OVERVIEW An atrial septal defect (ASD) is a hole in the wall between the two upper chambers of your heart (atria). The condition is present at birth (congenital). Small defects may never cause a problem and may be found incidentally. It’s also possible that small atrial septal defects may close on their own during infancy…
INTRODUCTION Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle that makes it harder for your heart to pump blood to the rest of your body. Cardiomyopathy can lead to heart failure. The main types include dilated, hypertrophic and restrictive cardiomyopathy. Treatment — which might include medications, surgically implanted devices or, in severe cases, a heart…
Acyanotic heart defects are congenital cardiac malformations that affect the atrial or ventricular walls, heart valves, or large blood vessels. Common causes include genetic defects (e.g., trisomies), maternal infections (e.g., rubella), or maternal consumption of drugs or alcohol during pregnancy. Acyanotic heart defects are characterized pathophysiologically by a left-to-right shunt, which causes pulmonary hypertension and…
CYANOTIC CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE Cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD) is a condition present at birth. CYANOTIC CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE causes low levels of oxygen in the blood. A common symptom is a bluish tint to the skin, called cyanosis. Several birth defects can cause this type of heart disease, including: issues with the heart valves,…
DEFINATION Congenital heart disease, or a congenital heart defect, is a heart abnormality present at birth. The problem can affect: The heart walls The heart valves The blood vessels There are numerous types of congenital heart defects. They can range from simple conditions that don’t cause symptoms to complex problems that cause severe, life-threatening symptoms….
DEFINATION CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE(CHF) is a chronic progressive condition that affects the pumping power of your heart muscles. While often referred to simply as “heart failure,” CHF specifically refers to the stage in which fluid builds up around the heart and causes it to pump inefficiently. Heart failure does not mean the heart has stopped…
What is a Cardiac Arrest? Cardiac arrest is a serious heart condition. The word arrest means to stop or bring to a halt. In cardiac arrest, the heart ceases to beat. It’s also known as sudden cardiac death. Your heartbeat is controlled by electrical impulses. When these impulses change pattern, the heartbeat becomes irregular. This…
What is Coronary artery disease (CAD)? Coronary artery disease (CAD), also known as ischemic heart disease (IHD), refers to a group of diseases that includes stable angina, unstable angina, myocardial infarction, and sudden cardiac death. It is within the group of cardiovascular diseases of which it is the most common type. A common symptom is…
What is Blood pressure (BP)? Blood pressure (BP) is the pressure of circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels. Used without further specification, “blood pressure” usually refers to the pressure in large arteries of the systemic circulation. Blood pressure is usually expressed in terms of the systolic pressure (maximum during one heart beat) over…
What is Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) Injury? Your medial collateral ligament (MCL) is the knee ligament on the medial (inner) side of your knee connecting the medial femoral condyle and the medial tibial condyle. It is one of four major knee ligaments that help to stabilize the knee joint. It is a flat band of…
