10 Common heart diseases
Reading File
Finding Sources
Finding Sources
Finding Sources
Reading File
Reading File
Finding Sources
Finding Sources
Reading File
Reading File
Finding Sources
Finding Sources
Reading File
Finding Sources
Finding Sources
Reading File
Searching Images
common heart diseases diagram overview
I now have comprehensive information from Braunwald's Heart Disease, Textbook of Family Medicine, and other authoritative sources to provide a thorough overview of 10 common heart diseases.
10 Common Heart Diseases
1. π« Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
What it is: Atherosclerotic narrowing of the coronary arteries, reducing blood supply to the myocardium. It is the leading cause of death worldwide.
Pathophysiology: Lipid-laden plaques accumulate in coronary artery walls, triggering inflammation with macrophages and T-lymphocytes, progressive stenosis, and eventually plaque rupture with thrombosis β causing acute coronary syndromes.
Risk factors: Hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, diabetes, obesity, family history, age, male sex.
Presentations:
- Stable angina β chest pain on exertion, relieved by rest
- Unstable angina / NSTEMI β angina at rest or increasing frequency
- STEMI β complete occlusion, full-thickness infarction
Key treatment: Aspirin, statins, beta-blockers, nitrates, ACE inhibitors; revascularization with PCI or CABG.
(Source: Textbook of Family Medicine 9e; Braunwald's Heart Disease)
2. π Heart Failure (HF)
What it is: A clinical syndrome in which the heart cannot meet the metabolic requirements of the body at normal filling pressures. Over 650,000 new cases are diagnosed annually in the US, with ~50% mortality within 5 years of diagnosis.
Two major types:
- HFrEF (reduced ejection fraction, EF < 45β50%) β impaired LV contraction
- HFpEF (preserved ejection fraction, EF > 45β50%) β impaired LV filling/relaxation
Pathophysiology: LV remodeling driven by neurohormonal activation β the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and sympathetic nervous system promote myocyte apoptosis, fibrosis, and cardiac dilation. Triggers include CAD, MI, hypertension, valvular disease, diabetes, and alcohol.
Symptoms: Dyspnea, orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, fatigue, peripheral edema.
Treatment: ACE inhibitors/ARBs, beta-blockers (carvedilol, metoprolol, bisoprolol), aldosterone antagonists (spironolactone), diuretics, SGLT2 inhibitors (in HFrEF). Device therapy: ICD, CRT.
(Source: Textbook of Family Medicine 9e)
3. β‘ Arrhythmias
What it is: Disorders of the heart's electrical conduction system causing abnormal rate or rhythm.
Common types:
| Arrhythmia | Key Features |
|---|---|
| Atrial Fibrillation (AF) | Irregular, rapid atrial activity; risk of stroke; most common sustained arrhythmia |
| Ventricular Tachycardia | Life-threatening; often post-MI |
| Ventricular Fibrillation | Cardiac arrest; requires immediate defibrillation |
| Heart Block | Impaired AV conduction (1st, 2nd, 3rd degree) |
| SVT | Rapid, regular rhythm from above ventricles |
| Bradycardia/SSS | Slow heart rate from sinus node dysfunction |
AF specifics: Causes loss of atrial kick, reduces cardiac output, and produces irregular thromboembolic risk β managed with rate control, rhythm control, and anticoagulation (warfarin, DOACs).
Treatment: Antiarrhythmics, beta-blockers, cardioversion, catheter ablation, pacemakers, ICDs.
(Source: Morgan & Mikhail's Clinical Anesthesiology; Braunwald's Heart Disease)
4. π©Ί Hypertensive Heart Disease
What it is: Structural and functional changes to the heart caused by chronically elevated blood pressure (systolic β₯ 130 mmHg or diastolic β₯ 80 mmHg per current guidelines).
Effects on the heart:
- Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) β the most important cardiac complication; increases risk of HF, arrhythmia, sudden death
- Diastolic dysfunction β stiffened LV impairs filling
- Accelerates atherosclerosis β contributing to CAD
Symptoms: Often silent ("silent killer"). Advanced disease: dyspnea, angina, HF symptoms.
