Hypertensive Heart Disease

Hypertensive Heart Disease

Hypertensive heart disease is a medical condition that can and often does develop from high blood pressure over a period of time. It also can be defined as any one of various heart problems that occur as a direct result of high blood pressure, particularly when it is not brought and kept under control. A variety of complications with the heart can follow hypertension, which is known as "the silent killer" because it often goes undetected until serious and life-threatening health problems are experienced.

What is Cardiovascular Disease?

What is Cardiovascular Disease?

Cardiovascular disease is a general term encompassing meanings for various ailments of the heart and the blood vessels surrounding the heart. The terms cardiovascular disease and heart disease are used interchangeably by many people and both are acceptable forms. It can be quite serious and often require serious medical attention from a trained specialist.

Most types of cardiovascular disease deal with the hardening and clotting of arteries. This can lead to heart attacks and strokes in their most serious form. Both conditions are capable of resulting in death. While improvements have been made in cardiovascular disease treatment over the last 50 years in particular, the disease is still considered very dangerous.

Cyanotic Heart Disease

What Is Cyanotic Heart Disease?

Cyanotic heart disease is a congenital condition that impairs blood flow to and from the lungs. As a result, blood that gets pumped through the body contains an insufficient amount of oxygen. The most obvious characteristic of cyanotic heart disease is a bluish tint to the lips and skin, a clear sign that there is not enough oxygen in the bloodstream. Many cases of cyanotic heart disease are mild and can be treated with surgery and medications. More severe problems may necessitate a heart transplant to prevent fatal complications.

Congenital Heart Disease

What Is Congenital Heart Disease?

Congenital heart disease includes any type of heart defect or malfunctioning heart problem that is present at birth. These diseases arise during fetal development, and may be due to a wide variety of causes. There are many different forms of congenital heart disease which may vary greatly in severity, condition management, and treatment options.

Although it is not known for certain what causes congenital heart disease, certain issues are believed to contribute to the likelihood of a heart condition developing in a fetus. Some medical experts believe that some conditions may develop as a result of a viral infection during the pregnancy. Genetic factors may also be a source of congenital disease, although this concept is still not completely confirmed. Many medical experts also believe that smoking, drinking, and drug abuse can inhibit fetal development in a variety of ways and may be a contributing factor to congenital heart disease.

What Is Rheumatic Heart Disease?

What Is Rheumatic Heart Disease?

Rheumatic heart disease is a condition that can take place when an individual experiences recurring episodes of rheumatic fever. Normally, the condition involves the development of scar tissue in the heart valves, as well as changes in the myocardium. Both these changes to the heart can make it more difficult for the organ to pump blood efficiently, which in turn places additional stress on the heart.

In order to understand how rheumatic heart disease comes about, it is important to know what happens when the individual experiences an episode of rheumatic fever. The fever itself is an inflammatory disease that manifests itself as strep in the throat. The infection in the throat can work through the connective tissue in the body, eventually making its way to the joints, the skin, and even the heart and the brain. The best known treatment for rheumatic fever is the use of antibiotics to kill the infection.