Heart (cardiovascular) disease definition and facts
- Heart disease refers to various types of conditions that can affect heart function. These types include:
- Coronary artery (atherosclerotic) heart disease that affects the arteries to the heart
- Valvular heart disease that affects how the valves function to regulate blood flow in and out of the heart
- Cardiomyopathy that affects how the heart muscle squeezes
- Heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias) that affect the electrical conduction
- Heart infections where the heart has structural problems that develop before birth
- Coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease in the US.
- Coronary arteries supply blood to the heart muscle and coronary artery disease occurs when there is a buildup of cholesterol plaque inside the artery walls. Over time, this buildup of plaque may partially block the artery and decrease blood flow through it.
- A heart attack occurs when a plaque ruptures and forms a clot in the artery causing a complete blockage. That part of the heart muscle that is denied blood supply starts to die.
- Classic signs and symptoms of coronary heart disease may include:
- Not all people with coronary artery disease have chest pain as a symptom. Some may have signs and symptoms of indigestion, or exercise intolerance where they cannot perform activities that they normally once could.
- Coronary heart disease is initially diagnosed by patient history and physical examination. EKG blood tests, and tests to image the arteries and heart muscle confirm the diagnosis.
- Treatment for coronary heart disease depends upon its severity. Many times lifestyle changes such as eating a heart healthy diet, exercising regularly, stopping smoking and controlling high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetesmay limit the artery narrowing.
- In some people, surgery or other procedures might be needed.
0 comments:
Post a Comment