Disease conditions that affect the human heart and the methods used to diagnose and treat them are all covered in one concise volume.Written by a past president of the Boston Chapter of the American Heart Association, Heart Disease is a comprehensive account of the leading cause of death in the West. Sequential chapters describe the structure and function of the heart, the various disease states, and the treatments for each major disease. In addition, the book examines the vast array of diagnostic tests and the most advanced treatments available, from basic drugs for prevention such as aspirin to transplants and artificial hearts.Dr. de Silva, who teaches at Harvard Medical School, also covers historical aspects of heart disease, discoveries about the structure and function of the heart, and the ways in which heart disease can be diagnosed and treated. Underlying conditions that affect the heart are described and linked to the treatments and devices used to correct disease conditions.

A glossary defines medical terms used in the book

Series ForewordAcknowledgmentsIntroductionChapter 1 History of CardiologyEarly Concepts of the CirculationDiscovery of the CirculationDevelopment of Quantitative Methods in CardiologyThe Cardiac Examination and Invention of the StethoscopeResearch in Cardiac PhysiologyDevelopment of ElectrophysiologyEarly Experimental WorkInvention of the ElectrocardiogramClinical Applications of the EKGThe Artificial PacemakerMyocardial Infarction and Sudden Cardiac DeathModern Cardiac Diagnostic MethodsInterventional Cardiology and Cardiac SurgeryOther Important DiscoveriesSummaryChapter 2 Structure and Function of the Heart and Circulatory SystemFunctions of the Circulatory SystemArchitecture of the HeartThe AtriaThe VentriclesThe Heart ValvesThe Coronary ArteriesThe Great Vessels and the Peripheral CirculationThe Conduction System of the HeartThe PericardiumThe Circulation of BloodSummaryChapter 3 Disorders of Coronary CirculationOrigins of CADSymptoms of CADDiagnosis of CADTreatment for CADMedical TreatmentPercutaneous Coronary InterventionCoronary Artery Bypass Grafting SurgeryLifestyle ChangesCoronary Artery SpasmFollow-up TreatmentSummaryChapter 4 Diseases of the Heart ValvesThe Structure and Function of ValvesDisorders of the ValvesCauses of Valve DiseaseAortic Valve DiseasePulmonary Valve DiseaseMitral Valve ProlapseMarfan SyndromeEbstein's AnomalyRheumatic Heart DiseaseInfective EndocarditisConnective Tissue DiseaseDiet and MedicationsRadiation TherapySymptoms and DiagnosisTreatmentSummaryChapter 5 Disorders of the Heart Muscle and Congestive Heart FailureSystolic DysfunctionCausesSymptomsDiagnosisDiastolic DysfunctionCausesSymptomsDiagnosisTreatment of Congestive Heart FailureTreatment StrategyMedical Treatment for CHFInvasive Procedures for CHFSurgical Treatment for CHFEnd-of-Life CareChapter 6 Disorders of Cardiac RhythmAtrial ArrhythmiasAtrial Premature BeatsAtrial Tachycardia (Supraventricular Tachycardia)Atrial FibrillationNodal (Junctional) RhythmHeart BlockVentricular ArrhythmiasVentricular Premature BeatsVentricular TachycardiaAccelerated Idioventricular RhythmVentricular FibrillationSummaryChapter 7 Congenital Heart DiseaseCongenital Heart Defects Presenting in Early LifeHeart Defects Emerging Later in LifeDisorders Causing Functional AbnormalitiesCauses of Congenital Heart DiseaseGenetic CausesInfections and Other DiseasesDrugs and ChemicalsRadiationTypes of Congenital Heart DiseasePatent Foramen OvaleAtrial Septal DefectVentricular Septal DefectAtrioventricular Canal DefectPatent Ductus ArteriosusTetralogy of FallotBiscuspid Aortic ValveCoarctation of the AortaHypoplastic Heart SyndromesTransposition of the Great ArteriesSigns and SymptomsDiagnosis and TreatmentClinical ExaminationDiagnostic TestingGenetic TestingEthical and Moral IssuesSummaryChapter 8 Tests for Heart DiseaseTests That Examine Electrical Functions of the HeartElectrocardiographyHolter MonitoringTelemetry of the EKGElectrophysiological TestingTests That Examine Anatomical and Mechanical Functions of the HeartExercise Stress TestingStress Tests with ImagingComplicationsEchocardiographyCardiac CatheterizationRadiological Studies of the HeartSummaryChapter 9 External and Implantable Cardiac DevicesGeneral ConsiderationsPacemakers and What They DoExternal Temporary Pacing of the HeartImplantable Cardioverter-DefibrillatorsArtificial Hearts and Ventricular Assist DevicesOther Mechanical DevicesComplicationsEthical and Legal IssuesSummaryChapter 10 Surgical Treatment for Heart DiseaseThe Operating RoomPreparation for SurgeryThe Operative ProcedureCardiac Surgery for Selected ConditionsCoronary Bypass SurgeryValve SurgeryCongenital Heart DefectsHeart TransplantsPericardial DiseasePostoperative Recovery PeriodComplications of Cardiac SurgeryNon-Life-Threatening ComplicationsMajor and Life-Threatening ComplicationsSummaryChapter 11 Cardiac Arrest and ResuscitationEarly History of ResuscitationEvolution of Defibrillation in the 20th CenturyElectrophysiology of Cardiac ArrestCauses of Sudden Cardiac DeathCoronary Artery DiseaseCardiomyopathyGenetic Electrical AbnormalitiesIdiopathic CausesDrugs and ChemicalsDietary CausesHypothermiaTrauma to the ChestElectrocutionAsystoleDefibrillator DevicesExternal DefibrillatorsAutomated External DefibrillatorsImplantable DefibrillatorsWearable External DefibrillatorsCardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)What Is CPR?How Is CPR Done?CPR in the CommunityIndications for CPRNeurological Damage from Cardiac ArrestContraindications to CPRSummaryChapter 12 Risk Factors for Coronary Heart Disease and Preventive StrategiesConcept of Risk Factors for Coronary Heart DiseaseThe Framingham StudyMajor Risk Factors for Coronary Heart DiseaseAge, Sex, and HeredityCholesterol ProfileSymptomsDiagnosisSmokingHigh Blood PressureInactivity and ObesityDiabetesContributory Risk Factors for Coronary Heart DiseasePrevention of CVDPrimary Prevention of Heart DiseaseSecondary Prevention of Heart DiseaseCardiovascular Disease in WomenSummary of Studies Related to This ChapterChapter 13 Future Trends in Heart DiseaseGenomics and GeneticsStem Cells and Heart RepairSurgical TreatmentsPrediction of Myocardial InfarctionSudden Cardiac DeathDrug DevelopmentLongevity ResearchSummaryTime LineGlossaryUseful References and WebsitesIndex