Health News
Heart Disease
Heart Disease Information
Heart disease incorporates many different types of heart problems. Heart disease may be the leading cause of death in the United States.
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There are a few things people may be able to do to reduce their risk of heart disease. Staying active, not smoking, eating a healthy and well-balanced diet, lowering cholesterol, lowering blood pressure and getting regular screenings may help to reduce the risk of developing serious heart problems.
The most common heart disease may be coronary heart disease. In CHD, the arteries that supply blood to the heart become blocked or hardened due to build up of cholesterol and other fats. This can lead to heart attack, angina, heart failure or irregular heartbeats. The plaque buildup may even burst and cause blood clots that may block arteries.
A heart attack may occur when the heart muscle cells do not receive enough oxygen. If the problem is not given immediate attention and blood flow restored, the heart may fail or the person may go into cardiac arrest. Heart attacks may be fatal, so contacting emergency services right away may save the person's life.
Angina may be a side effect of coronary heart disease. Angina occurs when the heart is not receiving enough blood. It may be described as chest pain or discomfort and may also occur in the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw or back. Stable angina may occur after exercise or emotional stress, while unstable angina may occur for no apparent reason when the body is at rest.
Congenital heart disease is a condition that may occur before birth. This refers to an abnormal formation of certain heart structures. It may affect normal blood flow through the heart and sufferers of the disease may have problems exercising and may experience shortness of breath.
Other heart problems may include cardiomyopathy (weakening of the heart valves or other structures) aortic aneurysm or dissection (when the aorta stretches and ruptures, respectively), arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat), peripheral arterial disease (a hardening of the arteries supplying blood to the arms and legs) and rheumatic heart disease (inflammation and scarring that causes damage to heart valves and other structures).
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The most common heart disease may be coronary heart disease. In CHD, the arteries that supply blood to the heart become blocked or hardened due to build up of cholesterol and other fats. This can lead to heart attack, angina, heart failure or irregular heartbeats. The plaque buildup may even burst and cause blood clots that may block arteries.
A heart attack may occur when the heart muscle cells do not receive enough oxygen. If the problem is not given immediate attention and blood flow restored, the heart may fail or the person may go into cardiac arrest. Heart attacks may be fatal, so contacting emergency services right away may save the person's life.
Angina may be a side effect of coronary heart disease. Angina occurs when the heart is not receiving enough blood. It may be described as chest pain or discomfort and may also occur in the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw or back. Stable angina may occur after exercise or emotional stress, while unstable angina may occur for no apparent reason when the body is at rest.
Congenital heart disease is a condition that may occur before birth. This refers to an abnormal formation of certain heart structures. It may affect normal blood flow through the heart and sufferers of the disease may have problems exercising and may experience shortness of breath.
Other heart problems may include cardiomyopathy (weakening of the heart valves or other structures) aortic aneurysm or dissection (when the aorta stretches and ruptures, respectively), arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat), peripheral arterial disease (a hardening of the arteries supplying blood to the arms and legs) and rheumatic heart disease (inflammation and scarring that causes damage to heart valves and other structures).
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