Heart Disease

According to the Coriell Personalized Medicine Collaborative, it is not possible to do genetic testing for heart disease. While some genetics tests may indicate elevated risk, there is no way to...

According to "Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment, 2010," sick sinus syndrome describes dysfunction of the intrinsic pacemaker of the heart, the sinoatrial node. As a result, the heart rhythm...

According to the American Heart Association, an estimated 42 million American women live with cardiovascular disease, the No. 1 killer of women in the United States. The American Heart Association...

The valves of the heart open and close to help direct the flow of blood. Bacterial infections, congenital diseases and certain medications can disrupt the blood flow causing enlarged heart valves.

Heart disease is a frequent complication of lupus and the leading killer of lupus patients. According to Dorlands Medical Dictionary, Libman-Sacks Disease (atypical verrucous endocarditis) is one...

Molds are common fungi that grow naturally both indoors and outdoors, according to the Illinois Department of Public Heath. Mold exposure causes sickness in some people. Although allergy-like...

Available in oral and intravenous forms, digoxin is a generic prescription medication known as a digitalis glycoside. Doctors commonly prescribe this drug for the treatment of conditions that...

Unhealthy cholesterol levels present a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. There are genetic factors that play a role in our cholesterol levels, but our lifestyle choices also have a...

Because the heart is of utmost importance to the human body, any irregularities affect the body's daily activities. When the heart is hyper-dynamic -- also referred to as "hyperkinetic" -- all...

A Stanford University research team found that nicotine supports new blood vessel growth through a process called angiogenesis. While angiogenesis also promotes tumor growth and artery plaque,...

According to the National Institutes for Health, a chest X-ray scan can be used to diagnose certain conditions, include heart disease. Your doctor can see the shape and size of your heart, and the...

Heart disease covers a wide range of diseases that affect your heart, from diseases of the blood vessels to heart rhythm problems to heart defects. There is some evidence that calcium deficiency...

The aorta is the largest artery in the body---allowing oxygen-rich blood to enter the heart. Any enlargement of the aorta can seriously jeopardize the entire body.

Heart congestion occurs when the heart can't pump enough blood to the body's organs. Referred to as congestive heart failure, the condition can be either mild or moderate and treated with medical...

Microbes can damage the heart and its valves. A bacterial infection called endocarditis can kill people with existing heart problems.

Doctors can perform several different types of diagnostic procedures to check for heart problems, including a nuclear stress test. You might undergo one of these by itself or as part of a series...

A buildup of fluid around the membrane that surrounds the heart is known as pericarditis. This condition can be life-threatening because if left untreated it can lead to heart failure, according...

Ventricular tachycardia is a type of arrhythmia of the heart. If the cause is unknown, it's known as idiopathic. Many times arrhythmias have no known cause. While many arrhythmias are mild and...

Coronary artery disease develops when the blood vessels that supply the heart become narrowed and damaged. This reduces blood and oxygen flow to the heart---resulting in a number of symptoms and...

Lipids---more commonly known as fats---play many important roles in our bodies. Cholesterol helps construct cell walls while triglycerides provide energy to the body. Excess amounts however,...

Cortisol, a hormone, is naturally produced when you experience a stressful situation. This is normal, according to the Mayo Clinic, but if you are always stressed out, too much cortisol can cause...

Stress from work, family and everyday modern living sets off a chain reaction of bodily processes that can damage various parts of our body, including our heart. According to research, stress...

Broken heart syndrome is a temporary health problem that was only recently described in medical literature. It is nearly always brought on by a stressful event, and sufferers may think they are...

Keeping you alive, your blood flow depends on the heart valves you were born with or, if one fails, on obtaining a competent replacement, be it mechanical or biogenic.

Defibrillators can save lives but when these devices fail, they could cause injury or death for heart patients.

Valerian root is also known as the garden heliotrope. Growing approximately two to four feet, valerian root is found abundantly throughout European counties as well as the east coast of the United...

Amyl nitrate is an inhalant used to reduce symptoms of angina. According to the MayoClinic.com, amyl nitrate works by relaxing blood vessels. People also use amyl nitrate as a street drug to...

Coronary heart disease is a condition where there is a narrowing of arteries leading to the heart. Constriction of these arteries can cause chest pain or a heart attack due to inadequate blood...

Cardiomegaly and cardiomyopathy both affect the heart muscle. Cardiomyopathy is a disease in which the heart is inflamed and its functionality is reduced. The Mayo Clinic reports that cardiomegaly...

Elevated blood glucose levels are highly correlated with coronary heart disease, and those officially diagnosed with diabetes are extremely susceptible to suffering and dying from heart-related...

A problem with heart valves can be serious, since the valves control the body's blood flow direction and speed. There is specific medical terminology for heart valve malfunctions.

Each year in the United States over a half million people with coronary artery disease take a trip to the hospital for coronary bypass surgery. Taking coenzyme Q10 preoperatively may improve their...