BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuHeart and vascular servicesCirculatory system; Vascular system; Cardiovascular systemThe body's cardiovascular, or circulatory system, is made of the heart, blood, and blood vessels (arteries and veins).Heart and vascular services refers to the branch of medicine that focuses on the cardiovascular system.No audio descriptionWith audio descriptionRelated video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersRelated video goes here for no-HTML5 browsers Information The heart's main job is to pump oxygen-rich blood to the body after it pumps oxygen-poor blood to the lungs. It normally does this 60 to 100 times a minute, 24 hours a day.The heart is made of four chambers:The right atrium receives oxygen-poor blood from the body. That blood then flows into the right ventricle, which pumps it to the lungs. The left atrium receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs. From there, the blood flows into the left ventricle, which pumps blood out of the heart to the rest of the body. Together, the arteries and veins are referred to as the vascular system. In general, arteries carry blood away from the heart and veins carry blood back to the heart.The cardiovascular system delivers oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and other important substances to cells and organs in the body. It plays an important role in helping the body meet the demands of activity, exercise, and stress. It also helps maintain body temperature, among other things.CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINECardiovascular medicine refers to the branch of health care that specializes in the treatment of diseases or conditions dealing with the heart and vascular systems.Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersCommon disorders include:Abdominal aortic aneurysm Abdominal aortic aneurysmThe aorta is the main blood vessel that supplies blood to the abdomen, pelvis, and legs. An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) occurs when an area of t...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Congenital heart defects Coronary artery disease, including angina and heart attack Coronary artery diseaseCoronary heart disease is a narrowing of the blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. Coronary heart disease (CHD) is also called co...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Heart failure Heart failureHeart failure is a condition in which the heart is no longer able to pump oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body efficiently. This causes symptom...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Heart valve problems High blood pressure and high cholesterol Irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias) Peripheral artery disease (PAD) Peripheral artery diseasePeripheral artery disease (PAD) is a condition of the blood vessels that supply the legs and feet. It occurs due to narrowing of the arteries in the...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Stroke Physicians involved in the treatment of circulatory or vascular diseases include:Cardiologists -- Doctors who have received extra training in the treatment of heart and vascular disorders Vascular surgeons -- Doctors who have received extra training in blood vessel surgery Cardiac surgeons -- Doctors who have received extra training in heart-related surgery Primary care doctors Other health care providers who are involved in the treatment of circulatory or vascular diseases include:Nurse practitioners (NPs) or physician assistants (PAs), who focus on heart and vascular diseases Nutritionists or dietitians Nurses who receive special training in the management of patients with these disorders Imaging tests that may be done to diagnose, monitor or treat diseases of the circulatory and vascular system include:Cardiac CT Cardiac CTA computed tomography (CT) scan of the heart is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create detailed pictures of the heart and its blood vessels. Th...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Cardiac MRI Cardiac MRIHeart magnetic resonance imaging is an imaging method that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the heart. It does not use ra...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Coronary angiography Coronary angiographyCoronary angiography is a procedure that uses a special dye (contrast material) and x-rays to see how blood flows through the arteries in your heart....Read Article Now Book Mark Article CT angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) Magnetic resonance angiographyMagnetic resonance angiography (MRA) is an MRI exam of the blood vessels. Unlike traditional angiography that involves placing a tube (catheter) int...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Echocardiogram EchocardiogramAn echocardiogram is a test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the heart. The picture and information it produces is more detailed than a s...Read Article Now Book Mark Article PET scan of the heart PET scan of the heartA heart positron emission tomography (PET) scan is an imaging test that uses a radioactive substance called a tracer to look for disease or poor bloo...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Stress tests (many different types of stress tests exist) Vascular ultrasound, such as carotid ultrasound Carotid ultrasoundCarotid duplex is an ultrasound test that shows how well blood is flowing through the carotid arteries. The carotid arteries are located in the neck...