Heart Disease

Getting Started CPR and Defibrillator Quizchevron_right Heart Health Quizchevron_right Today in Health News Avoid These 15 Foods to Lower Your Salt Intake Read this Article More Health News Know Your Risks Coronary Artery Disease Assessment Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease. It is the leading cause of death in the United States in both men and women. Determine your risk for developing CAD using this assessment tool. Understanding Heart Disease See All  Basic Anatomy of the Heart in Understanding Heart Disease Located almost in the center of the chest, the adult human heart is about the size of two fists held side-by-side. ...more  Anatomy and Function of the Heart's Electrical System in Understanding Heart Disease The heart is a pump made of muscle tissue. Its pumping action is controlled by electrical impulses. ...more  Anatomy and Function of the Coronary Arteries in Understanding Heart Disease Detailed information and illustrations about the 2 coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart muscle. ...more  Anatomy and Function of the Heart Valves in Understanding Heart Disease Detailed anatomical description of the heart valves, including simple definitions and a labeled, full-color illustration. ...more  The Cardiologist in Understanding Heart Disease A cardiologist is a healthcare provider who has had extra training to treat problems of the heart and blood vessels. These include heart attack and heart failure. ...more  The Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiologist in Understanding Heart Disease A clinical cardiac electrophysiologist, or cardiac EP, is a healthcare provider who treats rhythm problems of the heart. Learn more about their medical training, and the tests and procedures that they do. ...more Cardiac Tests & Procedures  See All Detailed Tests & Procedure Guides See All  Tests to Diagnose Heart Problems in Cardiac Tests & Procedures Here's a look at just a few of the tests used to understand and identify cardiovascular disease. ...more  Cardiac Procedures in Cardiac Tests & Procedures These procedures are often used in the evaluation and treatment of cardiovascular disease. ...more Heart Conditions and Diseases See All Arrhythmias See All Coronary Artery Disease See All Heart Attack See All Heart Valve Disease See All Heart Failure See All High Blood Pressure See All Other Heart Conditions See All  Arrhythmias in Arrhythmias An arrhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm that can cause problems with the contractions of your heart chambers. ...more  Atrial Fibrillation in Arrhythmias Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, is a kind of abnormal heart rhythm or arrhythmia. AFib increases the risk for blood clots. These clots can then travel to the brain, causing a stroke. This is why AFib significantly increases the risk for stroke. ...more  Coronary Heart Disease in Coronary Artery Disease Detailed information on coronary artery disease, including anatomy of the coronary arteries and disease symptoms, diagnostic, and treatment information...more  Atherosclerosis in Coronary Artery Disease Atherosclerosis is a type of thickening or hardening of the arteries caused by a buildup of plaque in the inner lining of an artery. It can increase your risk of heart attack, stroke, and other circulatory conditions....more  Automated External Defibrillator in Arrhythmias, Heart Attack An AED is a small, portable, battery-powered machine with a computer in it. The machine detects heart activity. It can give an electric shock to someone if needed. ...more  Nonsurgical Treatment Options for Heart Attack in Heart Attack Not everyone who has had a heart attack needs open-heart surgery, such as a bypass operation. Read on to learn about other treatment options. ...more  Heart Valve Diseases in Heart Valve Disease Heart valves can malfunction on one of two ways: They can fail to close completely, allowing blood to flow backward, or they can become damaged, limiting blood flow. ...more  Mitral Valve Prolapse in Heart Valve Disease The mitral valve sits between the left atrium and left ventricle. It's job is to keep blood flowing in the right direction. Mitral valve prolapse is the bulging of the valve causing blood to leak backwards. ...more  Heart Failure in Heart Failure Heart failure is a condition in which the heart can't pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. ...more  Cardiomyopathy in Heart Failure Cardiomyopathy is any disease of the heart muscle in which the heart loses its ability to pump blood effectively. ...more  Heart Failure: Breathe More Easily in Living With Heart Failure Heart failure makes it hard for oxygen to get into the blood, causing shortness of breath. Here are some tips to help you breathe more easily. ...more  Heart Failure and Physical Activity in Living With Heart Failure There are many benefits to regular, moderate physical activity--especially for people with heart failure. Here's what you need to know. ...more  High Blood Pressure/Hypertension in High Blood Pressure High blood pressure, or hypertension, increases the risk for coronary heart disease (heart attack) and stroke (brain attack). Read on for details about this condition. ...more  Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH) in High Blood Pressure Primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) is high blood pressure in the lungs. It's a rare lung disorder in which the blood vessels in the lungs narrow and the pressure in the pulmonary artery rises far above normal levels. Pulmonary hypertension is a chronic and life-changing disease that can lead to heart failure if it's not treated. ...more  Pericarditis in Other Heart Conditions Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardium, the thin sac that surrounds the heart. Read on to learn details, such as causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and complications. ...more  Rheumatic Heart Disease in Other Heart Conditions Rheumatic heart disease is a condition where the heart valves have been permanently damaged by