Arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy, valvular disease are all technical terms for one major problem: heart disease. The heart is sometimes taken for granted. Although you don't always feel it beating, you know it is and assume it will be. But at any given moment, you can be stricken with one of these diseases--unless you know what they are and how to prevent them.
Cardiac Arrhythmia
Cardiac arrhythmia is a condition that causes the heart to beat too fast, too slow or irregularly. The University of Rochester Medical Center states that it can be a minor problem or one that is of great concern.
Congenital defects, something you are born with, can cause arrhythmias, but lifestyle can cause this heart condition as well. Drinking alcohol in excess, using illegal drugs and smoking are all contributing factors.
The most common symptoms of an arrhythmia include fatigue and a decrease in your ability to exercise. You may also experience heart palpitations, which feel like a fluttering or skipped beat in your chest.
In most cases, this heart condition simply requires monitoring of the condition and a change in diet, such as the removal of caffeine or alcohol. Others may need more aggressive treatment, such as medication or surgery.
Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy damages the heart muscle and weakens its ability to pump properly. Three types of myopathies exist, and all have various causes and treatments. The most common type is dilated cardiomyopathy, also known as congestive cardiomyopathy. This causes the heart muscle to thin and become enlarged. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is typically genetic and causes the heart muscle to thicken, which blocks the flow of blood. The least common type is restrictive cardiomyopathy; this causes the muscle to become stiff, which makes it difficult for the heart to fill with blood between each beat.
While the symptoms may vary per type, the most common are feeling short of breath, swelling of the hands, feet and ankles, dizziness and chest pain.
If left untreated, cardiomyopathy can lead to heart failure. Treatments can include a combination of lifestyle changes, such as exercise, diet, weight loss and smoking cessation; medication to help lower blood pressure, reduce blood clots and regulate your heartbeat, and surgery, such as a heart transplant.
Valvular Disease
The heart functions with four valves. Valvular disease occurs when a defect or dysfunction occurs in one of these valves. There are four types of valvular disease: Valvular stenosis, a condition that causes the the valve to harden and become narrow, blocking blood flow; valvular regurgitation, a condition in which the valve does not completely close, allowing blood to flow backward; atresia, a birth defect resulting in a valve that is not completely developed, and mitral valve prolapse, a condition in which the mitral valve does not close, allowing blood to leak into the left atrium of the heart.
If you suffer from a valvular disease, you may have no symptoms, or your symptoms may mirror that of another condition. However, some common signs you may notice include fatigue, chest pain or fluctuating blood pressure.
In most cases, valvular diseases are treated with medications that help widen blood vessels, lower blood pressure and prevent blood clots. According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, medications typically work well. For patients who do not respond well, however, surgery may be needed to repair the defective valve.