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Venous ultrasound of the arms and legs SURGERIES AND INTERVENTIONSLess invasive procedures than heart or vascular surgery may be done to diagnose, monitor or treat diseases of the heart and vascular system.In most of these types of procedures, a catheter is inserted through the skin into a large blood vessel. In most cases, such procedures do not need general anesthesia. Patients often do not need to stay in the hospital overnight. They recover in 1 to 3 days and can most often return to their normal activities within a week.General anesthesiaGeneral anesthesia is treatment with certain medicines that puts you into a deep sleep so you do not feel pain during surgery. After you receive the...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Such procedures include:Ablation therapy to treat cardiac arrhythmias Angiogram (using x-rays and injected contrast dye to evaluate blood vessels) AngiogramCoronary angiography is a procedure that uses a special dye (contrast material) and x-rays to see how blood flows through the arteries in your heart....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Angioplasty (using a small balloon to open a narrowing in a blood vessel) with or without stent placement Cardiac catheterization (measuring pressures in and around the heart) Valve interventions/replacementHeart surgery may be needed to treat certain heart or blood vessel problems. This may include:Heart transplant Insertion of pacemakers or defibrillators Open and minimally invasive coronary artery bypass surgery Repair or replacement of heart valves Surgical treatment of congenital heart defects Vascular surgery refers to surgical procedures that are used to treat or diagnose problems in a blood vessel, such as a blockage or rupture. Such procedures include:Arterial bypass grafts Endarterectomies Repair of aneurysms (dilated/enlarged portions) of the aorta and its branches Procedures may also be used to treat arteries that supply the brain, kidneys, intestines, arms and legs.CARDIOVASCULAR PREVENTION AND REHABILITATIONCardiac rehabilitation is therapy used to prevent heart disease from getting worse. It is usually recommended after major heart-related events such as a heart attack or cardiac surgery. It may include:Cardiovascular risk assessments Health screenings and wellness exams Nutrition and lifestyle counseling, including smoking cessation and diabetes education Supervised exercise Open ReferencesReferencesGo MR, Starr JE, Satiani B. Development of a multispecialty practice and operation of multispecialty cardiovascular centers. In: Sidawy AN, Perler BA, eds. Rutherford's Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 197.Herrmann HC. Transcatheter mitral valve repair and replacement. In: Otto CM, Bonow RO, eds. Valvular heart disease: A companion to Braunwald's Heart Disease. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 20.Japp AG, Din JN, Robson JMJ. The cardiovascular system. In: Dover AR, Innes JA, Fairhurst K, eds. Macleod's Clinical Examination. 15th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 4.Patel A, Kodali S. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement: indications, procedure, and outcomes. In: Otto CM, Bonow RO, eds. Valvular heart disease: A Companion to Braunwald's Heart Disease. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 12.AllVideoImagesTogHeartbeatAnimation No audio descriptionWith audio descriptionRelated video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersRelated video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersHeartbeat - Animation The heart has four chambers and four main blood vessels that either bring blood to the heart, or carry blood away. The four chambers are the right atrium and right ventricle and the left atrium and left ventricle. The blood vessels include the superior and inferior vena cava. These bring blood from the body to the right atrium. Next is the pulmonary artery that carries blood from the right ventricle to the lungs. The aorta is the body's largest artery. It carries oxygen-rich blood from the left ventricle to the rest of the body. Beneath the tough fibrous coating of the heart, you can see it beating. Inside the chambers are a series of one-way valves. These keep the blood flowing in one direction. Dye injected into the superior vena cava, will pass through all the heart's chambers during one cardiac cycle. Blood first enters the heart's right atrium. A muscle contraction forces the blood through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle. When the right ventricle contracts, blood is forced through the pulmonary semilunar valve into the pulmonary artery. Then it travels to the lungs. In the lungs, the blood receives oxygen then leaves through the pulmonary veins. It returns to the heart and enters the left atrium. From there, blood is forced through the mitral valve into the left ventricle. This is the muscular pump that sends blood out to the rest of the body. When the left ventricle contracts, it forces blood through the aortic semilunar valve and into the aorta. The aorta and its branches carries the blood to all the body's tissues.Cardiac catheterizationAnimation Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersCardiac catheterization - Animation Millions of Americans are living