Other Cardiovascular Conditions

Watch this to learn that angina can happen at rest.

Watch to see how Charlie uses nitroglycerin pills to help when he has chest discomfort.

Learn what angina is, what causes it, and how to recognize the signs and symptoms of this serious condition.

Do you have an uncomfortable feeling in your chest? Do you feel sharp or dull pain, or crushing or burning sensations? Do you feel vague discomfort? Let's look at the wide range of problems that can cause chest pain.

Understand how angina may show up differently in men and women, and learn common tests for angina.

Watch this video to learn the different treatment options available to treat angina.

Learn how making a few changes in your lifestyle can help manage your angina.

My Angina Log provides a place to document when and how often you had angina on a specific day as well as what triggered it. Also, this log allows you to rate your level of pain or discomfort, how long the angina lasted, and what you did for it. © AHA

Angina is chest pain or discomfort that occurs when your heart doesn't get as much blood and oxygen as it needs. In angina, the need for increased blood flow isn't met for a short time. When increased demand for blood goes away, angina symptoms go away too. While the pain of angina may come and go, it's a sign of heart disease and can be treated. Lifestyle changes, medications, medical procedures and surgery can help reduce angina. © AHA

Learn about the various methods and medications commonly used to treat coronary artery disease.

Understand how coronary artery disease causes stable and unstable angina, and why immediate action is important when you experience angina or other symptoms of a possible heart attack.

Watch this to help understand that symptoms of heart disease can be different in women than in men.

Watch how coronary artery disease develops, leading to potential artery blockage and myocardial infarction, or heart attack.

Coronary arteries are the blood vessels that feed your heart muscle. If the arteries harden and narrow, your heart muscle can't get the blood it needs to work well. Coronary heart disease can lead to a heart attack. It is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States.

Watch this to learn what time heart attacks most commonly occur.

This program will help you to understand that if you have coronary artery disease, making healthy lifestyle changes and taking medications as directed can help you reduce your risk for a heart attack.

These are clumps of blood that form when blood cells stick together. Some types of clots are helpful. For example, when you're cut, your blood forms a clot to seal the wound. But sometimes, blood clots can form inside your arteries or veins for other reasons. They can clog your blood vessels. This can be life-threatening.

Learn strategies that will help you manage your PAD symptoms and prevent long-term complications.

Watch this to learn when you should call the doctor when you have PAD.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a blood clot in the vein. Learn about the causes, how it is diagnoses, treatments, and how it can be prevented. © AHA

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) can affect men and women of all ages, races and ethnicities. People most at risk have extended hospital stays; are not moving for long periods because of bed rest or long-duration travel; and have had hip-, knee- or cancer-related surgeries. © AHA

Peripheral artery disease is a form of atherosclerosis, the buildup of fatty deposits and other substances in the arteries. Atherosclerosis narrows and blocks arteries throughout the body, including in the heart, brain, arms, legs, pelvis and kidneys. © AHA

Carotid artery disease means that a large blood vessel in your neck is partly blocked. You may not have symptoms. But the condition is serious because it can lead to a stroke.

Two large blood vessels, known as the "carotid arteries," travel from your aorta up through your neck. There's one on each side of your neck. They carry blood to your head and brain. In some people, these arteries become narrowed over time by a waxy buildup called "plaque." When this happens, we say you have "carotid artery disease." This disease restricts blood flow. And it can lead to serious health problems.

This is when your blood has trouble flowing through your arteries. What are your arteries? They're the vessels that carry blood away from your heart and to all the parts of your body.

This narrowing of arteries reduces blood flow to your arms or legs. It most often affects the legs and feet. Smoking and diabetes raise your risk for this disease. So do obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, age and other factors.

Mark Ridder discusses learning his aortic stenosis was severe and required prompt treatment. Learn more about aortic stenosis at heart.org/aorticstenosis.

Mark Ridder discusses his experience in recovering from open-heart surgery for aortic stenosis and how he has been able to return to a completely normal life. Learn more about aortic stenosis at heart.org/aorticstenosis.

Thelma Hill had open-heart surgery and chose the mechanical valve for her mitral valve replacement. Learn more about heart valve disease at heart.org/heartvalves.

Thelma Hill encourages patients to be their own advocates for their health. Learn more about heart valve disease at heart.org/heartvalves.

