Pathology and Clinical Practice

Cardiac Pathology

Track 6: Cardiac Pathology

Cardiac pathology is the study of several diseases that are associated with heart. Diseases like congenital heart disease, hypertensive cardiovascular disease, ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathies, myocarditis, valvular heart disease, pericardial disease, and cardiac tumours will be discussed in cardiac pathology. Classic symptoms of heart disease are chest pain or discomfort, dyspnoea, palpitations, syncope, and edema. Dyspnoea is an uncomfortable awareness of breathing. Orthopnea is dyspnoea when in the recumbent position due to increased venous return and increased pulmonary venous pressure. Patients with Orthopnea sleep upright on pillows to avoid becoming short of breath. Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea is when patients awaken with dyspnoea 2–4 hours after falling asleep (due to central redistribution of peripheral edema).