Cardiac tamponade is caused by the accumulation of fluid, blood, or other substances in the pericardial space—the thin sac surrounding the heart. This buildup increases pressure inside the pericardium, which compresses the heart and prevents it from expanding fully during…
Pericardial effusion is a condition where excess fluid accumulates in the pericardial sac, the thin membrane surrounding the heart. The treatments for pericardial effusion depend largely on the size of the fluid buildup, the speed at which it accumulates, the…
Endocarditis is an inflammation of the inner lining of the heart, particularly affecting the heart valves. This condition arises when infectious agents, most commonly bacteria, enter the bloodstream and attach themselves to the heart’s endocardium, the delicate tissue lining the…
Myocarditis in children is an inflammation of the heart muscle that can affect how well the heart pumps blood and cause irregular heart rhythms. Recognizing the signs early is crucial because myocarditis can sometimes lead to serious complications if left…
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, often called broken heart syndrome, is a temporary heart condition that happens when the heart muscle suddenly weakens and doesn’t pump blood as well as it should. This condition can look a lot like a heart attack because…
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a condition where the heart’s main pumping chamber, the left ventricle, becomes enlarged and weakened. This enlargement and weakening reduce the heart’s ability to pump blood efficiently throughout the body. Because the heart struggles to meet…
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is primarily caused by genetic mutations that affect the proteins responsible for the structure and function of heart muscle cells. These mutations lead to abnormal thickening (hypertrophy) of the heart muscle, especially the walls of the left…
Restrictive cardiomyopathy is a type of heart muscle disease where the walls of the heart become stiff and less flexible, making it difficult for the heart chambers to fill properly with blood. This stiffness does not usually affect the heart’s…
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a heart muscle disease primarily affecting the right ventricle, one of the heart’s main pumping chambers. What makes ARVC unique and challenging is that it causes the normal heart muscle cells to be gradually…
Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is a rare inherited heart rhythm disorder characterized by abnormal heartbeats triggered by physical activity or emotional stress. The complications of CPVT arise primarily from its tendency to cause dangerous ventricular arrhythmias, which can have…