HEART CONDITIONS

LQTS
“Stricken in the prime of life”—that’s how researcher Dr. Andrew Krahn describes the five out of every 10,000 Canadians who suffer from long QT syndrome (LQTS).

Depression: are you at risk?
Three-quarters of Canadians report feeling depressed at least once a year.

Congestive Heart Failure
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) or heart failure usually develops gradually. It is a condition in which the heart does not pump as strongly as it should.

Angina
In its most basic terms, angina (angina pectoris is the full medical term) is chest pain.

Bacterial Endocarditis
Infective endocarditis (also known as bacterial endocarditis) is an infection of the heart valves or lining of the heart.

Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy (cardio-my-op-pa-thee) is a term used to describe a group of heart muscle diseases.

Kawasaki Disease
Kawasaki disease is a children's disease. In about 20% of cases, it affects the heart or coronary arteries.

Marfan Syndrome
Marfan syndrome is a connective tissue disorder. Connective tissue provides substance and support to tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, cartilage, heart valves and many other structures.

Pericarditis
Pericarditis is an infection of the pericardium, the thin, tough bag-like membrane covering the heart. Pericarditis may be acute (develops suddenly) or chronic (develops over a long period).

Peripheral Vascular Disease
Peripheral vascular disease is a term used to describe a group of diseases of the peripheral blood vessels (those outside the heart) as well as diseases of the lymph vessels.

Rheumatic Heart Disease
Rheumatic heart disease is a term used to describe a group of acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) heart disorders that may occur as a result of rheumatic fever.

Specific Medications
There are a number of specific medications used to treat the various types of heart diseases.

Thrombus/Thrombosis
A thrombus (plural - thrombi) is a blood clot that forms inside a blood vessel or cavity of the heart. The term "thrombosis" refers to the process by which blood clots form.

Valve Disorders
Just what is a valve disorder? How serious is it? What can modern medicine do about a valve problem?

Arryhthmias
Arrhythmias or dysrhythmias are abnormal rhythms of the heart.

Congenital Heart Disease
Congenital means inborn or existing at birth. A congenital heart defect occurs when the heart or the blood vessels near the heart don't develop normally before birth.

Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary artery disease occurs when important blood vessels become narrowed or blocked and can no longer give enough blood to meet the heart’s demand.