When blood clots form within blood vessels they can obstruct blood flow, which can cause blockages affecting the heart, lungs and other organs.
Cardiac CT scans (computerized tomography) diagnose coronary artery disease, a life-threatening condition that interferes with blood flow to the heart.
Coronary atherosclerosis (coronary heart disease) occurs when plaque builds up in the arteries, causing them to harden. Treatments are available.
Coronary artery disease is caused by a gradual buildup of plaque in the arteries. It's the leading cause of death for adults in the United States.
A ventricular septal defect is an abnormal hole in the wall that divides the two upper chambers in the heart, and it can cause mild to life-threatening symptoms. It is the most common type of congenital heart defect.
A medical therapy in which a machine temporarily takes over the work of a patient's lungs and heart.
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a minimally invasive approach to treating aortic stenosis (a narrowed aortic valve) that involves less pain and a quicker recovery than open heart surgery.
Atrial fibrillation or arrhythmia causes irregular heartbeats. As a result, blood flow is slowed which increases the risk of stroke.
Structural heart disease a term commonly used to describe defects or disorders in the heart’s structure—its valves, for instance. This is different than coronary disease, which is caused by plaque buildup in the arteries, which can cause chest pain and heart attack.
Congestive heart failure means the heart cannot pump blood fast enough to keep up with demand. So blood begins to back up with fluid or becomes congested.