Congenital heart disease

This is a general term for some deformities of the heart that have been
present since birth. Examples include:

 Septal defects: There is a hole between the two chambers of the heart.

 Obstruction defects: The flow of blood through various chambers of the heart
is partially or totally blocked.

 Cyanotic heart disease: A defect in the heart causes a shortage of oxygen

around the body.
Arrhythmia

Arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat.

There are several ways in which a heartbeat can lose its regular rhythm.
These include:

 tachycardia, when the heart beats too fast

 bradycardia, when the heart beats too slowly

 premature ventricular contractions, or additional, abnormal beats

 fibrillation, when the heartbeat is irregular

Arrhythmias occur when the electrical impulses in the heart that coordinate
the heartbeat do not work properly. These make the heart beat in a way it
should not, whether that be too fast, too slowly, or too erratically.

Irregular heartbeats are common, and all people experience them. They feel
like a fluttering or a racing heart. However, when they change too much or
occur because of a damaged or weak heart, they need to be taken more
seriously and treated.

Arrhythmias can become fatal.

Coronary artery disease
The coronary arteries supply the heart muscle with nutrients and oxygen by
circulating blood.

Coronary arteries can become diseased or damaged, usually because of

plaque deposits that contain cholesterol. Plaque buildup narrows the coronary
arteries, and this causes the heart to receive less oxygen and nutrients.

Dilated cardiomyopathy
The heart chambers become dilated as a result of heart muscle weakness
and cannot pump blood properly. The most common reason is that not
enough oxygen reaches the heart muscle, due to coronary artery disease.
This usually affects the left ventricle.

Myocardial infarction
This is also known as a heart attack, cardiac infarction, and coronary
thrombosis. An interrupted blood flow damages or destroys part of the heart
muscle. This is usually caused by a blood clot that develops in one of the
coronary arteries and can also occur if an artery suddenly narrows or spasms.

Heart failure
Also known as congestive heart failure, heart failure occurs when the heart
does not pump blood around the body efficiently.

The left or right side of the heart might be affected. Rarely, both sides are.
Coronary artery disease or high blood pressure can, over time, leave the heart
too stiff or weak to fill and pump properly.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
This is a genetic disorder in which the wall of the left ventricle thickens,
making it harder for blood to be pumped out of the heart. This is the leading
cause of sudden death in athletes. A parent with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
has a 50 percent chance of passing the disorder on to their children.
Mitral regurgitation
Also known as mitral valve regurgitation, mitral insufficiency, or mitral
incompetence, this occurs when the mitral valve in the heart does not close
tightly enough. This allows blood to flow back into the heart when it should
leave. As a result, blood cannot move through the heart or the body efficiently.

People with this type of heart condition often feel tired and out of breath.

Mitral valve prolapse

The valve between the left atrium and left ventricle does not fully close, it
bulges upwards, or back into the atrium. In most people, the condition is not
life-threatening, and no treatment is required. Some people, especially if the
condition is marked by mitral regurgitation, may require treatment.

Pulmonary stenosis
It becomes hard for the heart to pump blood from the right ventricle into the
pulmonary artery because the pulmonary valve is too tight. The right ventricle
has to work harder to overcome the obstruction. An infant with severe
stenosis can turn blue. Older children will generally have no symptoms.

Treatment is needed if the pressure in the right ventricle is too high, and a
balloon valvuloplasty or open-heart surgery may be performed to clear an
obstruction.

Symptoms
The symptoms of heart disease depend on which condition is affecting an
individual.

However, common symptoms include chest pain, breathlessness, and heart

palpitations. The chest pain common to many types of heart disease is known
as angina, or angina pectoris, and occurs when a part of the heart does not
receive enough oxygen.

Angina can be triggered by stressful events or physical exertion and normally

lasts under 10 minutes.
 Heart attacks can also occur as a result of different types of heart disease.
The signs of a heart attack are similar to angina except that they can occur
during rest and tend to be more severe.

The symptoms of a heart attack can sometimes

resemble indigestion. Heartburn and a stomach ache can occur, as well as a
heavy feeling in the chest.

