What Is Heart Disease?
Broadly speaking, any damage or defect to the heart can be considered heart disease. In the medical sense, Coronary Heart Disease is the most common condition in which coronary arteries become constricted due to plaque deposits. As the plaque becomes a road block to blood flow, the resulting hardening of the arteries is known as Atherosclerosis. Coronary Heart Disease weakens the heart muscle which over time can lead to heart failure. Another facet of Coronary Heart Disease is Angina. A person with Angina experiences extreme chest pain as the heart is literally starving for blood flow. The pain of Angina is sometime compared to having a car parked on the chest. This extreme pain is one symptom that no one ignores. Stable Angina describes the eruption of symptoms primarily due to exertion or high stress. With Unstable Angina, symptoms can occur even when a person is quiet and not exerting effort.
When the underlying Coronary Heart Disease erupts into a heart attack, the actual medical occurrence is called a myocardial infarction. The heart is a muscle and muscle cells deprived of oxygen will die. Seeking help at the first sign of heart attack symptoms, even mild symptoms, is very important to prevent lasting damage to the heart or death. Other types of heart disease include: Congenital Heart Disease is any type of defect present at birth. Poorly functioning heart valves or holes in the walls of the heart are common genetic defects. Treatment begins immediately and may require surgery. Congenital Heart Disease is the most common type of birth defect. Ongoing monitoring and management of risk factors continues into adulthood. Arrhythmia is an irregular heart beat which can point to possible heart valve problems. These quirks in the beat pattern can interfere with flood flow thru the heart or result in pooling instead of adequate blood distribution. Not every person with an irregular heart beat is at risk for heart disease however only medical testing can determine the risk level. Aortic Aneurysm is a condition that develops over time as the aorta stretches beyond capacity and finally ruptures without warning. Immediate medical attention is the difference between life and death. Peripheral Arterial Disease is the hardening of the arteries that affects extremities causing pain or numbness in legs, ankles and feet. The pain is due to restricted blood flow to these areas. The discomfort in arms and legs is a warning sign that can lead to diagnosis of peripheral arterial disease. Rheumatic Heart Disease is damage to the heart due to inflammation from Rheumatic Fever. This is not just a childhood problem but can happen to anyone as the aftermath of a streptococcal infection. Cardiomyopathy is another infection driven type of heart disease. Once infection sets in, the heart muscle becomes rigid and less flexible. These changes in the heart muscle compromise its function. The exact cause of cardiomyopathy is not known although this type of heart disease has occurred after both viral and bacterial infections. |