Heart Disease
Coronary artery disease is usually associated with heart disease, but there are actually many different kinds of heart disease, also known as cardiovascular disease. This type of disease can include many different kinds of conditions, all of which can affect how well the heart is able to function. These conditions include heart failure, heart valve disease, abnormal heart rhythms, pericardial disease, coronary artery disease, vascular disease, congenital disease and aorta disease.
In the United States, heart disease is the leading cause of death among both women and men. The good news is that heart disease does not have to be fatal. One of the first steps you can take in detecting heart disease is learning more about each of the different kinds of cardiovascular disease.
Abnormal heart rhythms occur when the heart fails to beat as it normally should. A normal heart beats between sixty and one hundred times per minute. Sometimes; however, the heart will get out of sync, or out of rhythm. When an irregular or abnormal heartbeat develops, this is known as an arrhythmia or sometimes a dysrhythmia. This can result in an uneven heartbeat, change in rhythm or a change in the rate at which the heart beats. This can cause either a fast heartbeat or a slow heartbeat.
Symptoms of this type of disease include dizziness, shortness of breath, fatigue, a pounding in the chest, skipped heartbeat and fainting.
Heart failure does not necessarily mean the heart has stopped working; however, it does mean that the heart is not working as it should. Symptoms include rapid weight gain, dizziness, swelling in the legs, abdomen or ankles, fatigue, weakness, rapid heartbeat, nausea, chest pain, palpitations, cough and shortness of breath.
Coronary artery disease is also known as atherosclerosis. This occurs when the arteries harden, making it difficult to transport important nutrients and oxygen to the heart. The most common symptom of this disease is angina, which is a feeling of heaviness, pressure, burning or aching in the chest. Some people may mistake this for heartburn or indigestion. This symptom can also be felt in other locations such as the neck, shoulders, back, arms or throat. Other symptoms may include sweating, nausea, weakness, dizziness, faster heartbeat, skipped heartbeat or shortness of breath.
Heart valve disease occurs when the values fail to function properly. Heart valves are located at each one of the heart’s four chambers. The purpose of the valves is to maintain a one way supply of blood flow. Symptoms of this disease include shortness of breath, dizziness, heart palpitations, swelling of ankles, abdomen or feet, rapid weight gain and pressure in the chest.
Cardiomyopathies are a type of disease that affects the muscle of the heart. Generally, this results in an abnormally large, thick or stiff heart. As a result, the heart is unable to pump blood properly. If this type of heart disease is not treated, it can become worse and lead to other types of heart conditions, such as heart failure.
Symptoms may include some of the same symptoms of heart failure as well as pain or pressure in the chest that may occur at the same time as physical activity, fatigue, palpitations, fainting and swelling of the legs and feet.
Congenital heart disease results because of problems that actually occur in the structure of either the blood vessels or the heart prior to birth. Only a small percentage of children are affected by this disease; however, it can be frightening. In some cases, congenital heart disease may not be detected until the individual reaches adulthood. Research indicates that exposure to drugs and alcohol during pregnancy could contribute to this type of heart disease.
Symptoms of congenital heart disease in adulthood may include many of the same symptoms of heart failure as well as shortness of breath. In children and infants, symptoms include lung infections that recur, poor weight gain, fast breathing, poor feeding and a blue tint to the skin, lips and fingernails.
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