Diseases can affect different parts of the heart. There may be defects in the normal growth and development of the heart even before a child is born , and many different parts of the heart may be abnormal. Sometimes, the heart muscle itself becomes weak and cannot pump blood effectively. The valves are meant to direct blood flow within the heart and arteries in one direction alone. When they are damaged, one of two things may happen.
Many different conditions cause valve disease.
Over a period of time, usually five or more years, it slowly destroys the heart valves and produces valvular heart disease. Fortunately, in Western countries, rheumatic fever is almost fully eradicated. Among the many causes of coronary artery disease, the most important are stress, smoking, eating fatty foods, a sedentary lifestyle, obesity and the added presence of diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes. Even before birth , as the child is growing inside his or her mother, changes occur which cause an abnormal development of the heart. Depending on the time at which this change happens, a bewildering array of abnormalities may be seen.