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Heart Problems

Learn about heart problems

Photo of a woman gazing out a window

Everyone can benefit from learning about heart health. If you or a loved one is living with a heart condition, or if you want to learn how to prevent heart problems in the future, our topics can give you the information you need. From heart defects in babies to heart failure in older people, we cover a wide range of heart problems.

Learn more about heart problems in topics such as:

More Information

Health Topics
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Acute Coronary Syndrome Alan's Story: Coping With Change After a Heart Attack Alcohol and Heart Disease Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy American Heart Association Healthy Diet Guidelines Anesthesia Angina Angioplasty for Coronary Artery Disease Angioplasty for Heart Attack and Unstable Angina Aortic Aneurysm Aortic Dissection Aortic Valve Regurgitation Aortic Valve Regurgitation: Deciding About Surgery Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery Aortic Valve Stenosis Aortic Valve Stenosis Complications Aortic Valve Stenosis: Treatment When You Have Other Heart Problems Arrhythmias and Sexual Activity Arrhythmias: Foods That Affect Heart Rate Aspirin Atherectomy for Coronary Artery Disease Atherosclerosis Atrial Fibrillation Atrial Fibrillation and Daily Life Automated Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring Balloon Valvotomy for Mitral Valve Stenosis Balloon Valvuloplasty for Aortic Valve Stenosis Birth Control Pills, Hormone Therapy, and Coronary Artery Disease Blood Clots in the Leg Veins Blood Pressure Screening Bradycardia (Slow Heart Rate) Cardiac Arrest Cardiac Cachexia Cardiac Device Monitoring Cardiac Rehabilitation Cardiac Rehabilitation Phase I: In the Hospital Cardiac Rehabilitation Phase II: Hospital to Home Cardiac Rehabilitation Phase III: Outpatient Program Cardiac Rehabilitation Phase IV: Long-Term Lifestyle Change Cardiac Rehabilitation Team Cardiac Rehabilitation: Medicine and Exercise Cardiac Rehabilitation: Monitoring Your Body's Response to Exercise Cardiac Rehabilitation: Weight and Resistance Training Cardiomyopathy Cardiovascular Syphilis Care at the End of Life Catheter Ablation for a Fast Heart Rate Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation Central Venous Catheters Change in Heartbeat Chest Problems Cholesterol and Triglycerides: Eating Fish and Fish Oil Cholesterol in Children and Teens Classification of Heart Failure Congenital Heart Defect Types Congenital Heart Defects Congenital Heart Defects in Adults Congenital Heart Defects That Cause Aortic Valve Stenosis Congenital Heart Defects: Caring for Your Child Congenital Heart Defects: Complications Congenital Heart Defects: Exercise and Sports Congenital Heart Defects: Pregnancy Congenital Heart Defects: Prostaglandins and Prostaglandin Inhibitors Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: How It Is Done Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: How to Prepare Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: Recovering in the Hospital Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: Self-Care for Recovery Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: The Recovery Process Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: What to Expect After You Go Home Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: Day One of Recovery Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: Minimally Invasive Methods Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: When You Arrive at the Hospital Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: Your Medical Team Coronary Artery Disease Coronary Artery Disease Risk Screening Coronary Artery Disease: Eating Fish to Lower Your Risk Coronary Artery Disease: Helping a Loved One Coronary Artery Disease: Roles of Different Doctors DASH Diet Sample Menu Depression and Coronary Artery Disease Diastolic Heart Failure Dilated Cardiomyopathy Diuretics and Potassium Supplements Driving a Car After a Stroke Drug-Eluting Stents Elbow Pain: Other Causes of Pain Electrical Cardioversion (Defibrillation) for a Fast Heart Rate Electrical Cardioversion for Atrial Fibrillation Electrical System of the Heart Endocarditis Endovascular Repair for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Familial Lipid Disorders Family History of Heart Disease Fast Heart Rate General Anesthesia Genetic Test for Clopidogrel Health Problems Associated With Adult Obesity Health Tracking Forms and Checklists Heart Arrhythmias and Exercise Heart Attack and Unstable Angina Heart Attack: How to Prevent Another One Heart Block Heart Disease: Prevention Myths Heart Failure Heart Failure and Sexual Activity Heart Failure and Sleep Problems Heart Failure Complications Heart Failure Stages Heart Failure Symptoms Heart Failure Types Heart Failure: Avoiding Colds and Flu Heart Failure: Compensation by the Heart and Body Heart Failure: Disease Management Programs Heart Failure: Eating a Healthy Diet Heart Failure: Less Common Symptoms Heart Failure: Tips for Caregivers Heart Failure: Tips for Easier Breathing Heart Murmur Heart Rhythm Problems and Driving Heart Rhythm Problems: Diary