Coronaro-cardiac fistula
Overview
An abnormal opening between a heart artery and a heart chamber or great vessel. This rare defect is present at birth and often causes no problems or symptoms until adulthood. The severity of the condition is determined by the size and exact location of the defect.
Symptoms
* Heart murmur * Breathlessness after exertion * Fatigue * Chest pain * Heart palpitations
Causes
Atherosclerosis is the usual cause of CAD. In this form of arteriosclerosis, fatty, fibrous plaques, possibly including calcium deposits, narrow the lumen of the coronary arteries, reduce the volume of blood that can flow through them, and lead to myocardial ischemia. Plaque formation also predisposes to thrombosis, which can provoke myocardial infarction (MI). Atherosclerosis usually develops in high-flow, high-pressure arteries, such as those in the heart, brain, kidneys, and in the aorta, especially at bifurcation points. It has been linked to many risk factors: family history, male gender, age (risk increased in those aged 65 or older), hypertension, obesity, smoking, diabetes mellitus, stress, sedentary lifestyle, high serum cholesterol (particularly high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) or triglyceride levels, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, high blood homocysteine levels, menopause and, possibly, infections producing inflammatory responses in the artery walls.
Diagnosis
Home medical testing related to Coronaro-cardiac fistula: * High Blood Pressure : Home Testing o Home Blood Pressure Tests o Home Blood Pressure Monitors o Home Heart Tests * Heart Health: Home Testing: o Heart Rate Monitors o Irregular Heartbeat Detection o Heart Electrocardiogram (ECG) o Home Cholesterol Tests