The term “heart disease” refers to a variety of issues that affect the heart and blood vessels, the most common of which is coronary artery disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, causing approximately 1 in 5 deaths. Thankfully, healthy habits, medications, and other changes can help keep your heart healthy and lower your risk. Keep reading to learn more about the types, causes, symptoms, and prevention of heart disease.
Types of Heart Disease
Heart disease refers to any condition that affects the cardiovascular system. There are several types of heart disease, and each affects the heart and blood vessels in various ways. Here are some of the most common types:
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
Also known as coronary heart disease, coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease. It develops when the arteries that supply the heart with blood become clogged with plaque, making them harden and narrow. This causes reduced blood supply to the heart, and over time the decreased oxygen and nutrients will cause the heart muscles to weaken, creating a risk of arrhythmias and heart failure.
Arrhythmia
An arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat that occurs when the electrical impulses that control the heartbeat don’t work properly. This can cause the heart to beat too slowly, too quickly, or erratically. You may notice a feeling of a racing or fluttering heart. Arrhythmias can have severe complications or even be life threatening.
Congenital Heart Disease
Congenital heart disease includes heart problems that you are born with. There are many types, including atypical heart valves, septal defects, and atresia. These defects can involve major structural issues in the heart. Many congenital heart defects do not have noticeable symptoms and are only discovered during routine medical checks.
Myocardial Infarction
Also known as heart attack, myocardial infarction is an interruption of blood flow to the heart. This can cause damage to part of the heart muscle. Heart attack is most commonly caused by plaque, a blood clot, or both in a coronary artery. It can also be caused by the sudden narrowing or spasming of an artery.
Heart Failure
In heart failure, the heart is still working but not as well as it should be. Congestive heart failure is a type of heart failure that is caused by problems with the heart’s pumping or relaxing function. A number of conditions can affect the heart’s ability to properly pump or relax, such as untreated coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, high blood pressure, and others.
Other types of heart disease include hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, mitral valve regurgitation, mitral valve prolapse, and aortic stenosis.
Heart Disease Symptoms
The symptoms of heart disease depend on which type you have, and some conditions may have no symptoms at all. However, some of the most common symptoms of heart problems include:
- Chest pain (angina)
- Lightheadedness
- Fatigue
- Difficulty breathing
- Swelling due to fluid retention (edema)
- Blue tinge to skin or inability to exercise in children with congenital heart defects
Because heart disease can lead to heart attack, it’s important to know the signs and symptoms of this potentially deadly occurrence. Heart attack can result in cardiac arrest, which is when the heart stops and the body can’t function. This requires immediate medical attention. If you’re having a heart attack, you may experience:
- Chest pain
- Arm, back, jaw, or leg pain
- Heart palpitations
- Breathlessness
- Sweating
- Choking sensation
- Stomach pain
- Nausea
- Irregular heartbeat
- Fatigue
- Swollen ankles
Causes and Risk Factors
Heart disease develops when there is damage to the heart, a problem with the blood vessels, an issue with the heart’s rhythm, or a low supply of nutrients and oxygen to the heart. Genetics can sometimes play a role in the development of heart disease. Your lifestyle and medical conditions can also increase your risk. Some of the risk factors of heart disease include:
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Overweight and obesity
- Smoking
- High alcohol consumption
- Poor diet
- Low activity levels
- High levels of anxiety or stress
- Sleep apnea
- Personal history of preeclampsia in pregnancy
- Family history of heart disease
- Leaky heart valves
- Age
Prevention
Making certain lifestyle changes can help reduce your risk of developing heart disease. Eat a balanced diet rich in heart-healthy foods like whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, and limit your consumption of alcohol, processed foods, and foods with added sugars, fats, and salt. Exercise for at least 150 minutes each week to strengthen your heart, lower cholesterol, and maintain healthy blood pressure. Try to keep a healthy body weight with a body mass index (BMI) between 20 and 25. Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease, so take steps to quit smoking. Other health conditions can also affect heart health, so seek treatment to manage underlying conditions that could contribute to heart disease.
Do you have any questions about preventing or managing heart disease? Our knowledgeable pharmacy team is here to answer your questions and offer recommendations to help you live your healthiest life! Reach out to us at Midtown Express Pharmacy today!
