Heart Disease Health Channel

	Feature Article Illustrations for this article Click on an image below to enlarge Heart, section through the middle Heart, front view Show all 3 photos Heart disease Definition Heart disease is any disorder that affects the heart's ability to function normally. Various forms of heart disease include: Alcoholic cardiomyopathy Aortic regurgitation Aortic stenosis Arrhythmias Cardiogenic shock Congenital heart disease Coronary artery disease (CAD) Dilated cardiomyopathy Endocarditis Heart attack (myocardial infarction) Heart failure Heart tumor Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Idiopathic cardiomyopathy Ischemic cardiomyopathy Acute mitral regurgitation Chronic mitral regurgitation Mitral stenosis Mitral valve prolapse Peripartum cardiomyopathy Pulmonary stenosis Stable angina Unstable angina Tricuspid regurgitation Alternative Names Cardiovascular disorders Causes, incidence, and risk factors The most common cause of heart disease is a narrowing of or 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) References Criqui MH. Epidemiology of cardiovascular disease. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 49. Continue reading this article

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Heart disease and diet (3 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
A healthy diet is a major factor in reducing your risk of heart disease.A healthy diet and lifestyle can reduce your risk of:.Reviewer: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/02/2009
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Wine and heart health (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
There is a fine line between healthy drinking and risky drinking. More studies are being done on the possible benefits wine(particularly red wine) may have on heart disease. Reviewer: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/02/2009
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Heart disease - resources (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
The following organizations are good resources for information on heart disease: American Heart Association - www.americanheart.org; The Mended Hearts, Inc. - www.mendedhearts.org; American College of Cardiology - www.acc.org. Reviewer: Jennifer K. Mannheim, CRNP, private practice, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 10/18/2008
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Coronary heart disease (1 Video, 6 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Coronary heart disease(CHD) is a narrowing of the small blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. CHD is also called coronary artery disease.Coronary artery disease; Arteriosclerotic heart disease; CHD; CAD.Coronary heart disease is...Reviewer: Steven Kang, MD, Division of Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology, East Bay Arrhythmia, Cardiovascular Consultants Medical Group, Oakland, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 04/23/2009
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Coronary risk profile (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
A coronary risk profile is a battery of blood tests to measure your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The profile can help determine your risk for heart disease.Lipoprotein/cholesterol analysis; Lipid profile; Hyperlipidemia- testing.Blood is t...Reviewer: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/02/2009
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Coronary artery spasm (3 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Coronary artery spasm is a temporary, sudden narrowing of one of the coronary arteries(the arteries that supply blood to the heart). The spasm slows or stops blood flow through the artery and starves part of the heart of oxygen-rich blood.Variant ...Reviewer: Larry A. Weinrauch, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and Private practice specializing in Cardiovascular Disease, Watertown, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. Date: 04/28/2009
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Coronary angiography (2 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Coronary angiography is a procedure that uses a special dye(contrast material) and x-rays to see how blood flows through your heart.Cardiac angiography; Angiography- heart; Angiogram- coronary.Coronary angiography is usually done along with cardia...Reviewer: Steven Kang, MD, Division of Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology, East Bay Arrhythmia, Cardiovascular Consultants Medical Group, Oakland, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 04/23/2009
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Echocardiogram (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Echocardiogram is a test that uses sound waves to create a moving picture of the heart. The picture is much more detailed than x-ray image and involves no radiation exposure.Transthoracic echocardiogram(TTE); Echocardiogram- transthoracic; Doppler...Reviewer: A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: Greg Juhn, M.T.P.W., David R. Eltz, Kelli A. Stacy. Previously reviewed by Glenn Gandelman, MD, MPH, Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network (7/17/2006).Date: 04/12/2007
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Heart bypass surgery (4 Images, 1 Slideshow) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Heart bypass surgery creates a new route, called a bypass, for blood and oxygen to reach your heart. It is done to fix problems caused by coronary artery disease(CAD), in which the arteries that lead to your heart are partly or totally blocked.Off...Reviewer: Larry A. Weinrauch MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Cardiovascular Disease and Clinical Outcomes Research, Watertown, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 12/13/2008
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Heart attack (15 Videos, 8 Images) Average Rating: (Doctor-Reviewed information)
A heart attack is when blood vessels that supply blood to the heart are blocked, preventing enough oxygen from getting to the heart. The heart muscle dies or becomes permanently damaged. Reviewer: Alan Berger, MD, Assistant Professor, Divisions of Cardiology and Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 04/23/2009
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Jaw pain and heart attacks (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Can pain in the jaw or teeth be an indication of a heart attack?Sometimes. Reviewer: Larry A. Weinrauch MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Cardiovascular Disease and Clinical Outcomes Research, Watertown, MA.. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 09/03/2008
