The heart and circulatory system are subject to a variety of disorders. Medical management depends on the specific disease, its severity and the patient's ability to make lifestyle changes. Heart tissues can be invaded by pathogens or injured by trauma. Blood supply to the heart can be impaired, the heart muscle can weaken or the heartbeat can become irregular. Symptoms of cardiac distress may include pain, weakness, pallor, fatigue, sweating, restlessness, nausea, vomiting, labored breathing or swollen ankles.
Coronary Artery Disease
The coronary arteries furnish the heart muscle with oxygenated blood from the lungs. The National Institutes of Health calls coronary artery disease (CAD) the major reason for heart attacks. Elasticity of these blood vessels can be lost because of aging or tobacco use. Additional damage to the lining of the arteries may be the result of high blood pressure or diabetes. The accumulation of fatty plaque further narrows the lumen and increases the risk that a blood clot will block the blood flowing to the heart. Coronary artery disease also causes angina, or chest pain, that can be treated with medication, stress-reduction techniques, dietary changes and a medically supervised exercise plan.
Congestive Heart Failure
In congestive heart failure (CHF) the heart is overworked, enlarged, and weakened over time until a normal amount of blood is neither received nor sent out to supply body tissues. Congestion of blood occurs in the right side of the heart and in the veins. Fluid seeps into the lungs and tissues, causing respiratory distress and swollen ankles. Risk factors for CHF include advanced age, alcoholism, smoking, obesity and diabetes. Scarring from infection, damage from a heart attack or congenital defects may also cause this disorder. The Mayo Clinic states that although CHF may not be reversible, treatment with a low sodium diet and medications can improve symptoms of the condition.
Arrhythmia
Disorders of the heart rate or rhythm are called arrhythmia. The heart beat originates from an electrochemical mechanism in specific cells that alternately displace minerals and salts to produce an electric charge. The charge must travel through bundled fibers to cause contractions of the heart muscle. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, irregular heartbeats can be caused by scar tissue, smoking, alcohol or drug abuse or medications. The cause may also be unknown. Treatment options for a serious arrhythmia include a surgically implanted pacemaker and medication.
Rheumatic Fever
Group A Streptococcus bacteria (strep) is the cause of rheumatic fever, which leads to the formation of lesions or scars in heart tissues. This disease occurs as a complication of strep throat or scarlet fever. Symptoms may include high fever, swollen painful joints, fatigue, abdominal pain, weight loss, irritability and muscle twitching. Rheumatic fever was once a leading cause of chronic illness and death among children. The American Heart Association reports that the disease killed nearly 15,000 people in the United States in 1950 and 3,257 people in 2006. Rheumatic fever can be prevented by treating strep infections with antibiotics.
