Arrhythmias:
Arrhythmias, or disorders of the regular rhythmic beating of the heart, are commonly experienced. As many as 2 million Americans are living with atrial fibrillation. Arrhythmias can take place in a healthy heart and be of minimal consequence, but they may also indicate a serious problem and lead to heart disease, stroke or sudden cardiac death.

Angina Pectoris:
Angina Pectoris (AN'jih-nah or an-JI'nah PEK'tor-is) is the medical term for chest pain or discomfort due to coronary heart disease. Angina is a symptom of a condition called myocardial ischemia (mi"o-KAR'de-al is-KE'me-ah). It occurs when the heart muscle (myocardium) (mi"o-KAR'de-um) doesn't get as much blood (hence as much oxygen) as it needs. This usually happens because one or more of the heart's arteries (those that supply blood to the heart muscle) is narrowed or blocked. Insufficient blood supply is called ischemia.

Typical angina is uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing or pain in the center of the chest. The discomfort may also be felt in the neck, jaw, shoulder, back or arm. Many types of chest discomfort are not related to angina, such as that caused by acid reflux (heartburn) and lung infection or inflammation.

Atheroscelerosis:
Atherosclerosis (ath"er-o-skleh-RO'sis) is a type of arteriosclerosis. Arteriosclerosis (ar-te"re-o-skleh-RO'sis) is the thickening and hardening of arteries. Some hardening of arteries often occurs when people grow older.

Atherosclerosis comes from the Greek words athero (meaning gruel or paste) and sclerosis (hardness). It involves deposits of fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium and other substances in the inner lining of an artery. This buildup is called plaque. It usually affects large and medium-sized arteries.

Plaques may grow large enough to significantly reduce the blood's flow through an artery. They can also become fragile and rupture. Plaques that rupture form blood clots (thrombus) that can block blood flow or break off and travel to another part of the body (embolus). If either happens and blocks a blood vessel that feeds the heart, it causes a heart attack. If it blocks a blood vessel that feeds the brain, it causes a stroke. And if blood supply to the arms or legs is reduced, it can cause difficulty walking and eventually gangrene.

Cardiomyopathy:
Cardiomyopathy (kar"de-o-mi-OP'ah-the) is a serious disease in which the heart muscle becomes inflamed and doesn't work as well as it should. There may be multiple causes including viral infections.

Cardiomyopathy can be classified as primary or secondary. Primary cardiomyopathy can't be attributed to a specific cause, such as high blood pressure, heart valve disease, artery diseases or congenital (kon-JEN'ih-tal) heart defects.

Secondary cardiomyopathy is due to specific causes. It's often associated with diseases involving other organs as well as the heart.

There are three main types of cardiomyopathy -- dilated, hypertrophic and restrictive.

Congestive Heart Failure:
A common form of heart failure that results in a patient retaining excessive fluid, often leads to swelling of the legs and ankles and congestion in the lungs.

Congential Heart Disease:
Congenital (kon-JEN'ih-tal) means inborn or existing at birth. Among the terms you may hear are congenital heart defect, congenital heart disease and congenital cardiovascular disease. The word "defect" is more accurate than "disease." A congenital cardiovascular defect occurs when the heart or blood vessels near the heart don't develop normally before birth.

Hypertension:
Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure. It's defined in an adult as a blood pressure greater than or equal to 140 mm Hg systolic pressure or greater than or equal to 90 mm Hg diastolic pressure. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). High blood pressure directly increases the risk of coronary heart disease (which leads to heart attack) and stroke, especially along with other risk factors.

High blood pressure can occur in children or adults, but it's more common among people over age 35. It's particularly prevalent in African-Americans, middle-aged and elderly people, obese people, heavy drinkers and women who are taking birth control pills. It may run in families, but many people with a strong family history of high blood pressure never have it. People with diabetes mellitus, gout or kidney disease are more likely to have hypertension.

Syncope:
Syncope (SIN'ko-pe) is temporary loss of consciousness and posture, described as "fainting" or "passing out." It's usually related to temporary insufficient blood flow to the brain. It's a common problem, accounting for 3 percent of emergency room visits and 6 percent of hospital admissions.

For more information, visit The American Heart Association website.