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Heart attack first aid (2 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
The average person waits 3 hours before seeking help for symptoms of a heart attack. Many heart attack victims die before they reach a hospital. Reviewer: John E. Duldner, Jr., MD, MS, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Director of Research, Department of Emergency Medicine, Akron General Medical Center and Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 02/19/2008
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Hypertensive heart disease (1 Image) Average Rating: (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Hypertensive heart disease refers to coronary artery disease, heart failure, and enlargement of the heart that occur because of high blood pressure.High blood pressure increases the pressure in blood vessels. As the heart pumps against this pressu...Reviewer: Alan Berger, MD, Assistant Professor, Divisions of Cardiology and Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 04/23/2009
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Heart murmurs and other sounds (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Murmurs are blowing, whooshing, or rasping sounds produced by turbulent blood flow through the heart valves or near the heart.A doctor can check heart sounds by listening with a stethoscope over the surface of the chest. An echocardiogram can find...Reviewer: Alan Berger, MD, Assistant Professor, Divisions of Cardiology and Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/15/2008
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Arrhythmias (7 Images) Average Rating: (Doctor-Reviewed information)
An arrhythmia is a disorder of the heart rate(pulse) or heart rhythm, such as beating too fast(tachycardia), too slow(bradycardia), or irregularly.Dysrhythmias; Abnormal heart rhythms; Bradycardia; Tachycardia.Normally, the four chambers of the he...Reviewer: Alan Berger, MD, Assistant Professor, Divisions of Cardiology and Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/15/2008
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Heart palpitations (7 Videos, 2 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Palpitations are heartbeat sensations that feel like your heart is pounding or racing. You may simply have an unpleasant awareness of your own heartbeat, or may feel skipped or stopped beats. Reviewer: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/01/2008
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Ectopic heartbeat (3 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Ectopic heartbeat is an irregularity of the heart rate and heart rhythm involving extra or skipped heartbeats.PVB(premature ventricular beat); Premature ventricular contraction; Premature beats; PVC(premature ventricular contraction); Extrasystole...Reviewer: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Linda Vorvick, MD, Seattle Site Coordinator, Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. Date: 06/07/2008
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Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia(PSVT) is an occasional rapid heart rate."Paroxysmal" means from time to time.Normally, the chambers of the heart(atria and ventricles) contract in a coordinated manner. Reviewer: Larry A. Weinrauch, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and Private practice specializing in Cardiovascular Disease, Watertown, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/12/2008
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Ventricular tachycardia (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Ventricular tachycardia(VT) is a rapid heartbeat that starts in the ventricles.Wide-complex tachycardia; V tach; Tachycardia- ventricular.Ventricular tachycardia is a pulse rate of more than 100 beats per minute, with at least three irregular hear...Reviewer: Alan Berger, MD, Assistant Professor, Divisions of Cardiology and Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. Date: 05/15/2008
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Ventricular fibrillation (2 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Ventricular fibrillation(VF) is a severely abnormal heart rhythm( arrhythmia) that can be life-threatening.The heart pumps blood to the lungs, brain, and other organs. Interruption of the heartbeat for only a few seconds can lead to fainting(synco...Reviewer: Alan Berger, MD, Assistant Professor, Divisions of Cardiology and Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/15/2008
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Atrial fibrillation/flutter (1 Video, 4 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Atrial fibrillation/flutter is a heart rhythm disorder(arrhythmia). It usually involves a rapid heart rate, in which the upper heart chambers(atria) are stimulated to contract in a very disorganized and abnormal manner.Arrhythmias are caused by a ...Reviewer: Alan Berger, MD, Assistant Professor, Divisions of Cardiology and Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 04/23/2009
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Heart failure (9 Videos, 3 Images) Average Rating: (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Heart failure, also called congestive heart failure, is a life-threatening condition in which the heart can no longer pump enough blood to the rest of the body.Heart failure is almost always a chronic, long-term condition, although it can sometime...Reviewer: Larry A. Weinrauch, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and Private practice specializing in Cardiovascular Disease, Watertown, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. Date: 09/23/2008
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Left-sided heart failure (2 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Left-sided heart failure is a life-threatening condition in which the left side of the heart cannot pump enough blood to the body.Heart failure may affect the right side, the left side, or both sides of the heart. The left side of the heart receiv...Reviewer: Larry A. Weinrauch, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and Private practice specializing in Cardiovascular Disease, Watertown, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. Date: 09/23/2008
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Right-sided heart failure (2 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Right-sided heart failure is a condition in which the right side of the heart loses its ability to pump blood efficiently.Right-sided heart failure occurs in about 1 in 20 people. Coronary artery disease is the most common cause of heart failure i...Reviewer: Larry A. Weinrauch, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and Private practice specializing in Cardiovascular Disease, Watertown, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. Date: 09/23/2008
