Table of contents:

Ischaemic (or coronary) disease
Heart failure (including its various forms)
Valve defects
Myocarditis (a.k.a. inflammation of the heart muscle)
Pericarditis or endocarditis
Atrioventricular block

Heart diseases are diagnosed in many patients every year. Sometimes, in spite of the worrying symptoms, they are discovered by chance, in the course of other ailments or a visit to hospital. Below is a list of the most common heart diseases.

Ischaemic (or coronary) heart disease

Coronary arterydisease is a condition involving ischaemia of the heart muscle, which is associated with progressive narrowing of the coronary arteries. Changes in the coronary arteries are caused by the appearance of atherosclerosis. Coronary artery disease is divided into stable - this is a chronic disease, whose accompanying atherosclerotic lesions do not cause myocardial necrosis but may lead to induction blocks, and acute - which causes myocardial necrosis. Treatment is based on the implementation of pharmacological treatment that inhibits platelet aggregation and cholesterol-lowering drugs. Beta adrenolytics, calcium channel blockers or nitrates may also be introduced. In extreme cases, invasive treatment may be required.

Heart failure (including its various variants)

Heart failure is a condition where the heart does not pump enough blood to the body's organs. Through a problem with the delivery of oxygenated blood, the organs may have impaired function. Heart failure can be divided into acute (symptoms of failure appear suddenly), chronic and congestive heart failure. The cause of heart failure is usually a heart attack, hypertension, valvular defects or cardiomyopathy. Other causes include myocarditis or diabetes. Treatment of heart failure can be divided into causal (elimination of the causes of heart failure), pharmacological and non-pharmacological (e.g. implementation of physical activity, reduction of alcohol consumption, smoking cessation)

Valve defects

Heart valve defe cts can have various causes - they can be congenital (related to abnormal valve structure, developed during fetal life) and acquired defects (related to post-mortem complications, post-infarction complications). Heart valve defects can take the form of stenosis (the valve does not open completely) or valvular regurgitation (a problem with the valve leaflets and their leakage). Heart valve diseases can be treated surgically or non-surgically (known as balloon valvuloplasty).

Myocarditis (or inflammation of the heart muscle)

A disease with a difficult-to-predict course, which can be caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Myocarditis can range from fulminant to acute to chronic. Each of these is dangerous to health and life. Treatment depends on the severity of the disease, but each form requires hospital treatment.

Heart disease, photo: panthermedia

Pericarditis or endocarditis

Pericarditis is an inflammation that develops in the pericardial sac (the place where the heart is placed). Causes of pericarditis can include viral infections, kidney failure or hypothyroidism. Pericarditis is treated pharmacologically, with anti-inflammatory drugs and steroids. Endocarditis is an inflammation of the heart cavities, valves and blood vessels which, in extreme cases, can lead to myocardial infarction. Treatment is based on antibiotic therapy and often hospitalisation.

Atrioventricular block

Atrioventricularblock is a temporary, paroxysmal or permanent disturbance of the conduction of impulses from the sinus node. Treatment depends on the severity; if untreated, it can lead to dangerous disorders known as torsade de pointes or symptomatic bradycardia.

way4cure.com

The most common heart diseases and their treatments

Related

Topics

See also in

WE RECOMMEND CATEGORY CONTENT Other diseases