Mar 20th, 2023 - Overview An arrhythmia disrupts the way heartbeat signals normally travel through your heart. What is arrhythmia? An arrhythmia (also called dysrhythmia) is an abnormal heartbeat. Arrhythmias can start in different parts of your heart and they can be too fast, too slow or just irregular. Normally, your heart beats in an organized, coordinated way. Issues with various parts of your heart — or ev...

Mar 2nd, 2023 - Diagnosis Diagnosing vasovagal syncope often begins with a physical examination. During the physical exam, your doctor will listen to your heart and take your blood pressure. He or she may also massage the main arteries in your neck to see if that causes you to feel faint. Your doctor may also recommend several tests to rule out other possible causes of your fainting — particularly heart-relate...

Feb 23rd, 2023 - Overview Pulmonary valve disease affects the valve between the heart's lower right chamber and the artery that delivers blood to the lungs. That artery is called the pulmonary artery. The valve is called the pulmonary valve. A diseased pulmonary valve doesn't work properly. Pulmonary valve disease changes how blood flows from the heart to the lungs. The pulmonary valve usually acts like a one-w...

Feb 23rd, 2023 - Pulmonary valve disease care at Mayo Clinic Your Mayo Clinic care team Mayo Clinic doctors trained in heart conditions (cardiologists), doctors trained in treating children with heart conditions (pediatric cardiologists), heart surgeons (cardiovascular surgeons) and other specialists work together as a team to deliver coordinated, comprehensive care. This collaborative approach means care provi...

Feb 8th, 2023 - Overview Barrett's esophagus Open pop-up dialog box Close Barrett's esophagus Barrett's esophagus In Barrett's esophagus, normally flat, pink cells are replaced with a thick, red lining with potential for cancerous changes, thought to be triggered by long-standing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Barrett's esophagus is a condition in which the flat pink lining of the swallowing tube that...

Jan 19th, 2023 - Diagnosis Sudden cardiac arrest happens suddenly and requires emergency medical care at a hospital. If the heart is quickly restored, survival is possible. When you are stable, health care providers at the hospital run tests to determine the cause. Tests Tests are done to help determine how well the heart pumps blood and to look for diseases that affect the heart. Tests for sudden cardiac arres...

Jan 4th, 2023 - Overview How heartburn and GERD occur Open pop-up dialog box Close How heartburn and GERD occur How heartburn and GERD occur Acid reflux occurs when the sphincter muscle at the lower end of your esophagus relaxes at the wrong time, allowing stomach acid to back up into your esophagus. This can cause heartburn and other signs and symptoms. Frequent or constant reflux can lead to GERD. Gastroesop...

Dec 20th, 2022 - Overview Pulmonary stenosis Open pop-up dialog box Close Pulmonary stenosis Pulmonary stenosis In pulmonary stenosis, the pulmonary valve is narrowed. The greater the narrowing, the harder the lower right heart chamber, called the right ventricle, must work to pump blood to the lungs. The increased pressure causes the right ventricle to become thick. Pulmonary valve stenosis is a narrowing of t...

Dec 20th, 2022 - Diagnosis Pulmonary valve stenosis is often diagnosed in childhood. But it may not be detected until later in life. A health care provider uses a stethoscope to listen to the heart. A whooshing sound, called a heart murmur, may be heard. The sound is caused by choppy blood flow across the narrowed valve. Tests to diagnose pulmonary valve stenosis include: Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). This qu...

Dec 2nd, 2022 - Overview Pylorus Open pop-up dialog box Close Pylorus Pylorus The pylorus is a muscular valve that holds food in the stomach until it is ready for the next stage in the digestive process. Pyloric stenosis Open pop-up dialog box Close Pyloric stenosis Pyloric stenosis In pyloric stenosis, the pylorus muscles thicken, blocking food from entering the baby's small intestine. Pyloric stenosis is an ...

Nov 30th, 2022 - Overview Strep throat is a bacterial infection that can make your throat feel sore and scratchy. Strep throat accounts for only a small portion of sore throats. If untreated, strep throat can cause complications, such as kidney inflammation or rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever can lead to painful and inflamed joints, a specific type of rash, or heart valve damage. Strep throat is most common in ...

Nov 29th, 2022 - Overview Esophagitis (uh-sof-uh-JIE-tis) is inflammation of the esophagus. The esophagus is the muscular tube that delivers food from your mouth to your stomach. Esophagitis can cause painful, difficult swallowing and chest pain. Many different things can cause esophagitis. Some common causes include stomach acids backing up into the esophagus, infection, oral medicines and allergies. Treatment...

Nov 18th, 2022 - Overview The four flaws of tetralogy of Fallot. What is tetralogy of Fallot? Tetralogy of Fallot is a heart condition in which a baby is born with four abnormalities in how their heart developed. These issues make it hard for the baby’s heart to send enough oxygen to their entire body. Normally, your blood travels a specific route through your heart with every heartbeat. Because of the structur...

Nov 12th, 2022 - Diagnosis Truncus arteriosus is usually diagnosed soon after a child is born. The baby may look blue or gray and have trouble breathing. When a baby is born, a health care provider always listens to the baby's lungs to check breathing. If a baby has truncus arteriosus, the provider may hear sounds of fluid in the lungs during this exam. The provider also listens to the baby's heart to check for...

Nov 7th, 2022 - Overview What is orthostatic hypotension? Orthostatic hypotension is a sudden drop in blood pressure when you stand from a seated or prone (lying down) position. You may feel dizzy or even faint. Orthostatic means an upright posture. Hypotension is low blood pressure. This type of low blood pressure is also called postural hypotension. What is blood pressure? Blood pressure measures the force o...

Oct 31st, 2022 - Overview What is aortic regurgitation? Aortic regurgitation refers to a leaky aortic valve. With this condition, the leaflets (flaps) of your aortic valve don’t close as tightly as they should. As a result, some blood that should move out of your heart leaks backward each time your heart beats. Aortic regurgitation is a form of heart valve disease that ranges from mild to severe. It requires ca...

Oct 28th, 2022 - Overview Esophageal spasms are painful contractions within the muscular tube connecting your mouth and stomach. This tube is called the esophagus. Esophageal spasms can feel like sudden, severe chest pain that lasts from a few minutes to hours. Some people may mistake it for heart pain, also called angina. Esophageal spasms typically occur only occasionally and might not need treatment. But som...

Oct 25th, 2022 - Overview A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a hole in the heart that didn't close the way it should after birth. The hole is a small flaplike opening between the upper heart chambers. The upper chambers of the heart are called the atria. As a baby grows in the womb, an opening called the foramen ovale (foh-RAY-mun oh-VAY-lee) sits between the upper heart chambers. It typically closes during infanc...

Oct 18th, 2022 - Overview Stomach and pyloric valve Open pop-up dialog box Close Stomach and pyloric valve Stomach and pyloric valve Your stomach is a muscular sac about the size of a small melon that expands when you eat or drink. It holds as much as a gallon (3.8 liters) of food or liquid. Once your stomach breaks down the food, strong muscular contractions known as peristaltic waves push the food toward the ...

Oct 7th, 2022 - Diagnosis To diagnosis mitral valve stenosis, your health care provider examines you and asks questions about your symptoms and medical history. You'll also be asked about your family's medical history. The provider listens to your heart with a device called a stethoscope. Mitral valve stenosis often causes an irregular heart sound due to the narrowed opening. This is called a heart murmur. The...