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Heart disease

Definition

Heart disease is any disorder that affects the heart's ability to function normally. Various forms of heart disease include:

• Angina (angina pectoris) - stable
• Angina (angina pectoris) - unstable
• Aortic regurgitation
• Aortic stenosis
• Arrhythmias
• Cardiomyopathy - alcoholic
• Cardiomyopathy - dilated
• Cardiomyopathy - idiopathic
• Cardiomyopathy - ischemic
• Cardiomyopathy - hypertrophic
• Cardiomyopathy - peripartum
• Cardiogenic shock
• Congenital heart disease
• Coronary artery disease (CAD)
• Endocarditis
• Heart attack (myocardial infarction)
• Heart failure
• Heart tumor
• Mitral regurgitation - acute
• Mitral regurgitation- chronic
• Mitral stenosis
• Mitral valve prolapse
• Pulmonary stenosis
• Tricuspid regurgitation

Alternative Names

Cardiovascular disorders

Causes

The most common cause of heart disease is a narrowing of or blockage in the coronary arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle (coronary artery disease). Some heart diseases are present at birth (congenital heart disease).

Other causes include:

• Abnormal heart rhythm
• Abnormal heart valve function
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Cardiomyopathy - weakening of the heart's pumping ability, often caused by heart disease, viral infection, or toxins

References

Goldman L. Approach to the patient with possible cardiovascular disease. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 48.

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