Ejection fraction: An important heart test - Mayo Clinic Ejection fraction is a measurement of the percentage of blood leaving the heart each time it squeezes When the heart squeezes, it's called a contraction Ejection fraction is just one of many tests your healthcare professional may use to see how your heart works The heart squeezes and relaxes When the heart squeezes, it pumps out — or ejects — blood from the two lower heart chambers
Heart attack - Symptoms causes - Mayo Clinic A heart attack occurs when an artery that sends blood and oxygen to the heart is blocked Fatty, cholesterol-containing deposits build up over time, forming plaques in the heart's arteries If a plaque ruptures, a blood clot can form The clot can block arteries, causing a heart attack During a heart attack, a lack of blood flow causes the tissue in the heart muscle to die
Stroke - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic An ischemic stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is blocked or reduced This prevents brain tissue from getting oxygen and nutrients Brain cells begin to die in minutes Another type of stroke is a hemorrhagic stroke It occurs when a blood vessel in the brain leaks or bursts and causes bleeding in the brain The blood increases pressure on brain cells and damages them
Myocardial ischemia - Symptoms causes - Mayo Clinic Myocardial ischemia occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle (myocardium) is obstructed by a partial or complete blockage of a coronary artery by a buildup of plaques (atherosclerosis) If the plaques rupture, you can have a heart attack (myocardial infarction)
Acute coronary syndrome - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic Acute coronary syndrome is a term that describes a range of conditions related to sudden reduced blood flow to the heart These conditions include a heart attack and unstable angina, a type of chest pain When blood flow to the heart is reduced, the heart muscle doesn't get enough oxygen If heart tissue cells die or are damaged, a heart attack happens A heart attack also is known as a
Myocardial ischemia - Diagnosis treatment - Mayo Clinic The goal of myocardial ischemia treatment is to improve blood flow to the heart muscle Depending on the severity of your condition, your doctor may recommend medications, surgery or both
Heart attack - Diagnosis treatment - Mayo Clinic Each minute after a heart attack, more heart tissue is damaged or dies Urgent treatment is needed to fix blood flow and restore oxygen levels Oxygen is given immediately Specific heart attack treatment depends on whether there's a partial or complete blockage of blood flow
Myocarditis - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle, called the myocardium The condition can reduce the heart's ability to pump blood Myocarditis can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, and rapid or irregular heartbeats Infection with a virus is one cause of myocarditis Sometimes myocarditis is caused by a medicine reaction or a condition that causes inflammation throughout the body