Treatment: Lifestyle modification; antihypertensives β ACE inhibitors, ARBs, thiazide diuretics, calcium channel blockers, beta-blockers. Target BP < 130/80 mmHg.
5. π¬ Cardiomyopathy
What it is: Disease of the heart muscle itself, causing structural and functional impairment independent of coronary artery disease or valvular disease.
Major types:
| Type | Features |
|---|---|
| Dilated (DCM) | Most common; enlarged, weakened LV; systolic failure; can be idiopathic, viral, alcoholic, peripartum |
| Hypertrophic (HCM) | Thickened LV (often asymmetric septal), often obstructive (HOCM); genetic; risk of sudden death in young athletes |
| Restrictive | Stiff, non-compliant myocardium (amyloid, sarcoid, hemochromatosis); impaired filling |
| Arrhythmogenic RV Cardiomyopathy | Fibrofatty replacement of RV myocardium; ventricular arrhythmias |
| Alcoholic | Dilated cardiomyopathy from chronic ethanol toxicity |
Treatment: Depends on type β HF medications for DCM; septal reduction for obstructive HCM; ICD for sudden death prevention; treat underlying cause.
(Source: Pfenninger and Fowler's Procedures for Primary Care 3e)
6. π« Valvular Heart Disease
What it is: Structural abnormalities of one or more of the four heart valves (aortic, mitral, tricuspid, pulmonary), causing stenosis (narrowing) or regurgitation (leaking).
Common conditions:
| Valve Disease | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Aortic Stenosis (AS) | Most common valvular abnormality in the US; calcific degeneration in elderly; bicuspid valve in younger patients. Classic triad: angina, syncope, heart failure. Valve area β€ 1.0 cmΒ² = severe |
| Aortic Regurgitation (AR) | Backflow into LV; chronic AR causes LV dilation; acute AR (aortic dissection, endocarditis) is a surgical emergency |
| Mitral Stenosis (MS) | Mostly rheumatic; impairs LV filling; risk of AF and pulmonary hypertension |
| Mitral Regurgitation (MR) | Common cause: MVP, ischemia, rheumatic fever; volume overload of LV |
| Mitral Valve Prolapse | Most common valvular abnormality overall; usually benign; increased risk of endocarditis |
Diagnosis: Echocardiography is the gold standard.
Treatment: Symptom management; definitive therapy is surgical or transcatheter valve repair/replacement (TAVR for AS).
(Source: Textbook of Family Medicine 9e)
7. π¦ Infective Endocarditis (IE)
What it is: Microbial infection of the endocardial surface of the heart, particularly the valves. It carries a mortality of 20β30%.
Causative organisms: Staphylococcus aureus (most common, especially prosthetic valves and IV drug users), viridans streptococci (dental origin), enterococci, culture-negative cases.
Risk factors: Prosthetic valves, prior endocarditis, congenital heart disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, IV drug use. Mitral valve prolapse is the most common predisposing cardiac condition due to its high prevalence.
Duke Criteria (diagnosis):
- Major: positive blood cultures, echocardiographic evidence (vegetation, abscess, new valvular regurgitation)
- Minor: predisposing condition, fever, vascular phenomena, immunologic phenomena
Symptoms: Fever, new murmur, embolic phenomena (stroke, splenic infarct), Osler nodes, Janeway lesions, Roth spots.
Treatment: Prolonged IV antibiotics (4β6 weeks); surgery for complications (severe regurgitation, abscess, large vegetation, persistent bacteremia).
(Source: Fuster and Hurst's The Heart 15e; Goldman-Cecil Medicine)
8. π Pericarditis
What it is: Inflammation of the pericardium (the fibrous sac surrounding the heart). Acute pericarditis is the most common pericardial disease.
Causes: Mostly idiopathic/viral (55β86%), especially in young men. Other causes: systemic lupus erythematosus (up to 50% have pericarditis), post-MI (Dressler syndrome), uremia, tuberculosis, malignancy, bacterial infection.
Symptoms: Sharp, pleuritic chest pain that worsens lying flat and improves leaning forward; pericardial friction rub on auscultation; fever; ST-segment elevation on ECG (saddle-shaped, diffuse).
