The World Heart Federation states that the heart is the strongest muscle in the body. The heart is, however, very vulnerable to damage as a result of certain lifestyles and habits, including eating unhealthy diets and smoking, which can cause inflammatory heart disease, heart attack and arrythmias. In some cases, people are born with these conditions.
Arrythmia
Both the University of Rochester Medical Center and the American Heart Association (AHA) list arrythmias as one of the most common heart conditions. People with this condition may suffer from a heart that beats too fast, too slow or irregularly. In most cases, arrythmias are not life-threatening; however they do require monitoring and treatment. In some cases however, this disorder is deadly, as it may lead to stroke or sudden death.
Common symptoms include palpitations which may feel like a fluttering in the chest, a reduced ability to exercise or fatigue. The University of Rochester Medical Center states that in more severe cases, a person may experience chest pain, loss of consciousness, shortness of breath or dizziness.
Treatment varies according to the severity of the condition. For some, eliminating caffeine or alcohol manages the symptoms. Others may need medication to control high blood pressure or prevent blood clots, and yet others require surgery.
Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy is a type of inflammatory heart disease that is categorized as either primary or secondary. Primary has no specific cause, while secondary is due to specific causes, which typically involve other organs of the body. There three are types of cardiomyopathy.
According to the University of Rochester, the most common kind of cardiomyopathy--congestive cardiomyopathy--is also known as congestive heart failure. Congestive cardiomyopathy is characterized by a thin, enlarged and weak heart muscle, resulting in its inability to pump normally.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is characterized by a thickening of the heart muscle that blocks the flow of blood. The mitral valve is also damaged, causing it to leak. In most cases, this is a genetic condition.
The most rare form is restrictive cardiomyopathy, which is characterized by a hard and stiff heart muscle, which prevents the ventricles from filling with blood between beats.
The most common symptoms of cardiomyopathy include shortness of breath, dizziness, arrythmia, swelling of hands and/or feet, chest pain and fatigue.
If left untreated, any form of cardiomyopathy can lead to heart failure. The treatment options may be as simple as lifestyle changes such as eating a diet low in fat and sodium, quitting smoking and increasing exercise. For more severe cases, medication may be required to release excess fluids, reduce blood pressure and regulate the heartbeat. In the most serious of cases, a pacemaker or a heart transplant may be needed.
Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a narrowing or blockage of the arteries. The coronary arteries lead to the heart; therefore, when a blockage occurs in any area of an artery, it cuts off the the heart's supply of oxygenated blood. This may result in chest pain, especially during times when the heart has to work harder, when the heart has a greater demand for oxygen than is available to it. The University of Rochester states that CAD is the most common form of heart disease and is the number one cause of death in the United States. It is, however, highly treatable and preventable.
As many as 30 percent of all patients experience no symptoms of CAD. Those who do may experience chest pain and shortness of breath. Heart attack or cardiac arrest are often the first signs of this condition.
Although this heart condition may not produce many symptoms, there are a variety of risk factors. These include being a male over the age of 45 and a female over the age of 55, smoking, high cholesterol, obesity and lack of exercise.
Treatment usually simply involves adopting a healthier lifestyle, including quitting smoking, increasing exercise, controlling/reducing cholesterol levels and losing weight.
