An arrhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm that can cause problems with the contractions of your heart chambers.
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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.
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Detailed information on coronary artery disease, including anatomy of the coronary arteries and disease symptoms, diagnostic, and treatment information
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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.
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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.
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Not everyone who has had a heart attack needs open-heart surgery, such as a bypass operation.
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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.
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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.
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Heart failure is a condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs.
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Cardiomyopathy is any disease of the heart muscle in which the heart loses its ability to pump blood effectively.
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Heart failure makes it hard for oxygen to get into the blood, causing shortness of breath.
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There are many benefits to regular, moderate physical activity--especially for people with heart failure. Here's what you need to know.
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High blood pressure, or hypertension, increases the risk for coronary heart disease (heart attack) and stroke (brain attack).
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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.
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Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardium, the thin sac that surrounds the heart.
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Rheumatic heart disease is a condition in which the heart valves have been permanently damaged by rheumatic fever. The heart valve damage starts with an untreated or under-treated strep infection. In some cases, strep throat or scarlet fever, which are caused by streptococcus A bacteria, can progress to rheumatic fever if not treated properly.
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