with heart disease and some of them don't even realize they have it. Heart disease is the number one cause of death; above cancer, diabetes, and injuries. That's why it's important to get it diagnosed and treated quickly. Fortunately, we doctors have a lot of tests and treatments at our disposal to combat heart disease. One procedure that is both a test AND a treatment is called cardiac catheterization. It can show your doctor how healthy your heart and blood vessels are, and treat heart valve problems, clogged arteries, and heart defects. Let's talk today about cardiac catheterization. So, why would you even need cardiac catheterization? Well, doctors use cardiac catheterization to diagnose and evaluate common heart and blood vessel problems, like chest pain or an abnormal stress test due to coronary artery disease, heart valve conditions like a leaky or narrowed valve, a high blood pressure condition in the lungs, blood clots in the lungs from an embolism, and an enlarged heart. You'll need to have this procedure in a supervised hospital setting. You may need to stay overnight at the hospital the night before the test, or you may be admitted the morning of the procedure. The whole cardiac catheterization procedure takes about 30 to 60 minutes. You'll be given medicine to help you relax, but you'll be awake during the procedure. First, the doctor will insert an intravenous, or IV line into one of the blood vessels in your groin or neck. Through this IV line, your doctor will pass a thin, flexible tube called a catheter. That tube will be threaded into either the left or right side of your heart. The doctor will use an x-ray as a guide to see where the catheter is going. While the catheter is in place, your doctor can check how well the blood is flowing into and out of your heart, and through the arteries around your heart, collect blood samples from your heart, measure the oxygen level in your heart, and even take a tiny piece of heart tissue, called a biopsy, when there's a situation of unexplained heart failure. Cardiac catheterization is a safe procedure when performed by an experienced medical team. But, some possible risks include bleeding, infection, and blood clots. A heart attack or a stroke can happen in very rare situations. But, remember, it's done in a closely supervised setting in a hospital. After a cardiac catheterization, your doctor should have a pretty good idea of what's causing your heart, valve, or blood vessel problem. Knowing exactly what the problem is can help your doctor find just the right way to treat your particular problem.HeartbeatAnimation No audio descriptionWith audio descriptionRelated video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersRelated video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersHeartbeat - Animation The heart has four chambers and four main blood vessels that either bring blood to the heart, or carry blood away. The four chambers are the right atrium and right ventricle and the left atrium and left ventricle. The blood vessels include the superior and inferior vena cava. These bring blood from the body to the right atrium. Next is the pulmonary artery that carries blood from the right ventricle to the lungs. The aorta is the body's largest artery. It carries oxygen-rich blood from the left ventricle to the rest of the body. Beneath the tough fibrous coating of the heart, you can see it beating. Inside the chambers are a series of one-way valves. These keep the blood flowing in one direction. Dye injected into the superior vena cava, will pass through all the heart's chambers during one cardiac cycle. Blood first enters the heart's right atrium. A muscle contraction forces the blood through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle. When the right ventricle contracts, blood is forced through the pulmonary semilunar valve into the pulmonary artery. Then it travels to the lungs. In the lungs, the blood receives oxygen then leaves through the pulmonary veins. It returns to the heart and enters the left atrium. From there, blood is forced through the mitral valve into the left ventricle. This is the muscular pump that sends blood out to the rest of the body. When the left ventricle contracts, it forces blood through the aortic semilunar valve and into the aorta. The aorta and its branches carries the blood to all the body's tissues.Cardiac catheterizationAnimation Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersCardiac catheterization - Animation Millions of Americans are living with heart disease and some of them don't even realize they have it. Heart disease is the number one cause of death; above cancer, diabetes, and injuries. That's why it's important to get it diagnosed and treated quickly. Fortunately, we doctors have a lot of tests and treatments at our disposal to combat heart disease. One procedure that is both a test AND a treatment is called cardiac catheterization. It can show your doctor how healthy your heart and blood vessels are, and treat heart valve problems, clogged arteries, and heart defects. Let's talk today about cardiac catheterization. So, why would you even need cardiac catheterization? Well, doctors use cardiac catheterization to diagnose and evaluate common heart and blood vessel problems, like chest pain or an abnormal stress test due to coronary artery disease, heart valve conditions like a leaky or narrowed valve, a high blood pressure condition in the lungs, blood