Any disorder of heart rate or rhythm. Examples of arrhythmias are tachycardia (faster-than-normal heartbeat) and bradycardia (slower-than-normal heartbeat).

The buildup of fatty deposits, or plaques, in the arteries. The narrowing and stiffening of arteries due to plaque buildup can interfere with blood flow, causing pain in oxygen-starved organs. If a plaque in a coronary artery ruptures, it can cause heart attack or stroke.

When the heart’s muscle tone is damaged, impairing its ability to pump blood. The most common type is dilated cardiomyopathy, in which one or more of the heart’s chambers is enlarged and its pumping becomes less forceful. Other types include hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, in which the walls of the heart muscle thicken, and restrictive cardiomyopathy, in which the heart muscle becomes more rigid.

Discomfort or pain along the front of the body between the neck and upper abdomen. Chest pain may be a symptom of a heart attack or coronary artery disease, but it may also occur due to asthma, pneumonia, muscle strain, anxiety or digestive problems such as heartburn, ulcers or gallstones.

Abnormalities in the heart’s structure and function that are caused by disordered or abnormal heart development before birth. While some abnormalities never cause any problems, many of these defects need to be followed carefully and require treatment such as medication or surgery. The most common congenital heart defect is a ventricular septal defect, a hole in the wall that separates the left and right ventricles of the heart.

A condition in which the heart is weak and has lost some ability to pump blood. Symptoms include shortness of breath, persistent coughing or wheezing, fatigue and swelling in the feet, ankles, legs or abdomen.

Narrowing and hardening of the arteries that supply blood to the heart due to the buildup of plaque in the artery wall. CAD is the most common type of heart disease. The reduced blood flow to the heart can cause angina (chest pain) and heart attack and can contribute to heart failure and arrhythmias.

Normal blood pressure is below 120/80. Blood pressure of 120 to 139 systolic (the top number in a reading) or 80 to 89 diastolic (the bottom number) is considered prehypertension. Blood pressure above 139 systolic or above 89 diastolic is considered high blood pressure. High blood pressure increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney disease.

Atherosclerosis, or narrowing or blockage of arteries due to the buildup of fatty deposits, affecting the arteries that supply blood to the legs and feet.

Echocardiography is a diagnostic test that uses ultrasound waves to create an image of the heart muscle. Ultrasound waves that rebound or “echo” off the heart provide the physician with information regarding the size, shape and movement of the heart’s valves and chambers, as well as the flow of blood through the heart. Echocardiography may show such abnormalities as poorly functioning heart valves or damage to the heart tissue from a past heart attack.

The heart has an electrical system that produces tiny electrical impulses, which travel from the upper to the lower chambers of the heart and tell the chambers to contract and pump blood. Sometimes this electrical system may not function properly.

When this happens, it is necessary to study the electrical system with an intracardiac (within the heart) electrophysiologic procedure. In this procedure, one or more catheters (long, thin, flexible tubes) are placed into a blood vessel in the legs, arms or both. The tips of the catheters are strategically placed into the heart where they record the electrical signals. The precision of this procedure far exceeds that of an ordinary electrocardiogram (commonly referred to as an ECG or EKG).

Exercise Stress Test

An exercise stress test, sometimes referred to as a treadmill test, helps determine how well your heart handles exertion. As your body works harder during the test, it needs more oxygen and requires the heart to pump more blood. The test can demonstrate whether or not the blood supply is reduced in the arteries that supply the heart. Additionally, it allows the physician to assess the kind and level of exercise appropriate for the patient.

Nuclear Stress Test

A nuclear stress test is used to evaluate blood flow to the heart. During the test, a small amount of radioactive tracer is injected into a vein. A special camera then produces images of the heart. Combined with exercise, the test can help determine if there is adequate blood flow to the heart during activity and at rest.