Disorders of heart

• Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle that worsens over time and can be life-threatening. The heart muscle weakens and can no longer pump blood effectively. • Cardiomyopathy can result from an inherited genetic feature or it can stem from one of many health conditions, such as heart disease, hyperthyroidism, or alcohol use. • Symptoms include weakness, dizziness, shortness of breath, high blood pressure, and fluid retention, or edema. • Treatment options for cardiomyopathy include lifestyle changes, medications, and surgery. Cardiomyopathy is a progressive disease of the myocardium, or heart muscle. In most cases, the heart muscle weakens and is unable to pump blood to the rest of the body as well as it should. There are many different types of cardiomyopathy, caused by a range of factors, from coronary heart disease to certain drugs. Cardiomyopathy can lead to an irregular heartbeat, heart failure, or other complications. Medical treatment and follow-up care are important. They can help prevent heart failure or heart damage. This article will take a closer look at the types of cardiomyopathy, as well as the symptoms, causes, and treatment. Cardiomyopathy generally has four types: • Dilated cardiomyopathy. Also sometimes called “ • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. • Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD). This is a very rare form of cardiomyopathy, but it’s the leading cause of sudden death in young athletes. In this type of genetic cardiomyopathy, fat a...

Overview Heart disease describes a range of conditions that affect the heart. Heart diseases include: • Blood vessel disease, such as coronary artery disease • Irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias) • Heart problems you're born with (congenital heart defects) • Disease of the heart muscle • Heart valve disease Symptoms Heart disease symptoms depend on the type of heart disease. Symptoms of heart disease in the blood vessels Coronary artery disease is a common heart condition that affects the major blood vessels that supply the heart muscle. Cholesterol deposits (plaques) in the heart arteries are usually the cause of coronary artery disease. The buildup of these plaques is called atherosclerosis (ath-ur-o-skluh-ROE-sis). Atherosclerosis reduces blood flow to the heart and other parts of the body. It can lead to a heart attack, chest pain (angina) or stroke. Coronary artery disease symptoms may be different for men and women. For instance, men are more likely to have chest pain. Women are more likely to have other symptoms along with chest discomfort, such as shortness of breath, nausea and extreme fatigue. Symptoms of coronary artery disease can include: • Chest pain, chest tightness, chest pressure and chest discomfort (angina) • Shortness of breath • Pain in the neck, jaw, throat, upper belly area or back • Pain, numbness, weakness or coldness in the legs or arms if the blood vessels in those body areas are narrowed You might not be diagnosed with coronary artery disease unt...

An abnormal heart rhythm is when your heart beats too fast, too slow, or irregularly. It’s also called an arrhythmia. Your heart contains a complex system of valves, nodes, and chambers. They control how and when blood is pumped throughout your body. If these are disrupted, damaged, or compromised, it can change your heart rate or rhythm. Arrhythmias can cause no symptoms, or you may feel some symptoms. They may include: • discomfort • fluttering or pounding in your chest • pain in your chest • shortness of breath • lightheadedness • fatigue • fainting Not all arrhythmias are life threatening or cause health complications. But to be safe, you should report any abnormal heart rhythm to a doctor. The most common types of abnormal heart rhythms include: Tachycardia Tachycardia means that your heart is beating too fast. For example, a typical heart beats 60 to 100 times per minute in adults. Tachycardia is any resting heart rate There are three subtypes of tachycardia: • Sinus tachycardia: This is an increased heart rate that can occur in response to exercise, pain, dehydration, excitement, fever, or illness. With • Supraventricular tachycardia: Supraventricular tachycardia originates in the upper chambers of your heart, known as the atria. • Ventricular tachycardia: Ventricular tachycardia is a very fast heart rate that occurs in the lower chambers, known as the ventricles. Atrial fibrillation This disorganized heart rhythm occurs in the upper chambers of your heart. It’s the...

An arrhythmia is a heart rhythm that isn’t normal. Your heart may be beating too fast when you’re at rest or just not beating in a regular pattern, for example. Arrhythmias range from harmless to serious, with symptoms and without. There are many options to treat arrhythmias, but some don’t need them. The prognosis varies greatly depending on the type. Overview An arrhythmia disrupts the way heartbeat signals normally travel through your heart. What is arrhythmia? An arrhythmia (also called dysrhythmia) is an abnormal Normally, your heart beats in an organized, coordinated way. Issues with various parts of your heart — or even the blood your heart pumps — can affect your heart’s normal rhythm. Having a normal heart rhythm matters because your heart supplies your whole body with nutrients and oxygen through the blood it pumps. How serious is a heart arrhythmia? Some types of arrhythmia are harmless and don’t require treatment. Others can put you at risk for What are the types of arrhythmia? Healthcare providers describe arrhythmias by where in your heart they start. • Supraventricular arrhythmias: These begin in your atria (your heart’s upper chambers). “Supraventricular” means above your ventricles or lower chambers of your heart. • Ventricular arrhythmias: These begin in your heart’s ventricles or lower chambers. • Bradyarrhythmias and junctional rhythms: These can happen because of issues in your heart’s conduction system, such as the sinoatrial (SA) node, atrioventricul...