Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of Americans, according to the Utah Department of Health. The term "heart disease" is an umbrella term that encompasses a variety of heart conditions such as heart valve disease, cardiomyopathy and arrhythmias, with the most common being coronary artery disease. A number of medications and procedures are available to treat these conditions; however, early detection is the key to maintaining your health.
Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary artery disease (CAD) develops as a result of a hardening and narrowing of the arteries responsible for supplying blood to the heart. The narrowing and hardening occurs when plaque begins to build up along the walls of the arteries; this is known as atherosclerosis. The longer plaque accumulates, the more narrow the walls of the arteries become, thus slowing blood flow to the heart.
As the Utah Department of Health explains, blood carries the oxygen needed by the body. When the amount of blood reaching the heart is reduced, the heart is unable to pump the necessary amounts of oxygen-rich blood through the body.
Dr. Arthur Schoenstadt of eMedTV states that CAD is the No. 1 killer of men and women in the United States, with 13 million people diagnosed every year.
Heart Attack
Known also as myocardial infarction, heart attacks are another common type of heart disease. In many cases, a heart attack and the symptoms accompanying it come on gradually. Some people may experience a mild discomfort, while others suffer from slight pain.
Due to this gradual onset, most do not realize what is happening, thus waiting too long to seek help, according to the Utah Department of Health. In rare instances, the heart attack and its symptoms are sudden and intense. Those who experience this type of heart attack are absolutely sure of what is happening to them.
The American Heart Association explains that heart attacks occur when the blood flow to a specific area of the heart is blocked. The most common cause of this blockage is a blood clot.
It is imperative to recognize the signs of a heart attack. This will enable you to seek medical treatment in a prompt and timely manner. The signs include discomfort or pain in the center of the chest that lasts for a few minutes or comes and goes; pain or discomfort that travels to other areas of the body such as the jaw, neck, arms, back or stomach; shortness of breath that may or may not be accompanied by discomfort or pain and in some cases, nausea and cold sweats.
Heart Valve Disease
Heart disease can affect the valves of the heart, of which there are four. As the Utah Department of Health explains, the heart is comprised of four chambers--two in the upper section of the heart and two in the lower section.
In these four chambers are four valves, one for each chamber. It is with the help of these valves that blood is pumped through the chambers, controlling the flow of the blood. When the valves work properly, the flaps on the valves open and close, allowing blood to flow in the direction it is meant to flow in. When defective, the valves do not work as they should, disrupting the flow of blood.
A variety of heart valve diseases exist including mitral valve prolapse, mitral stenosis, aortic regurgitation and tricuspid stenosis. For some people, damaged valves are a result of a congenital heart defect (an abnormal valve problem they are born with). For others the condition can be a result of rheumatic fever and certain infections such as endocarditis.
