Common Heart Conditions

• Arrhythmia (dysrhythmia): An abnormal heart rhythm due to changes in the conduction of electrical impulses through the heart. Some arrhythmia are are life-threatening.
• Atrial fibrillation: Abnormal electrical impulses in the atria cause an irregular heartbeat. Atrial fibrillation is one of the most common arrhythmia.
• Cardiac arrest: Sudden loss of heart function.
• Cardiomyopathy: A disease of heart muscle in which the heart is abnormally enlarged, thickened, and/or stiffened.
• Congestive heart failure: The heart is either too weak or too stiff to effectively pump blood through the body. Shortness of breath and leg swelling are common symptoms.
• Coronary artery disease: Cholesterol plaques narrow the arteries supplying blood to the heart. The narrowed arteries are at higher risk for complete blockage from a sudden blood clot (this blockage is called a heart attack).
• Endocarditis: Inflammation of the inner lining or heart valves of the heart.
• Heart murmur: An abnormal sound from heart. Some suggest heart disease.
• Heart valve disease: If one of four heart valves caused any severe problem, it can cause congestive heart failure.
• Myocardial infarction (heart attack): A coronary artery is suddenly blocked.
• Myocarditis: Inflammation of the heart muscle, most often due to a viral infection.
• Pericarditis: Inflammation of the lining of the heart (pericardium). Viral infections, kidney failure, and autoimmune conditions are common causes.
• Pulmonary embolism: Typically a blood clot travels through the heart to the lungs. 
• Stable angina pectoris: Narrowed coronary arteries cause predictable chest pain or discomfort with exertion. The blockages prevent the heart from receiving the extra oxygen needed for strenuous activity. 
• Sudden cardiac death: Death caused by a sudden loss of heart function (cardiac arrest).