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A heart attack occurs when arteries are clogged to the point of decreasing or stopping the flow of blood to the heart muscle. The lack of oxygen damages or kills heart muscle, causing the heart attack. Recognizing symptoms and getting prompt emergency treatment can eliminate, prevent or limit the amount of heart muscle damage.
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Heart block occurs when electrical impulses generated in the upper chambers of the heart are not properly transmitted to the lower chambers. The heart then beats too slowly, reducing the oxygen that gets to the body and brain.
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Heart failure, or cardiomyopathy, occurs when the heart muscle is too weak to effectively pump blood through the body. Early diagnosis and treatment can stop or slow progression of heart failure. There are two types of heart failure: diastolic, the inability of the heart to relax, thus preventing blood from entering the heart’s pumping chambers, and systolic, the inability of the heart to pump enough blood into circulation.
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Heart valve problems can be inherited or can develop and can wreak havoc on the heart’s ability to push blood from chamber to chamber. Medication and surgery are treatment options.
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Hypertension is the chronic increase in blood pressure above its normal range.
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Hypotension is the chronic decrease in blood pressure below its normal range.