This is a narrowing of the heart's aortic valve. That's the valve that opens to the aorta (the main vessel that carries blood from the heart to the body). With stenosis, the valve doesn't fully open. That makes it hard for your heart to pump enough blood out to your body.

Aortic stenosis is one of the most common and serious valve disease problems. It is a progressive disease causing a narrowing of the aortic valve which reduces its ability to fully open and close. © AHA

Use this milestone checklist to track your progress over the days and weeks following your surgery. © AHA

Infective endocarditis (IE) is an infection of either the heart's inner lining (endocardium) or the heart valves. Infective endocarditis is a serious — and sometimes fatal — illness. © AHA

If you have a heart murmur, you may be wondering what it means. Your physician may have told you that it was an "innocent murmur" or you may have been referred for further tests. This American Heart Association video explains the causes of heart murmurs and what you may need to know about your heart health.

This is a sound we hear when your heart beats. It's made by blood flowing through your heart's valves, or through the large vessels near your heart. There are different types of heart murmurs. Many are harmless, but some are dangerous.

Use this sheet to track your valve disease symptoms. Valve disease may have no symptoms or symptoms often worsen over time. It's important to recheck your symptoms and compare to previous notes. © AHA

Use this sheet to help you understand what your heart valve problem is, what it means, and what you should do if you experience any symptoms or conditions. © AHA

Watch this to learn what to expect before and during the TAVR procedure.

Your doctor might have recommended transcatheter mitral valve repair or replacement. Watch this to understand how and when it is performed.

If you have been diagnosed with aortic valve disease, watch this to understand why you might need a transcatheter aortic valve replacement surgery and the benefits of this procedure.

Watch this to understand what a transcatheter mitral valve replacement procedure is and the major reason they are performed.

Learn about your options for aortic valve disease, including repairing or replacing diseased valves.

Watch this to learn how you can prepare for minimally invasive transcatheter valve surgery.

Watching this video can help you to understand what to expect after your transcatheter valve surgery, including right after the procedure and long-term lifestyle changes you might need to make.

In this video, Liz has a mechanical heart valve replacement to treat a heart valve condition she's had since she was a young adult.

Learn what deep vein thrombosis is, and what puts you at risk for this dangerous condition.

This condition is a blood clot that forms in a vein deep inside the body. This type of clot most commonly develops in the legs. This condition is dangerous, because the clot can break free and travel through the bloodstream to the lungs.

See how your healthcare team will work with you to reduce your chances of developing deep vein thrombosis in the hospital.

Deep vein thrombosis is a type of blood clot that can develop when you sit still for long periods. It can also be caused by certain medical conditions that make the blood clot more easily. You can take precautions to reduce your risk for developing this dangerous condition.

When you spend long periods of time in a hospital bed, you may be at risk for developing deep vein thrombosis. This is a type of blood clot that forms in a vein, usually in the legs. You may be prone to developing this type of clot because of a blood clotting disorder or other condition. But these clots are also caused by lack of movement. If you keep your legs in the same position for long periods of time, you raise your risk for a clot. Fortunately, you can take some simple precautions to keep a clot from forming.

Learn how to recognize the signs and symptoms of deep vein thrombosis, and how it can be treated.

Watch what you can do to help prevent deep vein thrombosis while you recover at home.

Learn the lifestyle changes and daily activities that will help reduce your risk of developing deep vein thrombosis.

Learn some tips about ways to travel safely when you have Deep Vein Thrombosis.

There are about 900,000 cases of venous thromboembolism, or VTE, a year in the United States. VTE is a blood clot in the vein that requires immediate attention to avoid serious complications. That's why knowing the signs and symptoms is so important.

Venous thromboembolism, or VTE, is a blood clot in the vein, that requires immediate treatment to avoid serious complications. Treatments can include medications and in some cases surgery. Find out about the treatment options available.

This condition, commonly called "VTE," occurs when a blood clot forms in a vein deep within your body. This can happen in your leg, or in another part of your body. The clot travels through your circulatory system. When it reaches your lungs, it blocks an artery within them. This prevents oxygenation of your blood. This is a pulmonary embolism. It can be fatal.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a blood clot that starts in a vein. VTEs affect up to 600,000 people in the United States each year. There are two types: • Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) — A clot in a deep vein, usually in the leg, but sometimes in the arm or other veins. • Pulmonary embolism (PE) — When a DVT clot breaks free from a vein wall, travels to the lungs and blocks some or all of the blood supply.

