Heart Articles
Browse eMedTV's wide range of articles related to heart including topics such as hardening of the arteries, causes of heart murmurs, and aortic stenosis. Use the search box at the top-right corner of the page to find information about other health topics.
About Aortic Valve Replacement
Mitral Valve Replacement Risks
Info on Mitral Valve Replacement
Atrial Fibrillation Information
This eMedTV resource offers an in-depth look at the human heart, a hollow, muscular, fist-sized organ that pumps blood through a network of blood vessels. As part of the circulatory system, the human heart supplies oxygen to all the body's cells.
Atrial fibrillation is a condition in which the heart beats irregularly -- it is not a heart attack. This eMedTV article explains atrial fibrillation in detail and provides links to additional information.
This eMedTV article discusses mitral valve prolapse, which occurs when the mitral valve bulges back into the left atrium when the left ventricle contracts. This page describes the anatomy behind mitral valve prolapse and explains how it is diagnosed.
As this eMedTV article explains, a heart murmur is an unexpected sound that is heard while listening to a person's heartbeat. While most heart murmurs are harmless, some can signal heart problems.
A myocardial infarction is more commonly known as a heart attack. This portion of the eMedTV archives describes what happens during a myocardial infarction and provides information about recognizing symptoms of this life-threatening event.
Coronary artery disease is often referred to as "heart disease," but many different heart diseases exist. This eMedTV article discusses these heart diseases based on the area of the heart or blood vessel system they affect.
Aortic stenosis is a condition that is characterized by a narrowing of the aortic valve in the heart. This eMedTV segment explores possible causes and symptoms of aortic stenosis; it also outlines several treatment options for this condition.
Causes of Coronary Heart Disease
Causes of coronary heart disease (CHD) involve a narrowing of the coronary arteries. As explained in this eMedTV article, there are also certain risk factors (such as smoking or being overweight) that increase a person's chances of developing CHD.
In an aortic valve replacement, the aortic valve is replaced with a man-made valve or a tissue valve from an animal heart. This eMedTV article takes a detailed look at what aortic valve replacement entails and discusses possible complications.
Normally the heart's aortic valve has three cusps, but a bicuspid aortic valve has only two cusps. As this eMedTV article explains, a bicuspid aortic valve is not usually a problem. People with a bicuspid aortic valve should have regular checkups.
Hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis) refers to the hardening and thickening of blood vessels. This eMedTV article examines the conditions that cause hardening of the arteries, such as atherosclerosis (a buildup of plaque on the artery walls).
Pulmonary stenosis is a congenital heart disease in which the pulmonary valve of the heart is narrowed. This eMedTV article explains how pulmonary stenosis is diagnosed and treated. People with mild pulmonary stenosis require no treatment.
Mitral valve replacement surgery involves replacing a defective or diseased mitral valve with a new valve. This eMedTV article discusses medical conditions that may be treated with a mitral valve replacement, such as mitral valve stenosis.
When mitral valve regurgitation occurs, the heart's mitral valve does not close properly. This eMedTV article explains how mitral valve regurgitation allows blood to leak backwards into the left atrium.
Atrial fibrillation treatment may range from avoiding things such as tobacco and alcohol to surgery. This eMedTV segment explains how atrial fibrillation treatment can reduce the risks of experiencing serious complications, such as a stroke.
As this eMedTV article explains, the causes of heart murmurs can range from an increased amount of blood flowing through the heart to illnesses such as rheumatic fever. This page provides detailed information about the causes of heart murmurs.
Most people with a heart murmur don't have symptoms. This eMedTV Web page explains, however, that sometimes a patient may experience symptoms (such as chest pain and shortness of breath) that could signal more serious health issues.
Although "heart disease" often refers to coronary artery disease, more than 50 types of heart disease exist. This eMedTV page categorizes these different types based on the areas of the heart they affect, such as myocarditis and atrial fibrillation.