What is heart disease?
Heart disease, also known as cardiovascular disease, is a common expression which is used to describe a number of different conditions which can all possibly be life threatening, but which can also be treated or prevented through medication, surgery, or a change in lifestyle.
Heart Disease Facts
Heart disease, the most recognized killer of both males and females in the U.S.A. is additionally increasing in developing countries. Coronary heart disease is the commonest form of cardiovascular heart disease and affects approximately 7 million people in America alone.
Every year heart disease information and statistics show us that roughly five-hundred thousand Americans are killed by coronary artery disease related heart problems and heart disease causes and effects. Other forms consist of congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, stroke and cardiac arrhythmias.
The Workings of the Heart
By supplying essential materials to the body’s cells, and then removing waste products, essentially the heart is a transportation system for the body. The hearts right side supplies the lungs with blood which then collects oxygen and deposits carbon dioxide. The freshly oxygenated blood is then carried back to the hearts left side and blood is then pumped through the largest blood vessel in the body; the aorta.
Nutrients as well as oxygen are also needed by the heart muscle so that it can do its job. The blood pumping through the heart is not used as the source for these nutrients and oxygen. As is the case wills all of the bodies muscles, the blood supply to the heart is gained via the coronary arteries.
Heart Disease Types
Numerous diseases can be classified as a heart disease, the most common form of which is called coronary artery disease. This is one of the heart disease causes brought on through the clogging or narrowing of a hearts coronary arteries, and can subsequently cause myocardial infarction – which is more commonly known as a heart attack, angina – which is chest pain, and sudden death – which is often caused through an ineffective and severely abnormal heart beat.
Stroke
A stroke can occur if the blood vessels which supply the brain become clogged or narrowed. A very similar disease, but one which occurs in the leg arteries, is peripheral vascular disease. These diseases can be caused by the same problems which lead to coronary artery disease.
Congestive Heart Failure
If the heart muscles become weak and blood is not pumped efficiently, congestive heart failure can occur. Some heart disease symptoms in the case of congestive heart failure are: Edema, shortness of breath as well as having intolerance to exercise which can ultimately result in congestive heart failure brought on by a diseased heart muscle.
Cardiomyopathy
A heart muscle which has lost the ability to effectively pump blood can result in cardiomyopathy. A disturbed heart rhythm results in arrhythmias. While the cause of cardiomyopathy is often unknown, one common cause is known as coronary atherosclerosis. It is relatively uncommon for cardiomyopathy to not be linked to coronary atherosclerosis, and approximately 50,000 Americans are affected by it.
Cardiomyopathy is unlike numerous other kinds of heart disease however, as young people can also be affected by it, although this is considerably more rare. The condition is generally progressive and has the potential to get worse relatively quickly. This particular type of heart disease makes it a leading reason for severely affected patients needing heart transplants.
Cardiac Arrhythmias
While these can be relatively harmless even though chronic, cardiac arrhythmias can also be quite severe, as they can prevent effective pumping of the heart. In severe cases they can also contribute towards cardiac sudden death as well as congestive heart failure.
Other symptoms of heart disease which are not quite as common can include aneurysms – which are caused by an artery widening abnormally, and valvular disease – which is caused when the heart develops problems within its valves.
