One thing that most people do not know about heart disease is that it is the number one killer in USA. Plus it is also a major cause of disability. Heart disease is the term used for number of different types of heart problems. Learning all that you can about this disease will help you take better care of yourself and your heart.
The Heart
We all know that heart is the organ that pumps blood. This blood carries oxygen and nutrients- both of which are essential for living. Now just imagine what would happen if the heart stops functioning efficiently. Vital organs in your body like the kidneys and brain get damaged when the heart is not able to pump blood efficiently. If the heart stops pumping altogether, it will lead to death within minutes.
Heart problems occur when arteries become clogged with plaque, bad cholesterol, calcium, and scar tissue. Once the arteries become clogged, the heart has a tough time pumping blood. Heart failure, heart infections, heart arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease, and hypertension are some heart diseases.
CHD
To learn more about heart disease, one must learn the basic symptoms, causes and conditions associated with various types of heart diseases. For instance, Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is one of the most common types of heart disease. CHD occurs when the coronary arteries become hardened. Coronary arteries are the ones that supply blood to the heart. Plaque build up is one of the primary causes of the hardening of coronary arteries. Plaque is a made up of fatty substances such as cholesterol and other lipids.
Angina is a common symptom associated with CHD. However, in some people, the first symptom is often a heart attack.
Heart Attack
Heart attack is another common heart disease. A heart attack occurs when the blood supply to the heart is severely reduced or completely stopped. When this happens, the heart muscle cells begin to die due to the lack of oxygen supply. If treatment is not sought on time, it can lead to death. Heart attack requires emergency care. The sooner you get treatment, the better are your chances of survival.
Angina
Angina is also a heart disease which is marked by chest pain and discomfort. One can experience angina pain in the shoulders, neck, jaw, back or arms. Those suffering from stable angina may experience chest pain upon physical exertion or mental stress. In unstable angina, one can experience chest pain even while resting.
Arrhythmias
Arrhythmias refer to irregular heart beat. Your heart could be beating abnormally slow or fast. Our heart beats are controlled by the electrical impulses in our body. When these electrical impulses are disturbed, it leads to arrhythmias.
These are just some of the common heart diseases. Cardiomyopathy, heart failure, Rheumatic heart disease, and Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) are some other types of heart disease. Learning more about heart disease equips us with knowledge and skills to deal with this condition in the event we or our loved ones are affected.