Cardiovascular Conditions

A rare disease that occurs when an abnormal protein, called amyloid, builds up in the organs and interferes with normal functioning. Amyloids can deposit in any tissue or organ, including the heart.

Aneurysm - is an abnormal bulge in the wall of a blood vessel.

Angina pectoris (chest pain) is pain or discomfort that occurs when a part of your heart muscle doesn’t get enough blood and oxygen. Angina may be a symptom of coronary artery disease (CAD). This is when arteries that carry blood to your heart muscle is narrow and blocked.

An abnormal heartbeat.

Learn more about arrythmias.

Atherosclerosis- or coronary artery disease (CAD); buildup of fatty deposits and plaque on the inner walls of the artery. Over time, this buildup narrows the arteries and reduces their ability to carry blood effectively.

Atrial fibrillation - or afib; the most common irregular heart rhythm.

Learn more about atrial fibrillation

Blood clot- gel-like clump of blood that can partly or completely block the flow of blood in a blood vessel. A blood clot that forms inside a vein or artery is called a thrombus. A thrombus may break loose and travel from one location in the body to another; for example, when a clot travels to the lung, this is known as a pulmonary embolism.

Bradycardia- a slow heart rate.

Cardiac arrest- sudden loss of all heart activity due to an irregular heart rhythm. Emergency treatment for cardiac arrest includes cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and shocks to the heart with a device called an automated external defibrillator (AED). Without immediate treatment, sudden cardiac arrest can lead to death.

Cardiomyopathy- a disease of the heart muscle, making it difficult to pump blood to the rest of the body.

Carotid artery disease- narrowing of the arteries to the brain. The narrowing is caused by atherosclerosis (plaque), therefore reducing blood flow to the brain.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) – is a pulmonary vascular disease caused by a chronic blockage in the blood vessels (arteries) that deliver blood to the lungs.

Chronic venous insufficiency disease- a condition that affects the veins in the legs. These veins return blood to the heart. When the valves within the vein are not working properly, blood can pool in the legs and cause increased pressure in the leg veins. This can cause symptoms like swelling, darkening of the skin, rash, skin infection or chronic sores.

Claudication- pain that occurs when the muscles in the legs are not getting enough blood during activity, such as walking or exercising.

Coronary artery disease- or atherosclerosis; a condition that occurs when a buildup of fatty deposits and plaque form on the inner walls of a coronary artery (artery that supplies blood to the heart). Over time, this buildup causes narrowing of the coronary artery and reduces the ability to carry blood effectively to the artery.

Coronary microvascular disease- occurs when there is damage to the inside walls of the smallest coronary arteries (arteries that supply blood to the heart). This reduces blood supply to these small vessels, which may cause spasms.

Critical limb ischemia- an advanced stage of peripheral artery disease that causes severe narrowing of arteries to the arms or legs. This is caused by atherosclerosis, or plaque that forms inside an artery, which significantly reduces blood flow to those areas.

DVT - A blood clot that occurs deep within a vein.

Endocarditis- inflammation of the inner lining of the heart’s chambers and valves. When this inflammation is caused by an infection, it is known as infective endocarditis.

Heart attack- or myocardial infarction (MI); occurs when one or more of the heart’s coronary arteries is unable to provide adequate blood flow to the heart due to a blocked coronary artery. This can cause the heart muscle to become damaged. A heart attack is a medical emergency.

Learn more about heart attack.

Conditions characterized by a slower heart rate or an abnormal heart rhythm. This abnormal rhythm is caused by a problem with the electrical system of the heart.

Heart failure- a chronic, progressive condition in which the heart is weak and cannot pump blood effectively through the body. There are two different types of heart failure- systolic and diastolic. Systolic heart failure occurs when the heart does not squeeze with enough force to pump oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. With diastolic heart failure, the heart squeezes normally, but the main pumping chamber cannot relax properly.

Learn more about heart failure.

Heart murmur- an additional heart sound during the heartbeat cycle. It typically has a “swishing” sound and can be heard with a stethoscope during a physical examination with a healthcare professional.

Hypertension- or high blood pressure; a condition in which there is persistently high pressure in the blood vessels. The heart must work harder, which causes strain on the arteries as they carry blood. Hypertension is the leading cause of heart attacks, heart failure and stroke.

High cholesterol- or hyperlipidemia; when the blood has high levels of lipids (fats), such as cholesterol or triglycerides.

Mesenteric ischemia- inadequate blood flow to the small intestine, commonly caused by a blood clot.

Metabolic syndrome- a collection of conditions and risk factors that increase the chance of developing heart disease.

Peripheral arterial disease- a narrowing of the arteries of the arms and legs. This may be caused by atherosclerosis (a build-up of plaque) and reduces blood flow to the affected areas.

Pulmonary embolism- a blood clot that forms in a vein deep within the body and then travels to a blood vessel in the lung. The clot suddenly blocks blood flow to the lung.

Pulmonary hypertension - high blood pressure in the arteries between the heart and the lungs.

Renal artery stenosis- narrowing of the arteries to the kidneys. The narrowing is caused by atherosclerosis (plaque) and reduces blood flow to the kidneys.

Resistant hypertension - high blood pressure that is difficult to manage despite the use of multiple medications.

Syncope - or fainting; brief loss of consciousness. This may occur with a sudden drop in blood pressure or heart rate, resulting in changes in the amount of blood in areas of the body.

An elevated heart rate.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy - or broken heart syndrome; a temporary condition in which the heart becomes suddenly enlarged. This typically occurs because of extreme emotional stress.

Valvular heart disease- characterized by one or more dysfunctional heart valves that either do not open or close properly. The four valves of the heart include the aortic, mitral, tricuspid, and pulmonic. The valves function together to facilitate healthy blood flow to and from the heart.