rheumatic fever. ...more Women and Heart Disease See All  For Women: Take This Risk to Heart in Women and Heart Disease Women often perceive heart disease as an older person's disease that need not concern them until menopause. ...more  Heart Attacks and Women in Women and Heart Disease Heart attacks and their aftermath tend to be more deadly in women. Yet for many women, the warning signs of a heart attack are very subtle and easy to ignore. Read on to learn about the signs you need to pay attention to. ...more  A Woman's Guide to Beating Heart Disease in Women and Heart Disease Surveys show fewer than one in 10 women perceive heart disease as their greatest health threat. But it's the nation's number one killer, and women are its prime target. ...more  Making Your Lifestyle Heart-Healthy in Women and Heart Disease The millions of Americans diagnosed with heart and cardiovascular diseases can benefit from making healthy choices in their day-to-day lives. ...more  Heart Attack in Women and Heart Disease A heart attack happens when the blood supply is cut off from the heart muscle, usually because of a blood clot. Without blood and oxygen, the muscle cells are damaged and die. ...more Diabetes and Heart Disease See All  Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes in Diabetes and Heart Disease Diabetes affects the cardiovascular system, but many problems aren't apparent until a person has a heart attack or stroke....more  Metabolic Syndrome and Prediabetes in Diabetes and Heart Disease Metabolic syndrome is marked by higher levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. That's also a sign of prediabetes. ...more Congenital Heart Disease See All Genetic Disorders See All Heart Defects See All Complex Heart Problems See All Living With Congenital Heart Disease See All Related Problems See All  Fetal Circulation in Congenital Heart Disease Through the blood vessels in the umbilical cord, the fetus receives all the necessary nutrition, oxygen, and life support from the mother through the placenta. ...more  Factors That May Lead to a Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) in Congenital Heart Disease In most cases of congenital heart defect, the cause is thought to be a combination of genetics and environment. ...more  Congenital Heart Disease in Congenital Heart Disease Heart problems are the most common kind of birth defects. While children with some heart defects can be monitored by a doctor and treated with medicine, others will need to have surgery....more Cardiac Rehabilitation See All  Family Plays a Key Role in Rehabilitation in Cardiac Rehabilitation One of the most important factors in a patient's recovery is family involvement and support in their rehab. ...more  Choosing a Rehabilitation Unit/CARF in Cardiac Rehabilitation Rehab services are provided in many different places, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, and community health centers. Read on to learn about what to look for when choosing a rehab facility and services. ...more  After a Heart Attack in Cardiac Rehabilitation Over the long-term, your quality of life is tied to how severe your heart attack was and how it was treated. Beyond that, any change will depend largely on you. ...more  Cardiac Rehabilitation in Cardiac Rehabilitation Cardiac rehabilitation programs can be conducted while a person is a hospital inpatient or on an outpatient basis. ...more Managing Heart Disease See All Taking Medications See All Watching Your Blood Pressure See All Making Healthy Food Choices See All Being Active See All Staying Motivated See All Working With Your Healthcare Provider See All  All About Blood Pressure Medicine in Taking Medications Several kinds of medicine are commonly prescribed for high blood pressure. Here are some of the main types. ...more  When You're Taking Heart Medicines in Taking Medications These medications are life-giving and powerful. It's important to take them just as your doctor has prescribed. ...more  Heart Disease: How Disease Management Helps in Watching Your Blood Pressure, Staying Motivated Participating in a disease management program gives you the chance to ask questions about exercise, medicine, diet, and other treatment options. ...more  Checking Your Blood Pressure at Home in Watching Your Blood Pressure Home blood pressure monitoring can be a good way for you and your doctor to learn how your blood pressure changes during the day. Read on to learn about the 2 different types of home devices, along with helpful tips for buying one. ...more  Diet to Help Prevent Heart Disease in Making Healthy Food Choices The Choose My Plate plan from the federal government is a guideline to help you eat a healthy diet. ...more  Cholesterol in the Blood in Making Healthy Food Choices The cholesterol in your blood comes from the foods you eat and your liver. Your liver makes all of the cholesterol your body needs. ...more  Exercise: Before Starting an Exercise Program in Being Active It's always important to talk with your healthcare provider before starting an exercise program. This is especially true if you have certain health conditions. ...more  Creating an Exercise Program in Being Active To improve your heart and lung fitness, aim for 30 to 60 minutes of aerobic exercise several times a week. ...more  8 Mistakes Heart Patients Make in Staying Motivated The way you respond to a heart attack can make a profound difference in what happens to you in the future. ...more  Learning to Live with Heart Disease in Staying Motivated Millions of people diagnosed with heart disease enjoy active, satisfying lives. Instead of looking on their diagnoses as sentences to be invalids, they have used them as catalysts to make positive changes in their lives. ...more  Heart Disease: Communicating with Several Providers in Working With Your Healthcare Provider If you are like most people with heart disease, you have several providers who each treat you for a different health issue. ...more  Heart Disease Worksheet in Working With Your Healthcare Provider It's important to get regular checkups