clots in the lungs from an embolism, and an enlarged heart. You'll need to have this procedure in a supervised hospital setting. You may need to stay overnight at the hospital the night before the test, or you may be admitted the morning of the procedure. The whole cardiac catheterization procedure takes about 30 to 60 minutes. You'll be given medicine to help you relax, but you'll be awake during the procedure. First, the doctor will insert an intravenous, or IV line into one of the blood vessels in your groin or neck. Through this IV line, your doctor will pass a thin, flexible tube called a catheter. That tube will be threaded into either the left or right side of your heart. The doctor will use an x-ray as a guide to see where the catheter is going. While the catheter is in place, your doctor can check how well the blood is flowing into and out of your heart, and through the arteries around your heart, collect blood samples from your heart, measure the oxygen level in your heart, and even take a tiny piece of heart tissue, called a biopsy, when there's a situation of unexplained heart failure. Cardiac catheterization is a safe procedure when performed by an experienced medical team. But, some possible risks include bleeding, infection, and blood clots. A heart attack or a stroke can happen in very rare situations. But, remember, it's done in a closely supervised setting in a hospital. After a cardiac catheterization, your doctor should have a pretty good idea of what's causing your heart, valve, or blood vessel problem. Knowing exactly what the problem is can help your doctor find just the right way to treat your particular problem.A Closer Look Heart attack and acute coronary syndrome - InDepth(In-Depth)Coronary artery disease - InDepth(In-Depth)Self Care Cholesterol - drug treatmentRelated Information Review Date: 10/23/2023 Reviewed By: Michael A. Chen, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington Medical School, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Heart and vascular servicesCirculatory system; Vascular system; Cardiovascular systemThe body's cardiovascular, or circulatory system, is made of the heart, blood, and blood vessels (arteries and veins).Heart and vascular services refers to the branch of medicine that focuses on the cardiovascular system.No audio descriptionWith audio descriptionRelated video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersRelated video goes here for no-HTML5 browsers Information The heart's main job is to pump oxygen-rich blood to the body after it pumps oxygen-poor blood to the lungs. It normally does this 60 to 100 times a minute, 24 hours a day.The heart is made of four chambers:The right atrium receives oxygen-poor blood from the body. That blood then flows into the right ventricle, which pumps it to the lungs. The left atrium receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs. From there, the blood flows into the left ventricle, which pumps blood out of the heart to the rest of the body. Together, the arteries and veins are referred to as the vascular system. In general, arteries carry blood away from the heart and veins carry blood back to the heart.The cardiovascular system delivers oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and other important substances to cells and organs in the body. It plays an important role in helping the body meet the demands of activity, exercise, and stress. It also helps maintain body temperature, among other things.CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINECardiovascular medicine refers to the branch of health care that specializes in the treatment of diseases or conditions dealing with the heart and vascular systems.Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersCommon disorders include:Abdominal aortic aneurysm Abdominal aortic aneurysmThe aorta is the main blood vessel that supplies blood to the abdomen, pelvis, and legs. An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) occurs when an area of t...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Congenital heart defects Coronary artery disease, including angina and heart attack Coronary artery diseaseCoronary heart disease is a narrowing of the blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. Coronary heart disease (CHD) is also called co...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Heart failure Heart failureHeart failure is a condition in which the heart is no longer able to pump oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body efficiently. This causes symptom...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Heart valve problems High blood pressure and high cholesterol Irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias) Peripheral artery disease (PAD) Peripheral artery diseasePeripheral artery disease (PAD) is a condition of the blood vessels that supply the legs and feet. It occurs due to narrowing of the arteries in the...