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The heart may be involved in a number of systemic syndromes. Many of these have been mentioned briefly in prior subsections of this chapter. The pericardium, myocardium, heart valves, and coronary…

Primary cardiac tumors are rare and constitute only a small fraction of all tumors that involve the heart or pericardium. Metastases from malignant tumors elsewhere are more frequent. Tumors involving the heart…

Inflammation can lead to a thickened, fibrotic, adherent pericardium that restricts diastolic filling and produces chronically elevated venous pressures. In the past, tuberculosis was the most common cause of constrictive pericarditis, but the process now…

Primary pulmonary hypertension is defined as pulmonary hypertension and elevated pulmonary vascular resistance in the absence of other disease of the lungs or heart. Pathologically, it is characterized by diffuse narrowing of the pulmonary…

Introduction
Pericardial effusion can develop during any of the processes discussed in the preceding paragraphs. The speed of accumulation determines the physiologic importance of the effusion. Because the pericardium stretches, large effusions (>…

The pericardium consists of two layers: the inner visceral layer, which is attached to the epicardium, and an outer parietal layer. The pericardium stabilizes the heart in anatomic position and reduces contact between the heart…

According to new research, living in a busy city is bad for your heart.

It seems breathing in diesel exhaust fumes at levels typically found in large cities,…

The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) today published the findings of a study directed by Mount Sinai School of Medicine Researchers and funded by the National Institute…

Researchers at The Burnham Institute for Medical Research have provided detailed insights into the early formation of the heart. A team lead by Dr. Rolf Bodmer found that two proteins,…

A few squares of dark chocolate every day might cut the risk of serious heart disease by helping to stave off the hardening of arteries, according to a study…

Acute Myocarditis

A. Case Management, Diet, and Exercise Training
Thirty to 50 percent of congestive heart failure patients who are hospitalized will be readmitted within 3-6 months. Strategies to prevent clinical deterioration,…

A. Symptoms
The symptoms of cardiac failure have been discussed in part in earlier sections. The most common complaint is shortness of breath, chiefly exertional dyspnea at first and then progressing…

The treatment of chronic heart failure is discussed here. Acute heart failure and pulmonary edema are discussed in the next section.

A. Correction of Reversible Causes
The major reversible causes…

A commonly used method for assessing heart disease risk appears to underestimate women’s risk for significant atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) when they have a family history of early heart…

Introduction
Acute coronary syndromes comprise the spectrum of unstable cardiac ischemia from unstable angina to acute myocardial infarction. Rather than the traditional nomenclature of unstable angina, non-Q wave and Q wave myocardial…

Abnormalities of cardiac rhythm and conduction can be lethal (sudden cardiac death), symptomatic (syncope, near syncope, dizziness, or palpitations), or asymptomatic. They are dangerous to the extent that they reduce cardiac output, so that perfusion of…