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Heart Diseases

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Aneurysm-This term refers to a localized dilation of an artery or chamber of the heart. The behavior and prognosis for aneurysms varies, depending on their size and location. Aneurysms of the heart are usually the result of a prior heart attack. They generally don't require surgical resection. They may result in congestive heart failure and arrhythmias. Aneurysms of the main artery of the body, the aorta, generally require resection once they reach a certain size-anywhere from 4.5 to 6.0 centimeters in diameter. Aneurysms of the blood vessels in the brain can lead to catastrophic cerebral hemorrhages. Prophylactic surgical resection may be recommended based on their size and location.

Angina Pectoris-This is simply Latin for "pain in the chest" but is used to refer to any symptom caused by a temporary reduction in oxygen supply (ischemia) to the muscle of the heart (myocardium). The most common cause is coronary artery disease whereby atherosclerosis narrows the interior of the coronary arteries. At times when the heart has to work harder and requires more oxygen, the blood flow cannot increase as it normally does through these narrowed arteries, resulting in myocardial ischemia. This most typically occurs with physical exertion but can also happen with emotional stress, after meals, in association with noncardiac diseases stressing the heart and sometimes for no apparent reason.
The symptoms can occur in the chest, shoulders, either arm, back, upper stomach, neck or jaw in variable combinations. It is typically described as a heaviness, tightness, constriction, squeezing, dull ache, indigestion or gas pain. It may be associated with shortness of breath, sweating, weakness or nausea. Sometimes it manifests only as one of these associated symptoms, such as shortness of breath, without any chest pain or discomfort. The angina attack generally resolves within several minutes. In some people, the angina may resolve even if they...