Other symptoms of a heart attack include:

 pain that travels through the body, for example from the chest to the arms,
neck, back, abdomen, or jaw

 lightheadedness and dizzy sensations

 profuse sweating

 nausea and vomiting

Heart failure is also an outcome of heart disease, and breathlessness can
occur when the heart becomes too weak to circulate blood.

Some heart conditions occur with no symptoms at all, especially in older

adults and individuals with diabetes.

The term 'congenital heart disease' covers a range of conditions, but the
general symptoms include:

 sweating

 high levels of fatigue

 fast heartbeat and breathing

 breathlessness

 chest pain

 a blue tint to the skin

 clubbed fingernails
In severe cases, symptoms can occur from birth. However, these symptoms
might not develop until a person is older than 13 years.
 Causes
Heart disease is caused by damage to all or part of the heart, damage to the
coronary arteries, or a poor supply of nutrients and oxygen to the organ.

Some types of heart disease, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, are

genetic. These, alongside congenital heart defects, can occur before a person
is born.

There are a number of lifestyle choices that can increase the risk of heart
disease. These include:

 high blood pressure and cholesterol

 smoking

 overweight and obesity

 diabetes

 family history

 a diet of junk food

 age

 a history of preeclampsia during pregnancy

 staying in a stationary position for extended periods of time, such as sitting

at work
Having any of these risk factors greatly increases the risk of heart disease.
Some, such as age, are unavoidable. For example, once a woman reaches 55
years of age, heart disease becomes more likely.

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Treatment
There are two main lines of treatment for heart disease. Initially, a person can
attempt to treat the heart condition using medications. If these do not have the
desired effect, surgical options are available to help correct the issue.

Medication
 A very wide range of medication is available for the majority of heart
conditions. Many are prescribed to prevent blood clots, but some serve other
purposes.

The main medications in use are:

 statins, for lowering cholesterol

 blood thinners, such as warfarin, for preventing blood clots

 beta-blockers, for treating heart attack, heart failure, and high blood pressure

 angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, for heart failure and high

blood pressure
Your doctor will work with you to find a medication that is safe and effective.
They will also use medications to treat underlying conditions that can affect
the heart, such as diabetes before they become problematic.

Surgery
Heart surgery is an intensive option from which it can take a long time to
recover.

However, they can be effective in treating blockages and heart problems for
which medications may not be effective, especially in the advanced stages of
heart disease.

The most common surgeries include:

 angioplasty, in which a balloon catheter is inserted to widen narrowed blood

vessels that might be restricting blood flow to the heart

 coronary artery bypass surgery, which allows blood flow to reach a blocked
part of the heart in people with blocked arteries

 surgery to repair or replace faulty heart valves

 pacemakers, or electronic machines that regulate a heartbeat for people with

arrhythmia
Heart transplants are another option. However, it is often difficult to find a
suitable heart of the right size and blood type in the required time. People are
put on a waiting list for donor organs and can sometimes wait years.
 Prevention
Some types of heart disease, such as those that are present from birth,
cannot be prevented.

Other types, however, can be prevented by taking the following measures:

 Eat a balanced diet. Stick to low-fat, high-fiber foods and be sure to

consume five portions of fresh fruit and vegetables each day. Increase your
intake of whole grains and reduce the amount of salt and sugar in the diet.
Make sure the fats in the diet are mostly unsaturated.

 Exercise regularly. This will strengthen the heart and circulatory system,
reduce cholesterol, and maintain blood pressure.

 Maintain a healthy body weight for your height. Click here to calculate your
current and target body mass index (BMI).

 If you smoke, quit. Smoking is a major risk factor for heart and
cardiovascular conditions.

 Reduce the intake of alcohol. Do not drink more than 14 units per week.

 Control conditions that affect heart health as a complication, such as high

blood pressure or diabetes.
While these steps do not completely eliminate the risk of heart disease, they
can help improve overall health and greatly reduce the chances of heart
complications.

A heart attack occurs when the blood supply to part of the heart stops
and thus causes a section of the heart muscle to begin to die.
A cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops beating as a whole