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Stroke Physicians involved in the treatment of circulatory or vascular diseases include:Cardiologists -- Doctors who have received extra training in the treatment of heart and vascular disorders Vascular surgeons -- Doctors who have received extra training in blood vessel surgery Cardiac surgeons -- Doctors who have received extra training in heart-related surgery Primary care doctors Other health care providers who are involved in the treatment of circulatory or vascular diseases include:Nurse practitioners (NPs) or physician assistants (PAs), who focus on heart and vascular diseases Nutritionists or dietitians Nurses who receive special training in the management of patients with these disorders Imaging tests that may be done to diagnose, monitor or treat diseases of the circulatory and vascular system include:Cardiac CT Cardiac CTA computed tomography (CT) scan of the heart is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create detailed pictures of the heart and its blood vessels. Th...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Cardiac MRI Cardiac MRIHeart magnetic resonance imaging is an imaging method that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the heart. It does not use ra...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Coronary angiography Coronary angiographyCoronary angiography is a procedure that uses a special dye (contrast material) and x-rays to see how blood flows through the arteries in your heart....Read Article Now Book Mark Article CT angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) Magnetic resonance angiographyMagnetic resonance angiography (MRA) is an MRI exam of the blood vessels. Unlike traditional angiography that involves placing a tube (catheter) int...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Echocardiogram EchocardiogramAn echocardiogram is a test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the heart. The picture and information it produces is more detailed than a s...Read Article Now Book Mark Article PET scan of the heart PET scan of the heartA heart positron emission tomography (PET) scan is an imaging test that uses a radioactive substance called a tracer to look for disease or poor bloo...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Stress tests (many different types of stress tests exist) Vascular ultrasound, such as carotid ultrasound Carotid ultrasoundCarotid duplex is an ultrasound test that shows how well blood is flowing through the carotid arteries. The carotid arteries are located in the neck...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Venous ultrasound of the arms and legs SURGERIES AND INTERVENTIONSLess invasive procedures than heart or vascular surgery may be done to diagnose, monitor or treat diseases of the heart and vascular system.In most of these types of procedures, a catheter is inserted through the skin into a large blood vessel. In most cases, such procedures do not need general anesthesia. Patients often do not need to stay in the hospital overnight. They recover in 1 to 3 days and can most often return to their normal activities within a week.General anesthesiaGeneral anesthesia is treatment with certain medicines that puts you into a deep sleep so you do not feel pain during surgery. After you receive the...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Such procedures include:Ablation therapy to treat cardiac arrhythmias Angiogram (using x-rays and injected contrast dye to evaluate blood vessels) AngiogramCoronary angiography is a procedure that uses a special dye (contrast material) and x-rays to see how blood flows through the arteries in your heart....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Angioplasty (using a small balloon to open a narrowing in a blood vessel) with or without stent placement Cardiac catheterization (measuring pressures in and around the heart) Valve interventions/replacementHeart surgery may be needed to treat certain heart or blood vessel problems. This may include:Heart transplant Insertion of pacemakers or defibrillators Open and minimally invasive coronary artery bypass surgery Repair or replacement of heart valves Surgical treatment of congenital heart defects Vascular surgery refers to surgical procedures that are used to treat or diagnose problems in a blood vessel, such as a blockage or rupture. Such procedures include:Arterial bypass grafts Endarterectomies Repair of aneurysms (dilated/enlarged portions) of the aorta and its branches Procedures may also be used to treat arteries that supply the brain, kidneys, intestines, arms and legs.CARDIOVASCULAR PREVENTION AND REHABILITATIONCardiac rehabilitation is therapy used to prevent heart disease from getting worse. It is usually recommended after major heart-related events such as a heart attack or cardiac surgery. It may include:Cardiovascular risk assessments Health screenings and wellness exams Nutrition and lifestyle counseling, including smoking cessation and diabetes education Supervised exercise Open ReferencesReferencesGo MR, Starr JE, Satiani B. Development of a multispecialty practice and operation of multispecialty cardiovascular centers. In: Sidawy AN, Perler BA, eds. Rutherford's Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 197.Herrmann HC. Transcatheter mitral valve repair and replacement. In: Otto CM, Bonow RO, eds. Valvular heart disease: A companion to Braunwald's Heart Disease. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 20.Japp AG, Din JN, Robson JMJ. The cardiovascular system. In: Dover AR, Innes JA, Fairhurst K, eds. Macleod's Clinical Examination. 15th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 4.Patel A, Kodali S. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement: indications, procedure, and outcomes. In: Otto CM, Bonow RO, eds. Valvular heart disease: A Companion to Braunwald's Heart Disease. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 12.