of Symptoms Heart Rhythm Problems: How to Travel Safely Heart Rhythm Problems: Symptoms Heart Tests: When Do You Need Them? Heart Transplant Heart Valve Disease Heart Valve Disease and Pregnancy Heart Valve Replacement Surgery Heart Valve Replacement Surgery: Life After Surgery Heart Valve Replacement Surgery: Minimally Invasive Methods Heart Valve Replacement: How to Prepare Heart Valve Surgery: Recovery Heart-Healthy Eating Heart-Healthy Lifestyle Helping a Loved One After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery High Blood Pressure High Blood Pressure in African Americans High Blood Pressure Treatment Guidelines High Blood Pressure, Transient Ischemic Attack, and Stroke High Blood Pressure: Nutrition Tips High Cholesterol High Cholesterol Treatment Guidelines Based on Heart Attack Risk High Cholesterol: Effect of Food on Cholesterol High Cholesterol: Healthy Food Choices High Cholesterol: How a Dietitian Can Help High Triglycerides High-Output Heart Failure How to Find Sodium Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Types Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Risk of Sudden Death Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) Interactive Tool: Are You at Risk for a Heart Attack? Interactive Tool: How Does Smoking Increase Your Risk of Heart Attack? Interactive Tool: What Is Your Risk for a Stroke if You Have Atrial Fibrillation? Interactive Tool: What Is Your Target Heart Rate? Interactive Tools Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump Ischemia Isolated Systolic High Blood Pressure Joan's Story: Coping With Depression and Anxiety From Heart Failure Joyce's Story: Feeling Better With a Pacemaker Kawasaki Disease Kawasaki Disease: Criteria to Diagnose Laparoscopic Surgery Lipid Panel Living With More Than One Health Problem Low Blood Pressure (Hypotension) Low-Dose Aspirin Therapy Malignant High Blood Pressure Maze Procedure for Atrial Fibrillation Medicines to Prevent Abnormal Heart Rhythm in Heart Failure Mediterranean Diet Mitral Valve Disease: Heart Rhythm Problems Mitral Valve Prolapse Mitral Valve Prolapse: Children Who Play Sports Mitral Valve Regurgitation Mitral Valve Regurgitation and Exercise Mitral Valve Regurgitation: Repair or Replace the Valve? Mitral Valve Regurgitation: Severity Mitral Valve Repair Surgery (Commissurotomy) for Mitral Valve Stenosis Mitral Valve Replacement Surgery Mitral Valve Stenosis Mitral Valve Stenosis: Repair or Replacement? Modify Recipes for a Heart-Healthy Diet Monitoring and Medicines for Heart Failure Monitoring During Anesthesia Myxoma Tumors of the Heart Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) Open Repair Surgery for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Organ Transplant Organ Transplants: Antirejection Medicines Pacemaker for Atrial Fibrillation Pacemaker for Bradycardia Pacemaker for Heart Failure (Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy) Paget's Disease and Heart Failure Paradoxical Embolism Passing Out (Syncope) Caused by Arrhythmias People Who Need Antibiotics to Prevent Endocarditis Pericarditis Peripheral Arterial Disease and Exercise Peripheral Arterial Disease: Pulse and Blood Pressure Measurement Planning to Be an Organ Donor Prehypertension Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVCs) Pressure Injuries From Scuba Diving Procedural Sedation Procedures That May Require Antibiotics to Prevent Endocarditis Pulmonary Embolism Quick Tips: Self-Care for Heart Failure Quick Tips: Taking Charge of Your Angina Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) Restrictive Cardiomyopathy Resuming Sexual Activity After a Heart Attack Rheumatic Fever and Heart Problems Right-Sided Heart Failure Risk Factors for Coronary Artery Disease Risks and Benefits of Medicines for Heart Failure Sarcoidosis Scleroderma Secondary High Blood Pressure Sex and Your Heart Sick Sinus Syndrome Sleep Apnea Complications Smoking and Coronary Artery Disease Smoking and Stroke Risk Smoking: Heart Attack and Stroke Risks Sodium and High Blood Pressure SPECT Image of the Heart Spinal Cord Injury: Autonomic Dysreflexia Stages of Lyme Disease Stroke and TIA: Who Is Affected Stroke: Bladder and Bowel Problems Stroke: Changes in Emotions Stroke: Dealing With Depression Stroke: Getting Dressed Stroke: Preventing Injury in Affected Limbs Stroke: Speech and Language Problems Stroke: Your Rehabilitation Team Supraventricular Tachycardia Systolic Heart Failure Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) Diet for High Cholesterol Thrombolytic Medicines for Pulmonary Embolism Tilt Table Test Tips for Success With the Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) Diet TLC Diet Sample Menu Triggers of Sudden Heart Failure Turning Off Your ICD Types of Bradycardia Types of Supraventricular Tachycardia Using Nitroglycerin for Angina Vagal Maneuvers for a Fast Heart Rate Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) for Heart Failure Ventricular Tachycardia Ventriculogram Warfarin and Vitamin K Weight and Coronary Artery Disease What to Do if Your Cardiac Device Is Recalled When to Have a Cholesterol Test Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome Women and Coronary Artery Disease Writing an Advance Directive

