Heart attack, ischemic disease, valvular disease and other terminology refer to the heart when it is sick. A patient can have many symptoms that are indicative of heart disease. According to the National Institute of Health, NIH, heart disease is the number one killer in the United States and a major cause of disability. There are many different types of heart disease.
Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary artery disease is the most common heart disease according to the National Institute of Health. Ischemia is a word used to indicate a lack of oxygen flowing to any muscle. Ischemic disease happens when the coronary arteries have blockages that impede the flow of blood and thus oxygen to the heart muscle. These arteries are small arteries and any amount of blockages can cause trouble. The blockages occur slowly over time. Patients with fairly good size blockages suffer with angina or chest pain and can have heart attacks. When these blockages become life-threatening, then surgery is necessary.
Heart Failure
Heart failure is the term used when the heart does not pump well. The patient may have suffered a heart attack and lost some muscle function or the heart may have been infected with a virus and is now enlarged. Heart failure is a combination of symptoms including a poor pumping mechanism, lung congestion and peripheral edema or swelling in the ankles and legs. Because of a poor pumping mechanism blood backs up in the system and the overflow backs up into the lungs and the rest of the body. This can cause congestive heart failure that makes it difficult to breath because of fluid on the lungs. Diuretics can help alleviate the excess fluid. In severe cases according to the NIH heart transplantation is necessary.
Valvular Disease
The heart is divided into four chambers and each chamber entrance has a one way valve. The aortic, mitral, pulmonic and tricuspid valves serve to keep blood flowing in one direction. The valves can be affected by age, infection and heart attacks according to the NIH. The most common valves to be affected are the mitral and aortic valves. When one of the valves begins to "leak" or becomes stiff and does not allow the blood to flow then symptoms occur. For instance, aortic stenosis means that the aortic valve is stiff and doesn't allow the heart to pump out the blood into the system. Aortic insufficiency means the valve leaks and allows blood to flow backwards into the ventricular chamber. This can lead to heart failure and enlargement of the heart. The same happens with the mitral valve. When the disease is severe, then surgical repair is indicated.
