Nutritional Cardiomyopathy Heart muscle can be damaged by toxins. In the United States, the most severe form of cardiomyopathy caused by toxins occurs among people who drink alcohol heavily. Excessive intake of alcohol can poison the heart muscle. In rare…
Myocarditis Myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscle, is a type of cardiomyopathy that occurs as a rare complication of an infection, usually caused by a virus. In mild cases, the only symptoms may be slight chest pain, shortness of…
Pulmonary hypertension is elevated blood pressure in the lungs. The disorder can result from any disease that blocks the flow of blood or oxygen through the lungs, such as congenital (present at birth) heart disease, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema. People…
Infective Endocarditis The endocardium is the inner lining of the heart muscle and covering of the heart valves. If the endocardium is damaged, such as from mitral regurgitation, bacteria or other germs can infect the damaged area. As the microorganisms…
Aortic Insufficiency If the aortic valve (the valve between the aorta and the left ventricle) does not close properly, aortic insufficiency (also called aortic incompetence or aortic regurgitation) may develop. The left ventricle of the heart pumps blood through the…
Mitral Valve Prolapse Mitral valve prolapse is a deformity of the mitral valve that can sometimes produce mitral regurgitation. Mitral valve prolapse produces a sound called a heart murmur that a doctor can hear through a stethoscope. This condition is…
Aortic Stenosis Aortic stenosis occurs when the aortic valve (the valve between the aorta and the left ventricle) becomes abnormally thick or the valve flaps (leaflets) become stuck together, narrowing the opening. The aorta is the artery through which the…
Mitral Regurgitation If the mitral valve does not close properly, the blood circulating through the heart may leak back into the left atrium (one of the two upper chambers of the heart) from the left ventricle (one of the two…
Heart Block The heart rate is controlled by a natural pacemaker called the sinoatrial node, a group of specialized cells in the wall of the right atrium (the upper right chamber of the heart). The sinoatrial node transmits electrical impulses…
Ectopic Heartbeats Ectopic heartbeats are irregular beats among otherwise normal heartbeats that feel as though the heart has either missed or gained a beat. This condition is common and usually does not require treatment. If you are bothered by an…