Heart disease is a term used to describe a broad range of conditions that affect the circulatory system including coronary artery disease, heart rhythm disturbances and heart valve problems. Other disorders affect the pumping ability of the heart, such as congestive heart failure or cardiomyopathy. Treatments for heart conditions can vary from medication to surgery, depending on the symptoms and severity of the disease.
Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary artery disease is a condition in which plaque builds up inside of the arteries of the heart. Treatments for coronary artery disease include lifestyle changes, medications and occasionally surgical procedures. Lifestyle changes consist of following a healthy diet to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, increasing exercise, smoking cessation and stress reduction. Medications are used to decrease the workload of the heart, lower cholesterol and blood pressure and to prevent blood clots. Some examples of these medications include aspirin, beta blockers, statins, fish oil, ACE inhibitors and nitrogylcerin. Angioplasty or coronary artery bypass graft surgery may be needed if the disease progresses. Angioplasty opens the blocked coronary artery by inflating a balloon to compress the plaque out of the way; often a mesh tube called a stent is inserted to keep the artery open. In coronary artery bypass graft surgery, arteries or veins from the arm, leg and chest are used to bypass the blood flow around the blockage.
Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy is a disease that weakens and enlarges the heart muscle. This makes the heart work harder to pump blood to the rest of the body. Lifestyle changes to treat cardiomyopathy include limiting sodium and water intake to prevent fluid retention. Medications such as ACE inhibitors, beta blockers, Digoxin and diuretics are given to improve heart function. A surgical procedure called a myectomy is sometimes performed; this involves the removal of the thickened heart muscle wall or septum, improving blood flow. Occasionally, pacemakers or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator devices are needed to coordinate contractions between the ventricles and to prevent abnormal rapid heartbeats. If medications do not work, a heart transplant may be an option, reports MayoClinc.com.
Heart Valve Disease
Heart valve disease is a condition in which one or more of the four heart valves do not work properly. This can include regurgitation or back flow of blood, stenosis or stiffening of the valve flaps, or atresia or lack of an opening for blood flow. There are currently no medications to cure heart valve disease, explains the The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. However, lifestyle changes and medications can treat symptoms for many years. Patients with heart valve conditions are commonly prescribed medications to treat heart failure, high blood pressure and arrhythmias. If the symptoms worsen, valve repair or valve replacement surgery may be needed. Heart valves can be repaired by separating fused flaps, removing excess tissue or adding tissue to patch holes. Valves are replaced with either a pig or cow heart valve or a mechanical valve.