Complications: Pericardial effusion, cardiac tamponade (compression of heart by fluid), constrictive pericarditis (chronic, fibrotic).
Treatment: NSAIDs + colchicine (first-line for acute idiopathic); aspirin (post-MI); steroids for refractory cases or autoimmune origin. Rest, avoidance of strenuous activity.
(Source: Fuster and Hurst's The Heart 15e; Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine 22e)
9. 𧬠Congenital Heart Disease (CHD)
What it is: Structural heart defects present from birth, affecting ~1% of live births.
Common types:
| Defect | Details |
|---|---|
| Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) | Most common CHD; left-to-right shunt; small defects often close spontaneously |
| Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) | Fossa ovalis defect most common type; left-to-right shunt; risk of Eisenmenger syndrome if untreated |
| Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) | Failure of ductus arteriosus to close; continuous "machinery" murmur |
| Tetralogy of Fallot | VSD + pulmonary stenosis + overriding aorta + RV hypertrophy; cyanotic; classic "boot-shaped" heart on X-ray |
| Coarctation of the Aorta | Narrowing of aorta; hypertension in upper extremities, weak femoral pulses |
| Transposition of Great Arteries | Aorta from RV, PA from LV; cyanosis at birth; surgical emergency |
Treatment: Many require surgical or catheter-based correction; lifelong cardiology follow-up.
(Source: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine; Bailey and Love's Surgery)
10. π©Έ Acute Myocardial Infarction (MI / Heart Attack)
What it is: Death of myocardial tissue due to prolonged ischemia, most commonly from rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque with superimposed thrombosis.
Types:
- STEMI (ST-elevation MI): Complete coronary occlusion; requires emergency reperfusion within 90 minutes (primary PCI)
- NSTEMI (non-ST-elevation MI): Partial occlusion; elevated troponin without ST elevation
Symptoms: Severe crushing chest pain (often radiating to left arm/jaw), diaphoresis, nausea, dyspnea. Women and diabetics may present atypically (fatigue, jaw pain, epigastric discomfort).
Diagnosis: ECG changes + troponin elevation.
Treatment β "TIME IS MUSCLE":
- Immediate: Aspirin, anticoagulation, nitrates, oxygen if hypoxic
- STEMI: Primary PCI within 90 min (door-to-balloon time); thrombolytics if PCI unavailable
- Post-MI: Dual antiplatelet therapy, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, statins, cardiac rehab
Complications: Cardiogenic shock, arrhythmias, papillary muscle rupture, VSD, Dressler syndrome, LV aneurysm.
(Source: Textbook of Family Medicine 9e; Braunwald's Heart Disease)
Summary Table
| # | Disease | Key Mechanism | Cardinal Symptom | Primary Treatment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coronary Artery Disease | Atherosclerosis | Angina | Aspirin, statin, revascularization |
| 2 | Heart Failure | LV remodeling | Dyspnea, edema | ACEi/ARB, beta-blocker, diuretic |
| 3 | Arrhythmias | Conduction abnormality | Palpitations, syncope | Antiarrhythmics, ablation, pacemaker |
| 4 | Hypertensive Heart Disease | LV hypertrophy | Often asymptomatic | Antihypertensives |
| 5 | Cardiomyopathy | Myocardial dysfunction | Dyspnea, fatigue | HF therapy, ICD |
| 6 | Valvular Heart Disease | Stenosis/regurgitation | Murmur, dyspnea | Valve repair/replacement |
| 7 | Infective Endocarditis | Microbial infection | Fever, new murmur | IV antibiotics Β± surgery |
| 8 | Pericarditis | Pericardial inflammation | Pleuritic chest pain | NSAIDs + colchicine |
| 9 | Congenital Heart Disease | Structural defect | Cyanosis, murmur | Surgical correction |
| 10 | Acute MI | Coronary thrombosis | Crushing chest pain | Emergency PCI, DAPT |
Sources: Braunwald's Heart Disease (Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine), Textbook of Family Medicine 9e, Fuster and Hurst's The Heart 15e, Goldman-Cecil Medicine, Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine 22e, Pfenninger & Fowler's Procedures for Primary Care 3e.
This is a shared conversation. Sign in to Orris to start your own chat.