Heart disease or Cardiopathy is a common term used to describe any of the several diseases that may affect the heart. The heart is a muscular organ that pumps blood throughout the entire body. It is therefore a vital organ that is necessary for the functioning of the body’s circulatory system. Because of its importance, heart disease is usually detrimental to the health of an affected individual. It has been found to be the number one cause of death for both men and women in the United States and is steadily becoming more widespread in developing nations. Coronary heart disease sometimes refered to as coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most prevalent form of heart disease and may account for as much as 65-70% of heart related deaths per year. Published studies have suggested that lowering high cholesterol and high blood pressure may decrease an individual’s overall risk of developing and or dying from heart disease. The main types of heart disease include: coronary heart disease, ischaemic heart disease, hypertensive heart disease, cardiovascular disease, cardiomyopathy, valvular heart disease, heart failure, and inflammatory heart disease. For all types of heart disease lifestyle changes, medical treatment and often emergency intervention is essential. Unfortunately many people who are afflicted with heart disease are unaware of their condition because it may be present without producing any symptoms or may mimic the symptoms of another less serious complaint.

Coronary Heart Disease

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is characterized by the gradual narrowing of the artery and blood vessels that supply the heart with blood and oxygen resulting from a build up of plaque which is composed of calcium, fatty material and scar tissue . Once this constriction of the vessels and artery occurs, the heart will not be supplied with sufficient blood. The reduction of the amount of blood flowing through the heart is likely to cause chest pain or angina. If the blood flow is completely obstructed by plaque this may lead to myocardial infarction (heart attack) or in more severe cases cardiac arrest. As stated previously it is a major cause of death in the United Sates.

There are underlying factors that may increase an individual’s risk of developing coronary heart disease. The following factors increase the possibility of developing (CHD).

  • Having a pre-existing medical condition such as diabetes.
  • Being a smoker.
  • Being age 40 years and older.
  • Currently going through menopause.
  • Having elevated blood pressure levels or hypertension.
  • Having high levels of bad cholesterol and low levels of good cholesterol.
  • Not performing the necessary amount of physical activity required to maintain adequate functioning of the circulatory system.
  • Being obese or significantly overweight.
  • Having a family history or genetic predisposition to developing the disease.

Once a person is diagnosed with this condition it is important to take the necessary steps to improve overall health. It is also necessary to visit a medical practitioner fairly often.

Ischaemic Heart Disease

Ischaemic Heart disease (IHD) or myocardial ischaemia often manifests as a result of coronary artery disease and causes a reduction in the blood supply to the cardiac muscle. It may exhibit symptoms such as angina (chest pain) and reduced ability to endure moderate exercise. It may be diagnosed with blood tests (cardiac markers), coronary angiogram, electrocardiogram or cardiac stress testing. It may be treated in a variety of ways but treatment will be dependent on associated symptoms and risk factors. The risk of developing IHD increases with advanced age, high cholesterol levels, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, a family history of the disease and is often more likely to develop in men.

Signs and Symptoms

  • Having an angina attack or attacks (chest pain that is derived from physical activity, stressful situations and cold weather conditions).
  • Suffering from acute chest pains that may likely signal unstable angina, acute coronary syndrome, heart attack or Myocardial infarction.
  • Experiencing heart failure which will cause difficulty in breathing that may be accompanied by the swelling of limbs.

Treatment

The course of treatment will depend on how severe the condition presents itself. For stable IHD antianginal drugs may be administered to decrease the rate and severity of angina attacks. Acute coronary syndrome is treated with necessary emergency care which includes coronary angiography, thrombolysis (medication to breakdown clots) and percutaneous coronary intervention (an angioplasty performed with or without stent intersection).

It is possible for treatment to also take the form of modifying certain established risk factors. This may involve lowering cholesterol levels with drugs (often statins), controlling blood pressure, reducing or completely eliminating smoking, exercising and controlling blood sugar in diabetics.

Hypertensive Heart Disease

Hypertensive heat disease is described as heart disease that occurs as a result of high blood pressure. It may lead to the development of either coronary heart disease, cardiac arrhythmias, hypertensive cardiomyopathy, left ventricular hypertrophy and congestive heart failure.

signs and symptoms

  • Noticeable swelling of the feet
  • Being almost unable to sleep flat in a bed
  • Some amount of weight gain
  • Having an irregular pulse rate
  • Experiencing shortness of breath
  • General bloating
  • Needing to urinate frequently at night
  • Associated fatigue or tiredness

Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease is characteristic of diseases that affect the heart or blood vessels (veins or arteries). It is often distinctly associated with atherosclerosis (arterial disease) though the term in and of itself suggests any disease related to the cardiovascular system. The rates of this kind of disease are rising gradually and kills many more Americans than cancer. Because heart conditions are often asymptomatic it is important to apply preventive measures to reduce the risk of succumbing to their effects. Maintaining a healthy diet, eliminating a habit of smoking and partaking in some amount of physical activity or exercise can reduce the risks of developing cardiovascular disease. The treatment and prognosis for cardiovascular disease is usually very good if strict adherence to diet and other recommendations are stringently followed.

Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy is specifically a disease that leads to the degeneration of the myocardium (heart muscles) for any number of reasons. Individuals who suffer from this condition are at considerable risk of arrhythmia (which possibly causes irregular heart beat and or potential cardiac arrest) or sudden cardiac death. The treatment for this condition will be dependent on the type of cardiomyopathy observed. It may include the administering of medication, implanting a pacemaker, using a defibrillator, ventricular assist device, or ablation. The treatment is carried out to relive the symptoms of the disease but may necessitate a heart transplant due to considerable weakening of the heart.

Valvular Heart Disease

Valvular heart disease refers to any disease that affects one or more valves within the heart. Valvular heart disease may result from a congenital factor (being born with the condition) or it may develop during the course of a lifetime. The treatment for this condition includes the administering of medication if it is not extremely severe or valve repair or replacement with an artificial valve. Diseases that are associated with this kind of disease are: tertalogy of Fallot (a congenital defect); Ebstein’s anomaly which affects the tricuspid valve and heart valve dysplasia which is a flaw that occurs during the development of the heart valves during gestation. Rheumatic fever is also another cause of valvular heart disease and materializes as a result of bacterial infection, specific autoimmune conditions such as Libman-sack enocarditis and hypereosinophilic syndrome and cancer (marantic endocarditis). The medications pergolide and cabergoline have also been found to have a possible connection to the development of vascular disease.

Heart Failure or Congestive Heart Failure

Congestive heart failure is exhibited when the structure or function of the heart is unable to supply sufficient blood to fulfil the body’s requirements. It may cause several symptoms inclusive of shortness of breath, swollen ankles and or a decreased ability to carry out physical activities. It may be treated with surgery, applying some lifestyle changes and or regulations and medications. It is a deadly disease that, although possible to live with for years, maintains a fairly high mortality rate.

Inflammatory heart disease

Inflammatory heart disease specifically refers to any inflammation that occurs in the heart or surrounding tissue. It will include Inflammatory cardiomegaly, Myocarditis (inflammation of the muscular area of the heart) or Endocarditis (inflammation of the internal layer of the heart or the endocardium which generally affects the heart valves).