Medical Tests
Ambulatory Electrocardiogram Angiogram Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) Test Cardiac Blood Pool Scan Cardiac Catheterization Cardiac Enzyme Studies Cardiac Perfusion Scan Chest X-Ray Cholesterol and Triglycerides Tests Computed Tomography (CT) Scan of the Body Computed Tomography Angiogram (CT Angiogram) Coronary Calcium Scan C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Echocardiogram Electrocardiogram Electrophysiology Study Exercise Electrocardiogram Home Blood Pressure Test Pericardial Drainage

Medications
Adenosine for Fast Heart Rates Aldosterone Receptor Antagonists: Diuretics for Heart Failure Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs) Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs) for High Blood Pressure Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors for Coronary Artery Disease Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors for Heart Attack and Unstable Angina Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors for Heart Failure Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors for High Blood Pressure Antiarrhythmic Medicines for Atrial Fibrillation Antiarrhythmic Medicines for Fast Heart Rates Antiarrhythmics for Congenital Heart Defects Antibiotics for Lyme Disease Anticoagulants for Coronary Artery Disease Anticoagulants for Heart Attack and Unstable Angina Anticoagulants for Heart Valve Disease Anticoagulants for Pulmonary Embolism Anticoagulants Other Than Warfarin for Atrial Fibrillation Antiplatelet Medicine for Heart Attack and Unstable Angina Aspirin and Antiplatelets for Coronary Artery Disease Aspirin for Heart Attack and Unstable Angina Beta-Blockers for Atrial Fibrillation Beta-Blockers for Coronary Artery Disease Beta-Blockers for Fast Heart Rates Beta-Blockers for Heart Attack and Unstable Angina Beta-Blockers for Heart Failure Beta-Blockers for High Blood Pressure Beta-Blockers for Mitral Valve Prolapse Bile Acid Sequestrants for High Cholesterol Calcium Channel Blockers for Atrial Fibrillation Calcium Channel Blockers for Coronary Artery Disease Calcium Channel Blockers for Fast Heart Rates Calcium Channel Blockers for Heart Failure Calcium Channel Blockers for High Blood Pressure Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitors for High Cholesterol Digoxin for Atrial Fibrillation Digoxin for Congenital Heart Defects Digoxin for Fast Heart Rates Digoxin for Heart Failure Direct Renin Inhibitors for High Blood Pressure Diuretics for Congenital Heart Defects Diuretics for Heart Failure Diuretics for High Blood Pressure Fibric Acid Derivatives for High Cholesterol Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitors for Heart Attack and Unstable Angina Morphine for Heart Attack Nicotinic Acid for High Cholesterol Nitrates for Coronary Artery Disease Nitrates for Heart Attack and Unstable Angina Other Medicines for High Blood Pressure Oxygen Therapy for Heart Failure Statins and Statin Combinations for High Cholesterol Thrombolytics for Heart Attack and Unstable Angina Vasodilators for Congenital Heart Defects Vasodilators for Heart Failure Vasodilators for Mitral Valve Regurgitation Warfarin for Atrial Fibrillation

Make a Wise Decision
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Should I Get a Screening Test? Aortic Valve Stenosis: Should I Have Surgery? Aspirin: Should I Take Daily Aspirin to Prevent a Heart Attack or Stroke? Atrial Fibrillation: Should I Take an Anticoagulant to Prevent Stroke? Atrial Fibrillation: Should I Try Electrical Cardioversion? Atrial Fibrillation: Which Anticoagulant Should I Take To Prevent Stroke? Heart Disease Risk: Should I Have a Coronary Calcium Scan? Heart Disease: Should I Have an Angiogram? Heart Disease: Should I Have Angioplasty for Stable Angina? Heart Disease: Should I Have Bypass Surgery? Heart Failure: Should I Get a Pacemaker (Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy)? Heart Failure: Should I Get an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD)? Heart Problems: Should I Have Catheter Ablation? Heart Rate Problems: Should I Get a Pacemaker? Heart Rhythm Problems: Should I Get an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD)? Heart Valve Problems: Should I Choose a Mechanical Valve or Tissue Valve to Replace My Heart Valve? High Blood Pressure: Should I Take Medicine? High Cholesterol: Should I Take Statins?

Take Action
Blood Thinners Other Than Warfarin: Taking Them Safely Healthy Eating: Eating Less Sodium Heart Disease: Eating a Heart-Healthy Diet Heart Disease: Exercising for a Healthy Heart Heart Disease: Walking for a Healthy Heart Heart Failure: Activity and Exercise Heart Failure: Avoiding Medicines That Make Symptoms Worse Heart Failure: Avoiding Triggers for Sudden Heart Failure Heart Failure: Checking Your Weight Heart Failure: Taking Medicines Properly Heart Failure: Watching Your Fluids Heart Problems: Living With a Pacemaker Heart Problems: Living With an ICD High Blood Pressure: Checking Your Blood Pressure at Home High Blood Pressure: Taking Medicines Properly High Blood Pressure: Using the DASH Diet Warfarin: Taking Your Medicine Safely

Credits

By:

Healthwise Staff

Last Revised: October 20, 2011

Medical Review:

Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.

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