Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA):
AAA is a ballooning or widening of the main artery (the aorta) as it courses down through the abdomen. At the point of the aneurysm it usually measures 3 cm or more in diameter. The aneurysm weakens the wall of the aorta and can end in the aorta rupturing with catastrophic consequences. As the diameter of the aorta increases, the chances of an AAA rupturing rise.
Osteoporosis thins and weakens bones, putting you at risk for broken bones. Normally, old bone breaks down and is replaced with new bone.Osteoporosis creates an imbalance in this rebuilding cycle when bone breaks down but no new bone forms. This process speeds up after menopause.
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD):
PAD is a condition that develops when the arteries that supply blood to the internal organs, arms, and legs become completely or partially blocked as a result of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a gradual process whereby hard cholesterol substances (plaques) are deposited in the walls of the arteries.
Carotid Artery Disease:
Like the arteries that supply blood to the heart (the coronary arteries), the carotid arteries can also develop atherosclerosis, the build-up of fat and cholesterol deposits, called plaque, on the inside of the vessels. Over time, the plaque narrows the artery, decreases blood flow to the brain and can lead to a stroke.
Atrial fibrillation (AF):
AF is the most common, abnormal rhythm of the heart.The heart contracts (beats) and pumps blood with a regular rhythm. The heart may beat faster or slower with a shorter or longer interval between beats, but at any one rate the interval between beats is constant. This regular rhythm occurs as a result of regular electrical discharges (currents) that travel through the heart and cause the muscle of the heart to contract.In AF, the electrical discharges are irregular and rapid and, as a result, the heart beats irregularly and, usually, rapidly. AF is common; half a million new cases are diagnosed yearly in the U.S., and billions of dollars are spent annually on its diagnosis and treatment.
Hypertension (Elevated blood pressure):
The top number of a blood pressure reading, the systolic blood pressure, corresponds to the pressure in the arteries as the heart contracts and pumps blood forward into the arteries. The bottom number of a blood pressure reading, the diastolic pressure, represents the pressure in the arteries as the heart relaxes after the contraction. A normal blood pressure is below 120/80; blood pressure between 120/80 and 139/89 is called “pre-hypertension”, and a blood pressure of 140/90 or above is considered high. An elevation of the systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure increases the risk of developing heart (cardiac) disease, kidney (renal) disease, hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis or arteriosclerosis), eye damage, and stroke (brain damage). For that reason, the diagnosis of high blood pressure is important so efforts can be made to normalize blood pressure and prevent complications. Cardiomyopathy is a weakening of the heart muscle or a change in heart muscle structure. It is often associated with inadequate heart pumping or other heart function problems.
Cardiomyopathy is a weakening of the heart muscle or a change in heart muscle structure. It is often associated with inadequate heart pumping or other heart function problems. While all types of cardiomyopathy can cause heart failure, each case requires specific strategies for recovery. Treatment involves a combination of patient education, dietary changes, and medications.
Left Ventricular Hypertrophy:
Left ventricular hypertrophy is enlargement (hypertrophy) of the muscle tissue that makes up the wall of your heart’s main pumping chamber (left ventricle). Left ventricular hypertrophy develops in response to some factor, such as high blood pressure, that requires the left ventricle to work harder. As the workload increases, the walls of the chamber grow thicker, lose elasticity and eventually may fail to pump with as much force as a healthy heart. If you have left ventricular hypertrophy, you’re at increased risk of heart disease, including heart attack, heart failure, irregular heartbeats (arrhythmia) and sudden cardiac arrest.