Condition Lookup

Atrial Fibrillation

Specialty: Senior Health and Geriatrics

Category: Chronic Diseases and Multimorbidity

Sub-category: Cardiovascular Diseases

Symptoms:
irregular heartbeats; palpitations; fatigue; dizziness; shortness of breath; chest pain

Root Cause:
An irregular and often rapid heart rate caused by abnormal electrical impulses in the heart's atria.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
ECG, Holter monitor, and echocardiogram to evaluate heart rhythm and identify underlying causes.

Treatment:
Anticoagulants (to prevent blood clots), antiarrhythmic drugs, rate or rhythm control medications, and sometimes cardioversion or ablation.

Medications:
Anticoagulants (e.g., Warfarin , Apixaban ) – Prevent clot formation to reduce stroke risk. Beta-blockers (e.g., Metoprolol ) – Help control heart rate and reduce palpitations. Calcium channel blockers (e.g., Diltiazem ) – Help control heart rate by blocking calcium channels in the heart.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects 2-3% of the population; more common in older adults and those with heart disease.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Age, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, excessive alcohol use, family history, obesity.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Manageable with medication; however, if untreated, AF can increase the risk of stroke and heart failure.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Stroke, heart failure, blood clots, fatigue.

Congestive Heart Failure

Specialty: Senior Health and Geriatrics

Category: Chronic Diseases and Multimorbidity

Sub-category: Cardiovascular Diseases

Symptoms:
shortness of breath; fatigue; swelling in legs and ankles; coughing or wheezing; rapid or irregular heartbeat

Root Cause:
The heart's inability to pump blood efficiently, leading to fluid accumulation in the lungs and other parts of the body.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosis is based on physical exam, medical history, and tests such as echocardiograms, chest X-rays, and BNP blood tests.

Treatment:
Medications to reduce fluid overload (diuretics), ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, and lifestyle changes. In severe cases, heart transplant may be considered.

Medications:
Diuretics (e.g., Furosemide ) – Help reduce fluid buildup by increasing urination. ACE inhibitors (e.g., Enalapril , Ramipril ) – Help relax blood vessels and reduce the heart’s workload. Beta-blockers (e.g., Carvedilol , Bisoprolol ) – Help the heart pump more efficiently by slowing the heart rate. Aldosterone antagonists (e.g., Spironolactone ) – Help reduce fluid retention.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 2% of the population; more common in older adults and those with a history of heart disease.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Previous heart attack, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, smoking, alcohol use, family history.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
With proper management, many people with CHF can live for years, but the condition may worsen over time without treatment.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Kidney failure, liver damage, arrhythmias, stroke, severe fluid retention.

Peripheral Artery Disease

Specialty: Senior Health and Geriatrics

Category: Chronic Diseases and Multimorbidity

Sub-category: Cardiovascular Diseases

Symptoms:
leg pain while walking; numbness or weakness in the legs; cold legs or feet; delayed wound healing; shiny skin on legs

Root Cause:
Narrowing or blockages of arteries in the legs due to plaque buildup, reducing blood flow.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Physical examination, ankle-brachial index (ABI), ultrasound, and angiography.

Treatment:
Lifestyle changes, medications to improve blood flow, and surgical options such as bypass surgery or angioplasty.

Medications:
Antiplatelet agents (e.g., Aspirin , Clopidogrel ) – Prevent blood clot formation and improve blood flow. Statins (e.g., Atorvastatin ) – Lower cholesterol to reduce plaque buildup. Vasodilators (e.g., Cilostazol ) – Improve blood flow by relaxing blood vessels.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects about 10-20% of individuals over 60; more common in individuals with diabetes or smoking history.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Smoking, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, family history, older age.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Treatment improves quality

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Critical limb ischemia. non-healing wounds. infections. An increased risk of heart attack or stroke.

Valvular Heart Disease (e.g., Aortic Stenosis)

Specialty: Senior Health and Geriatrics

Category: Chronic Diseases and Multimorbidity

Sub-category: Cardiovascular Diseases

Symptoms:
chest pain; shortness of breath; fatigue; dizziness; fainting; heart murmur

Root Cause:
Narrowing, leaking, or dysfunction of the heart valves, which impairs the heart's ability to pump blood effectively.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Physical examination, echocardiogram, chest X-ray, and electrocardiogram (ECG).

Treatment:
Valve repair or replacement surgery (e.g., aortic valve replacement), lifestyle modifications, medications to manage symptoms such as diuretics and beta-blockers.

Medications:
Diuretics (e.g., Furosemide ) – Help reduce fluid buildup and lower blood pressure. Beta-blockers (e.g., Metoprolol ) – Reduce the heart's workload by slowing the heart rate. ACE inhibitors (e.g., Lisinopril ) – Relax blood vessels and lower blood pressure. Anticoagulants (e.g., Warfarin ) – Prevent blood clots in cases of valve dysfunction leading to increased clotting risk.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Aortic stenosis affects approximately 2% of people over 65, with a higher prevalence in elderly individuals.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Age, history of rheumatic fever, congenital heart defects, hypertension, high cholesterol, and smoking.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
If untreated, valvular heart disease can lead to heart failure and other serious complications; valve replacement surgery can greatly improve symptoms and prognosis.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Heart failure, arrhythmias, stroke, endocarditis, blood clots, and sudden cardiac arrest.