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What You Need to Know About Heart Disease

Whether you call it cardiovascular disease or heart disease, health issues affecting your heart, arteries and blood vessels are extremely serious. So serious, in fact, that cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of men and women in the United States, responsible for more than 36 percent of all deaths. To put it in perspective, that’s more than all forms of cancer combined. Because there is so much to learn, it’s good to know the basics about cardiovascular disease if you or a family member needs help.

Coronary Artery Disease
You probably know coronary artery disease (CAD) better as “hardening of the arteries.” It’s one of the most widespread and well-known forms of heart disease. CAD occurs when the arteries that supply blood to your heart become narrowed or blocked by fatty deposits called plaque. The narrowed arteries decrease the amount of blood and oxygen reaching your heart. If your heart does not receive enough oxygen, you may have chest pain (angina) or a heart attack.

Congestive Heart Failure
If you have coronary artery disease
or high blood pressure, you may eventually develop congestive heart failure. CHF is a chronic condition in which the heart muscle gets progressively weaker and is unable to pump effectively to meet the body’s need for blood and oxygen. Heart failure usually results in an enlarged heart. It often causes shortness of breath, tiredness, and swelling of the legs and feet. Risk factors for this condition include high blood pressure, a previous heart attack, coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease and congenital heart disease.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Dilated cardiomyopathy is a disease in which one or more of the heart’s chambers become enlarged (dilated). The muscular walls of the left ventricle thin and enlarge and with time, the heart becomes less and less effective in pumping blood. This causes heart failure and results in fluid building up in the lungs and various parts of the body.

Heart Attack
A heart attack occurs when the blood supply to part of the heart muscle, or myocardium, is severely reduced or stopped. The medical term for heart attack is myocardial infarction. The reduction or stoppage happens when one or more of the coronary arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle are blocked. This is usually caused by the buildup of plaque (deposits of fat-like substances), a process called atherosclerosis. The plaque can eventually burst, tear or rupture, creating a “snag” where a blood clot forms and blocks the artery, depriving part of the heart of oxygen and nutrients. This leads to a heart attack. If the flow of blood is not restored within a few minutes, the affected muscle cells can suffer permanent damage or die. A heart attack is also sometimes called a coronary thrombosis or coronary artery occlusion.

Arrhythmia
At some time or another, you’ve probably felt your heart race or even skip a beat. If this occurrence is infrequent, it probably is not serious. However, if it is continuous, it is what is known as arrhythmia. Arrhythmias are caused by problems with your heart’s electrical system. The electrical signals may fire too fast or too slowly, or in an uneven (irregular) way. When you have an arrhythmia, your heart may seem to skip beats or flutter. Most cases are harmless, but some arrhythmias are extremely dangerous and may indicate a serious problem and lead to heart disease, stroke or sudden cardiac death.

Stroke
Stroke is a disease that affects the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that brings oxygen and nutrients to the brain either bursts (hemorrhagic stroke) or is clogged by a blood clot or some other mass (ischemic stroke). When a rupture or blockage occurs, parts of the brain don’t get the blood and oxygen they need. Without oxygen, nerve cells in the affected area of the brain can’t work properly, and die within minutes. And when nerve cells can’t work, the part of the body they control can’t work either. The devastating effects of a severe stroke are often permanent because dead brain cells aren’t replaced.

These heart diseases combined with other heart-related conditions take a costly toll on one’s quality of life. The good news is that heart disease deaths are on the decline, thanks to advancements in medical research, treatment and prevention programs. Every day, medical experts are discovering new ways to prevent heart problems and save heart patients. You can help by becoming aware of your risk factors and then making smart lifestyle choices that promote good heart health.

Do you Have Questions or Comments for Your Doctor?
Take a few minutes to write your own questions or comments for the next time you see your health care provider.
For example: How do men’s and women’s symptoms differ?
Do any of my symptoms mean I have a heart problem?