Heart

Mitral valve prolapse
The mitral valve lies between the heart's left atrium and the left ventricle. It has two flaps (leaflets) that open and close like a pair of swinging doors. When the heart beats, the left ventricle pumps blood out to the body and the leaflets swing shut. This keeps the blood in the ventricle from going back into the left atrium. If the mitral leaflets are too floppy, big, thin, or have the wrong shape, they may not shut properly. This condition, called mitral valve prolapse (MVP), allows blood to leak back (regurgitate) into the left atrium.

Heart attack - from Natural Standard
A heart attack, or myocardial infarction (MI), occurs when the supply of blood and oxygen to an area of heart muscle is blocked.

Congestive heart failure (CHF)
Congestive heart failure (CHF), or heart failure, is a condition in which the heart is unable to adequately pump blood throughout the body and/or unable to prevent blood from accumulating, or "backing up," into the lungs.

Arteriosclerosis (atherosclerosis)
In arteriosclerosis, there is a thickening, hardening, and loss of elasticity of the walls of arteries. The name arteriosclerosis is often used interchangeably with the term "atherosclerosis;" however, atherosclerosis is technically a type of arteriosclerosis. The name atherosclerosis comes from the Greek words "athero" (gruel or paste) and "sclerosis" (hardness). The term arteriosclerosis comes from the words "arterial" (artery) and "sclerosis" (hardness).

Arrhythmia - from Natural Standard
Arrhythmia, also called dysrhythmia, is a disturbance of the heart's normal rhythm. When the heart beats, the electrical impulses that cause it to contract must follow a precise pathway through the heart. Any interruption in these impulses can cause an arrhythmia. Arrhythmias cause the heart to pump blood less effectively.

Heart disorders (heart disease)
Heart disease, or heart disorders, are conditions that affect the heart muscle or the blood vessels of the heart. There are many different types of heart disease, but the most common is coronary artery disease (CAD). This condition causes the arteries to narrow, and it may lead to stroke or heart attack.

Coronary artery disease (CAD)
Coronary artery disease (CAD), also known as coronary heart disease (CHD), occurs when the coronary arteries (the blood vessels that supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle) gradually become narrowed or blocked by plaque (a combination of fatty material, calcium, scar tissue, and proteins) deposits. The plaque deposits decrease the space through which blood can flow, leading to poor blood flow. As platelets (disc-shaped particles in the blood that aid clotting) come to the area, blood clots form around the plaque, causing the artery to narrow even further. Sometimes, the blood clot breaks apart, and blood supply is restored. In other cases, the blood clot (coronary thrombus) may totally block the blood supply to the heart muscle (coronary occlusion). This lack of blood flow (called ischemia) can "starve" some of the heart muscle and lead to chest pain (angina). A heart attack (myocardial infarction) results when blood flow is completely blocked, usually by a blood clot forming over a plaque that has ruptured. Unhealthy habits, such as a diet high in cholesterol and other fats, smoking, and lack of exercise accelerate the deposit of fat and calcium within the inner lining of coronary arteries.

Cardiomyopathy - from Natural Standard
Cardiomyopathy refers to several diseases that affect the myocardium (heart muscle) and are associated with mechanical and/or electrical dysfunction. In cardiomyopathy, abnormal heart function results from weakness or structural changes in the myocardium.

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD) is a disorder that affects the muscles of the heart. The heart is divided into four chambers: the right ventricle, left ventricle, right atrium, and left atrium. In patients with ARVD, the right ventricle or left ventricle (the chambers responsible for pumping blood to the lungs or other parts of the body) may be affected. Patients with ARVD undergo a progressive deterioration of muscle in the ventricle, and the muscle is replaced by fat and scar tissue.