This is a clog in an artery in your lung. It can happen suddenly, even in a healthy person. It's a serious medical condition that can be fatal.

Spending long hours in a bed or a chair can increase your risk for venous thromboembolism, commonly called "VTE." This is a type of blood clot that can form in a vein in your leg and then travel to your lungs. It can be fatal. It's important to follow the advice of your healthcare provider so you can prevent this dangerous condition.

An aortic aneurysm is a weak spot in your aorta that bulges or balloons outward. Aortic aneurysm is a serious medical condition. To fix it, your healthcare provider may use an endovascular repair.

An aortic aneurysm is a weak spot in your aorta that bulges or balloons outward. Aortic aneurysm is a serious medical condition. To fix it, your healthcare provider may use open surgery.

A heart murmur is blood flow that makes a noise because of a problem in or near the heart. See how a heart murmur occurs, and when it's a cause for concern.

This is a heart problem that is present at birth. In a heart with this syndrome, the left side doesn't fully develop. The underdeveloped left side can't pump enough blood out to the body.

This is a heart defect. It narrows the opening of your heart's pulmonary valve. This slows your blood flow. Pulmonary valve stenosis can be mild or severe.

This heart problem is present at birth. It's a combination of four heart defects that change the way blood flows through the heart and to the lungs. As a result, blood can't get all the oxygen it needs to supply the body's cells.

This condition is a reversal of the two major arteries that carry blood away from the heart. These are the aorta and the pulmonary artery. In a heart with TGA, these arteries switch places during the heart's formation. They connect to the wrong chambers of the heart.

This common heart problem is present at birth. It's a hole in the wall between the heart's two lower chambers. These chambers are called the "ventricles," and the wall between them is called the "septum." The hole lets oxygen-rich blood flow back to the lungs, instead of out to the body where it's needed.

This procedure is usually performed in the first year of a child's life to repair a ventricular septal defect (VSD). Sometimes called a hole in the heart, this defect occurs in the wall between the heart's two ventricular chambers, creating abnormal blood flow. The surgery closes the hole with a patch.

When body tissue dies, we call it "gangrene." You might be able to see it, like on the skin of a hand or foot. But gangrene may also happen within your body. It can happen to a muscle, organ or another part of your body you can't see.

Coronary microvascular disease (MVD) is heart disease that affects the walls and inner lining of tiny coronary artery blood vessels that branch off from the larger coronary arteries. Other names for coronary MVD are small artery disease, small vessel disease, cardiac syndrome X and nonobstructive coronary heart disease. © AHA

This disease is a buildup of a sticky, fatty substance called "plaque" on the inner walls of your arteries. Plaque buildup limits the flow of blood. This can lead to serious health problems.

This is an emergency medical condition. It happens when your blood pressure drops suddenly. We say you've "gone into shock." When you're in shock, your organs don't get the blood they need to work properly. This is life-threatening.

This is a problem with the heart's mitral valve. That's the valve between the chambers on the left side of the heart. The mitral valve opens when the heart expands, and closes when the heart contracts. But with this condition, one or both of the valve's flaps are floppy or stretchy. They don't close the way they should. Instead, they bulge into the upper chamber. Blood may leak through the valve.

This is a tear in the wall of your aorta. Your aorta is the large blood vessel that carries blood from your heart to the rest of your body. The wall of the aorta is made of three layers. An aortic dissection is a tear in the aorta's inner wall. Blood flows through the tear and separates the aorta's inner and middle layers. Blood that normally flows to other parts of your body fills this space, forming a bulge.

This is a rare and serious heart issue that can affect young, healthy people. It's triggered by a sudden, blunt impact to the chest. If this happens at just the right time during the heartbeat cycle (and in just the right place on the lower left side of the heart), it affects the heart's electrical signals. These are the signals that control the heartbeat. With commotio cordis, the heart muscle begins to flutter. The person's blood stops circulating properly. They lose consciousness. We call this "cardiac arrest." Without fast medical help, they will die.

This condition makes your heart beat much faster than normal when you stand up after sitting or lying down. It can make you to feel lightheaded or dizzy. It can cause you to faint.