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Heart disease

• Overview

Definition:

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

• Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
• Aortic regurgitation
• Aortic stenosis
• Arrhythmias
• Cardiogenic shock
• Congenital heart disease
• Coronary artery disease (CAD) Dilated cardiomyopathy
• Endocarditis
• Heart attack (myocardial infarction)
• Heart failure
• Heart tumor
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
• Idiopathic cardiomyopathy
• Ischemic cardiomyopathy
• Acute mitral regurgitation
• Chronic mitral regurgitation
• Mitral stenosis
• Mitral valve prolapse
• Peripartum cardiomyopathy
• Pulmonary stenosis
• Stable angina
• Unstable angina
• Tricuspid regurgitation

Alternative Names:

Cardiovascular disorders

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

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

• Hypertension
• Abnormal heart valve function
• Abnormal heart rhythm
• Weakening of the heart's pumping ability caused by infection or toxins

• Review Date: 11/6/2006
• Reviewed By: Glenn Gandelman, MD, MPH, Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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