MITRAL REGURGITATION
Mitral regurgitation is a condition in which disease or injury has caused the heart's mitral valve to become leaky. The four heart valves function as one-way valves, allowing blood to be pumped forward and preventing blood from regurgitating backwards. When the mitral valve becomes leaky, blood may back up into the lungs, causing shortness of breath. An untreated leaky valve can lead to heart failure.
In patients with mitral regurgitation, the lungs become congested with fluid. As fluid accumulates in the lungs, it interferes with the absorption of oxygen from the lungs into the bloodstream. This leads to shortness of breath. Some patients feel short of breath when they exercise or exert themselves. Others they lie down at night. They may need to sleep with their heads elevated to avoid waking up in the middle of the night feeling short of breath.
Pericarditis is an inflammation of the pericardium, a protective lining that surrounds the heart. Pericarditis can be caused by infection, heart attack, autoimmune disorders, chest trauma, cancer, kidney failure, or drugs. Infections that can cause pericarditis include viral infections, bacterial infections, tuberculosis and fungal infections. Autoimmune disorders that can cause pericarditis include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and scleroderma.
Pericarditis occurs in up to 15 percent of patients who have heart attacks. There is also a late form of post-heart-attack pericarditis, called Dressler’s syndrome that occurs weeks to months after the heart attack.
Some of the drugs that can produce pericarditis include procainamide, hydralazine, phenytoin, and isoniazid. Many forms of cancer can spread to the pericardial sac, and produce pericarditis.
The most common symptom caused by pericarditis is chest pain. Patients can also have shortness of breath, or fever.
Acute pericarditis is treated by giving anti-inflammatory drugs (to reduce inflammation and help prevent chronic problems) and by giving analgesics for pain control. Most cases of acute pericarditis resolve within a few weeks, and leave no permanent cardiac problems.
"PAD" occurs when arteries supplying the legs and arms are narrowed or blocked by atherosclerotic plaque. Approximately 8 TO 10 million individuals in the United States, the majority over the age of 60, are affected by PAD. The most common symptoms include aching, cramping, pain, or fatigue in the calf or thigh, which occurs with walking and subsides with rest.
In patients with severe circulatory impairment caused by PAD persistent pain or numbness can occur in the feet, and also gangrene may develop. Patients with PAD may also have atherosclerosis of the arteries supplying the heart and brain.