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Congenital heart disease (4 Images, 1 Slideshow) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Congenital heart disease refers to a problem with the heart''s structure and function due to abnormal heart development before birth. Congenital means present at birth.Congenital heart disease(CHD) can describe a number of different problems affect...Reviewer: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.; and Mark A Fogel, MD, FACC, FAAP, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Radiology, Director of Cardiac MR, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.Date: 12/10/2007
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Congenital heart defect corrective surgeries (5 Images, 1 Slideshow) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Congenital heart defect corrective surgeries fix or treat heart defects that a child is born with. A baby born with heart defects has congenital heart disease. Reviewer: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 11/21/2008
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Pericarditis (2 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Pericarditis is a condition in which the sac-like covering around the heart(pericardium) becomes inflamed.Pericarditis is usually a complication of viral infections, most commonly echovirus or coxsackie virus. Less frequently, it is caused by infl...Reviewer: Alan Berger, MD, Assistant Professor, Divisions of Cardiology and Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/15/2008
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Endocarditis (5 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Endocarditis is inflammation of the inside lining of the heart chambers and heart valves(endocardium).Reviewer: D. Scott Smith, M.D., MSc, DTM&H, Chief of Infectious Disease & Geographic Medicine, Kaiser Redwood City, CA & Adjunct Assistant Professor, Stanford University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 09/03/2008
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Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (3 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM) is a condition in which the heart muscle becomes thick. The thickening makes it harder for blood to leave the heart, forcing the heart to work harder to pump blood.Cardiomyopathy- hypertrophic(HCM); IHSS; Idiopathi...Reviewer: Alan Berger, MD, Assistant Professor, Divisions of Cardiology and Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/15/2008
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Cardiogenic shock (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Cardiogenic shock is a state in which the heart has been damaged so much that it is unable to supply enough blood to the organs of the body.Shock occurs whenever the heart is unable to pump as much blood as the body needs.The most common causes ar...Reviewer: Alan Berger, MD, Assistant Professor, Divisions of Cardiology and Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 04/23/2009
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Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (3 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome occurs when parts of the left side of the heart(mitral valve, left ventricle aortic valve, and aorta) do not develop completely. The condition is congenital(present at birth).Hypoplastic left heart is a rare type of...Reviewer: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.; and Mark A Fogel, MD, FACC, FAAP, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Radiology, Director of Cardiac MR, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.Date: 12/10/2007
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Cyanotic heart disease (3 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Cyanotic heart disease is a heart defect, present at birth(congenital), that results in low blood oxygen levels. There may be more than one defect. Reviewer: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.; and Mark A Fogel, MD, FACC, FAAP, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Radiology, Director of Cardiac MR, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.Date: 12/10/2007
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Open heart surgery (1 Video) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Open heart surgery is any surgery where the chest is opened and surgery is performed on the heart. The term"open" refers to the chest, not the heart itself. Reviewer: Robert A. Cowles, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/15/2008
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Heart valve surgery (1 Video, 4 Images, 1 Slideshow) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Heart valve surgery is used to repair or replace diseased heart valves.Valve replacement; Valve repair; Heart valve prosthesis.Aortic valve Mitral valve Tricuspid valve Pulmonary valve.The valves control the direction of blood flow through your he...Reviewer: Robert A Cowles, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/15/2008
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Heart transplant (3 Images, 1 Slideshow) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Heart transplantation is a surgical procedure to remove a damaged or diseased heart and replace it with a healthy donor heart.Heart transplant is one of the most common transplant operations performed in the United States. A healthy heart is obtai...Reviewer: Robert A. Cowles, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 07/25/2007
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Heart-and-lung transplant (4 Images, 1 Slideshow) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Heart-and-lung transplant is surgery to replace a diseased heart and lungs with a healthy heart and lungs from a human donor.Heart-and-lung transplant operations have been performed since 1980 in the United States. Since 1995, between 30 and ...Reviewer: Robert A. Cowles, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 07/25/2007
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Heart Disease as an Interactive Drama - You Can Change the Outcome in Healthline Connects - 1 year 238 days ago

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MTHFR Mutations and Congenital Heart Defects in Fruit of the Womb - 2 years 288 days ago

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Low Carb Diets Don't Raise Risk of Heart Disease in Healthline Connects - 3 years 13 days ago

A recent Harvard University study investigated the impact of low carbohydrate and low fat diets on heart disease. The study found that the rate of heart di... Email  |  Save