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Conduction disorders may be caused by structural problems in the heart or other medical conditions. Some people have a conduction disorder at birth, while others develop it later in life.

AAT deficiency usually is diagnosed after you develop a lung or liver disease that is related to the condition. But knowing the symptoms and getting an early diagnosis is important to help prevent serious disease, especially with treatment and lifestyle changes.

With earlier diagnosis and newer treatment, patients with LAM are living longer, with some living more than 20 years after diagnosis. Your doctor will monitor your condition to see if it is stable or getting worse and causing serious complications. Also, your doctor may recommend other medical care, including vaccines, lifestyle changes, and pregnancy and birth control planning.

Your doctor may diagnose you with high blood pressure based on your medical history and if your blood pressure readings are consistently at high levels. Diagnoses for children younger than 13 are based on typical readings for their sex, height, and age.

If you have been diagnosed with a conduction disorder, it is important that you continue your treatment. Follow-up care may depend on your type of conduction disorder, your risk of a complication, and your response to treatment. If you have a conduction disorder whose cause is genetic, talk to your doctor and family members about possible genetic testing for your family members.

It is not typical to screen for bleeding disorders, unless you are having certain types of major surgery or have known risk factors. Your doctor may do a blood test. If you are diagnosed with a bleeding disorder, your doctor may discuss your risk of passing your condition on to a future child.

Any condition or injury that affects breathing can cause respiratory failure. The condition or injury may affect your airways or lungs. Or it may affect the muscles, nerves, and bones that help you breathe.

Your doctor will diagnose atherosclerosis based on your medical and family histories, a physical exam, and results from one or more tests: blood test, electrocardiogram (EKG), chest x ray, ankle/brachial index, echocardiography, computed tomography (CT) scan, stress testing, and angiography.

Certain traits, conditions, or habits may raise your risk for the disease. Major risk factors include unhealthy blood cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, smoking, insulin resistance, diabetes, being overweight, lack of physical activity, an unhealthy diet, older age, and family history of early heart disease.

Many times, the cause of cardiomyopathy isn’t known. Cardiomyopathy can be acquired (you are not born with the condition but develop it due to another disease, condition, or factor) or inherited (your parents passed the gene for the disease on to you).