviness or burning in the chest, neck or jaw and may radiate to the arms. These symptoms may be accompanied by sweating, nausea, vomiting and shortness of breath. It is imperative if you’re having these symptoms you seek medical care without delay. Many patients who experience a “heart attack” without treatment die.
Stroke
Stroke is a cardiovascular disease that affects the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel bringing oxygen and nutrients to the brain bursts or is clogged by a blood clot or some other particle. Because of this rupture or blockage, part of the brain doesn’t get the blood flow it needs. Deprived of oxygen, nerve cells in the affected are of the brain can’t function and die within minutes. When nerve cells can’t function, the part of the body controlled by these cells can’t function either. The devastating effects of stroke are often permanent because dead brain cells aren’t replaced.