Cardiovascular conditions

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Page Content 2 There are many types of heart conditions. Review the symptoms, diagnoses, treatments and management strategies for some of the more common heart conditions below.

Heart attack A heart attack happens when there is a sudden blockage to an artery that supplies blood to an area of your heart. Coronary heart disease Coronary heart disease is the most common cause of death in Australia. It is also a major cause of disability, with many people reporting problems or needing assistance with daily activities. Deep vein thrombosis Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot in one of the deep veins of your body, usually in your leg. Atrial fibrillation Atrial fibrillation is one of a number of disorders commonly referred to as 'arrhythmias', where your heart does not beat normally. Familial hypercholesterolaemia Familial hypercholesterolaemia is an inherited condition in which your body doesn't remove enough cholesterol from the blood. This causes high total blood cholesterol levels and early onset of coronary heart disease in some families.	High blood pressure High blood pressure (also know as Hypertension) is the pressure of your blood in your arteries as the heart pumps it around your body. Heart failure Heart failure occurs when the heart muscle has become too weak to pump blood through the body as effectively as normal. Palpitations Heart palpitations are an awareness of your heartbeat. Angina Angina is chest pain or discomfort caused by insufficient blood flow and oxygen to the muscle of the heart. Coronary artery spasm Coronary artery spasm is a temporary discomfort or pain that is caused by a temporary spasm in one or more of your coronary arteries. Children's heart problems Children can have a range of heart problems, including heart defects, heart murmurs, heart failure, arrhythmias and endocarditis. Find out more about how these problems are diagnosed and treated, and what it means for your family.