Cardiovascular Conditions and Procedures |
Coronary Artery Disease / Bypass Surgery Three major coronary arteries supply blood to the heart. Each of these arteries has multiple branches on the heart’s surface. Some risk factors for coronary artery disease can be changed by lifestyle changes or medicines. Heart Valve Disease / Valve Surgery A heart valve may be abnormal from birth, and because of this, it may deteriorate over time. Valves may also fail due to infection, rheumatic fever, injury and aging. Sometimes valves fail due to unknown causes. The most commonly affected valves are the aortic, mitral and tricuspid. Atrial Fibrillation / AFib Surgery Atrial Fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disturbance, or arrhythmia, in the United States. At any given time, it affects up to 5 million people, many of whom are without symptoms. AFib can occur at any age, but is more common in older individuals, especially those over the age of 60. Heart Failure / Heart Failure Surgery Heart failure is a condition in which the heart loses its ability to efficiently pump blood to the body. The causes of heart failure, or cardiomyopathy, include hypertension, ischemia, family history, viral infections and valve disease. The heart depends on electrical impulses to control its speed and rhythm. When the heart’s electrical system is faulty, patients may develop an abnormal heart beat, an arrhythmia. There are several different types of arrhythmias, including fast, slow and irregular heart beats. |
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