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Pacemakers are used to treat certain types of arrhythmias, as well as heart failure, a condition that occurs when the heart cannot pump enough blood to the body. Not everyone with an arrhythmia needs a pacemaker.

The risk of having a baby with a congenital heart defect is influenced by family history and genetics, the mother’s health, sex, and exposure during pregnancy to environmental factors, such as smoke or certain medicines. Other medical conditions can also raise your risk for having a baby with a congenital heart defect.

Your doctor will diagnose cardiomyopathy based on your medical and family histories, a physical exam, and the results from one or more tests: blood test, chest x ray, electrocardiogram (EKG), Holter and event monitors, echocardiography, stress testing, and genetic testing. To confirm a diagnosis or prepare for surgery, additional procedures may include cardiac catheterization, coronary angiography, and myocardial biopsy.

The major risk factors for carotid artery disease include diabetes, family history of atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, lack of physical activity, metabolic syndrome, older age, overweight or obesity, smoking, unhealthy blood cholesterol levels, and unhealthy diet.

The DASH eating plan is just one key part of a heart-healthy lifestyle, and combining it with other lifestyle changes such as physical activity can help you control your blood pressure and cholesterol.

Ongoing care—including heart-healthy lifestyle changes and medicines—speech, physical, and occupational therapy rehabilitation, and mental health care and support can help you recover from a stroke and may even help prevent another stroke. Know the stroke warning signs and call 9–1–1 for emergency help if you think you are having another stroke.

You cannot prevent mitral valve prolapse because most people who have the condition are born with it.

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.

Taking action to control your risk factors—through heart-healthy eating, physical activity, quitting smoking, and weight control—can help prevent or delay atherosclerosis and its related diseases.

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).