About
Heart disease is any disorder that affects the heart's ability to function normally. The most common cause of heart disease is a narrowing of or
Click the image above to visit the Illustrated Heart Center.
blockage in the coronary arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle (coronary artery disease). Some heart diseases are present at birth (congenital heart disease).
Other causes include:
- Abnormal heart rhythm
- Abnormal heart valve function
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Weakening of the heart's pumping ability, often caused by infection or toxins (cardiomyopathy)
Various forms of heart disease include:
