What heart diseases are there

A heart attack - also known as myocardial infarction or MI - happens when the blood supply to part of your heart muscle becomes completely blocked. This is most commomly caused by a piece of fatty material breaking off and a blood clot forms within a coronary artery.

This can cause damage to the part of your heart muscle which that particular coronary artery was supplying. Read more about the symptoms of a heart attack. This is called heart failure because of the failure of your heart to work efficiently. Read more about heart failure. The heart muscle has its own electrical system which helps to stimulate the heartbeat. This is called an arrhythmia. The valves open and close to regulate the flow of blood through the heart.

Problems with the valves can increase the workload of your heart and can put a strain on your heart muscle, leading to a range of symptoms, like:. Another condition which can affect the heart is high blood pressure or hypertension.

Read more about high blood pressure and reducing the risks to your heart. A baby may be born with only one defect or with several defects. Some types of congenital heart defects are life-threatening, either immediately to the newborn or over time. Read more about congenital heart disease. Inherited conditions can be passed on through families.

They are sometimes called familial or genetic heart conditions. In some cases, heart arrhythmia is harmless and may feel like a minor inconvenience. However, in more severe cases, heart arrhythmia may require urgent medical attention if the patient has other diseases that could exacerbate their condition.

This life-threatening condition develops when the left ventricle becomes too enlarged to keep blood flowing. This also causes the kidneys to retain more sodium and fluid which builds up in the ankles, legs, lungs, feet, and other organs. Pulmonary stenosis is a condition that develops when the pulmonary valve becomes too narrow and rigid to support regular blood flow. When this happens, the right ventricle responds by working harder to eject blood into the pulmonary artery and gradually thickens to compensate for the extra workload.

Regular checkups and good health practices can play an important role in preventing common heart conditions. New moms go through an array of experiences that completely change them physically and emotionally. Here are some common worries they tend to have and how to handle them. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. To receive email updates about this page, enter your email address: Email Address.

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