Definition Pericarditis is an inflammation of the pericardium. It is usually acute – it develops suddenly and may last up to several months. The condition usually clears up after 3 months, but sometimes attacks can come and go for years. When you have pericarditis, the membrane around your heart is …
Read More »Atrioventricular Canal Defect – Causes, Complications, and Prevention.
Overview Atrioventricular canal defect (AVCD) or atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) is a combination of heart problems resulting in a defect in the center of the heart. The condition occurs when there’s a hole between the heart’s chambers and problems with the valves that regulate blood flow in the heart. Sometimes …
Read More »Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP) – Complications, Risk factors, and Treatment
Definition Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a condition in which the heart’s mitral valve doesn’t work well. The flaps of the valve are “floppy” and may not close tightly. These flaps normally help seal or open the valve. Much of the time, MVP doesn’t cause any problems. Rarely, blood can …
Read More »Atrial Fibrillation – Description, Causes, and Treatment.
Description – Atrial Fibrillation Atrial fibrillation is an irregular and often rapid heart rate that can increase your risk of strokes, heart failure, and other heart-related complications. During atrial fibrillation, the heart’s two upper chambers (the atria) beat chaotically and irregularly — out of coordination with the two lower chambers …
Read More »Cardiomegaly – Causes, Complications and Prevention.
What is Cardiomegaly? An enlarged heart is medically known as cardiomegaly. Cardiomegaly can be caused by a number of different conditions, including diseases of the heart muscle or heart valves, high blood pressure, arrhythmias, and pulmonary hypertension. Cardiomegaly can also sometimes accompany longstanding anemia and thyroid diseases, among other conditions. …
Read More »Myocarditis – Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
Definition Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle (myocardium). The inflammation of the heart muscle causes degeneration or death of heart muscle cells. Myocarditis has many different causes and can result in a range of outcomes from mild (presenting briefly and resolving) to rapidly progressing fatal disease. It is differentiated …
Read More »Hypertensive Heart Disease – Causes and treatments
Hypertensive Heart Disease – Definition Hypertensive heart disease is characterized by a firmly continuous high blood pressure in which the force of blood against the artery walls is too high. Continuous hypertension causes structural and functional abnormalities of the heart. This can also cause damage to the ventricular and arterial …
Read More »Cardiac Tamponade – Overview, Causes, and Diagnosis.
Overview Cardiac tamponade is a serious medical condition in which blood or fluids fill the space between the sac that encases the heart and the heart muscle. This places extreme pressure on your heart. The pressure prevents the heart’s ventricles from expanding fully and keeps your heart from functioning properly. …
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