and periodic exams, especially when you have cardiovascular disease. ...more Preventing Heart Disease See All Self Care See All Risk Factors See All Smoking See All Blood Pressure See All Diet and Nutrition See All High Blood Cholesterol See All Overweight and Obesity See All Physical Inactivity See All Stress See All Other Factors See All  Making Changes to Prevent Heart Disease in Self Care Your heart is a vital organ that keeps your body functioning. Unfortunately, many people don't treat it that way. They may not realize that their daily habits and lifestyle can overwork and damage their heart. So, take care of your heart and yourself. Start by making the following lifestyle changes. ...more  What You Can Do to Prevent Atherosclerosis in Self Care Atherosclerosis can be devastating, causing strokes, heart attacks, and death. The good news is that you can take steps to protect yourself from this disease. ...more  Take Action to Beat Heart Disease in Risk Factors Even if you already have atherosclerosis or have had a heart attack, there's a lot you can do to prevent future heart problems. ...more  Metabolic Syndrome: Lowering Your Heart Disease Risk in Risk Factors, Overweight and Obesity Tips for keeping your heart healthy, from controlling your blood pressure to keeping your cholesterol in check. ...more  How to Quit Smoking, Again in Smoking Follow these suggestions to help you kick the habit, again--this time, for good....more  Quitting Smoking Quiz in Smoking No matter what your age, or how long you have smoked, giving up cigarettes is the ticket to a longer life. Find out more about the benefits of quitting by taking this quiz....more  Diet to Help Prevent Heart Disease in Diet and Nutrition The Choose My Plate plan from the federal government is a guideline to help you eat a healthy diet. ...more  Cholesterol in the Blood in Diet and Nutrition The cholesterol in your blood comes from the foods you eat and your liver. Your liver makes all of the cholesterol your body needs. ...more  The Truth About Triglycerides in High Blood Cholesterol Triglycerides are the most common type of fat in your body. Most of your body's fat is stored as triglycerides....more  All About Cholesterol-Lowering Medicines in High Blood Cholesterol There are 7 main types of cholesterol-lowering medicines....more  Overview of Obesity in Overweight and Obesity Obesity is a serious, chronic disease that can inflict substantial harm to a person’s health. Learn about obesity causes and obesity health effects. ...more  Metabolic Syndrome in Overweight and Obesity Metabolic syndrome is a condition that includes the presence of a cluster of risk factors specific for cardiovascular disease. Metabolic syndrome greatly raises the risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, stroke, or all three. ...more  Medical Treatment for Obesity in Treatment for Obesity Medical treatment can help with weight loss if your own efforts are unsuccessful—or if you have a medical condition that makes it crucial to lose weight. ...more  Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Weight-Loss Surgery in Treatment for Obesity Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is a type of weight-loss surgery. Weight-loss surgery is also called bariatric surgery. It's often done as a laparoscopic surgery, with small incisions in the abdomen. ...more  Exercise: Before Starting an Exercise Program in Physical Inactivity It's always important to talk with your healthcare provider before starting an exercise program. This is especially true if you have certain health conditions. ...more  Creating an Exercise Program in Physical Inactivity To improve your heart and lung fitness, aim for 30 to 60 minutes of aerobic exercise several times a week. ...more  Stress Can Increase Your Risk for Heart Disease in Stress Mental stress does more than diminish your sense of well-being. It also can increase your risk for heart disease. ...more  Heart Disease: Keep Your Gums Healthy in Other Factors People with gum disease are more likely to have heart disease than people with healthy gums. ...more  Get to the Heart of Oral Health in Other Factors Evidence is mounting that people with gum (periodontal) disease may be more at risk for heart disease and stroke. ...more Interactive Tools See All  Target Heart Rate Calculator Your target heart rate is the range at which sustained physical activity - running, cycling, swimming laps, or any other aerobic exercise - is considered safe and effective....more  Adult BMI Calculator Experts are increasingly urging people to know their BMI, a figure that takes into account not just weight but also height to indicate body fat....more  Cholesterol Quiz An excess of cholesterol can build up in the arteries, narrowing them and slowing or blocking blood flow to the heart. Take this quiz to learn more about cholesterol and its role in your health....more  Coronary Artery Disease and Angioplasty Quiz Atherosclerosis, or coronary artery disease (CAD), plays a major role in the leading cause of death in this country: heart attack. Learn more about this disease and a common procedure used to treat it....more  Type 2 Diabetes Risk Assessment The questions in this assessment ask about risk factors—conditions that may put you at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) states that the more risk factors you have, the more likely you are to develop diabetes....more  Coronary Artery Disease Assessment Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease. It is the leading cause of death in the United States in both men and women. Determine your risk for developing CAD using this assessment tool....more Multimedia See All  Atrial Flutter Atrial flutter is when the upper chambers of the heart beat too fast. Learn how it happens, and how it can be treated....more  Cardiac Stress Test: Exercise Imaging An exercise imaging stress test shows how well blood flows inside your heart and how well your heart pumps blood. It gives your healthcare provider more information than a non-imaging stress test....more Newsletters See All