Cardiovascular disease, more commonly known as heart disease, affects over 62 million Americans at this very moment.
Heart disease arises in an individual when a substance called plaque begins to build up inside that person's coronary arteries. These arteries are essential to life as they are what supplies your oxygen-laced blood to your heart muscles. The build up of this plaque happens over a span of years and is called atherosclerosis. Over time, atherosclerosis can narrow your coronary arteries which reduces the flow of blood, and therefore oxygen, to the heart.
When the amount of blood and oxygen getting to the heart is reduced, it can lead to several different variations of heart disease, all of which should be treated with care and immediate medical attention to prevent permanent heart damage or even death.
Common Types of Heart Disease
Coronary Artery Disease
This occurs when there is blockage in the coronary arteries. It is the most common form of heart disease and is the direct consequence of a heart not receiving the sustainable amount of oxygen-rich blood that it requires. This conditions most serious and harmful effect can be sudden death without any warning whatsoever. However, this usually only happens when an individual has already had heart attacks or some other damage to their heart.
Heart Attack
The most serious consequence of heart disease is the dreaded heart attack, which can occur when part of the heart is damaged from the blocked blood flow to it. The most common symptoms of a forthcoming heart attack can be heavy feelings and pressure in the chest that last for more than a few minutes. It feels as if someone is clenching a fist inside of your chest. Other symptoms include lightheadedness, nausea, pain that radiates down the left arm and into the shoulders, neck and jaw areas, shortness of breath, sweating and a very rapid heart rate.
Angina
Angina is a consequence of coronary disease that is not as severe as anything else, but can be a warning sign of an unhealthy heart if left untreated. Angina is essentially a pain or discomfort in the chest area that occurs when the heart is not getting enough oxygen and the arteries begin to narrow with plaque build up. The spasms that occur when an individual is experiencing angina pain is caused by a number of things: smoking, extremely cold temperatures, very strong emotions, and other various external influences. Angina is not a heart attack, however, and more likely than not, will not cause any lasting significant damage to the heart muscle, despite the pain that it inflicts. Angina occurs when the heart has to work harder than it does under normal circumstances, such as during emotional or physical distress or even after eating a meal. It can also occur when the individual is simply resting. Angina starts with pain in the chest that radiates down the left arm, shoulders, neck, back and jaw. The symptoms are very similar to that of a heart attack, and can be confused with one very easily, so if you are unsure about any kind of pain you might be experiencing, it is best to seek professional medical assistance right away.
Silent Ischemia
Another form of coronary disease is one that presents very little risk to the individual. Silent Ischemia occurs when blood flow to the heart is reduced, but it produces little to no pain or symptoms in the individual. The discomfort that is felt usually occurs during heavy physical exertion, but can occur when the individual is at rest too.
Arrhythmia
Heart arrhythmia is when the heart is not beating at a steady, normal rate. It can be racing, or become slow and irregular, perhaps skip beats. This causes the individual to feel that their heart is acting erratically. There are four different types of heart arrhythmia:
- Bradycardia - which occurs when the heart's electrical system becomes blocked or delayed too long, which leads to a slower heart beat.
- Irregular or extra heartbeats - even the healthiest of us can experience this, and it usually leads to more rapid heart beats as the user might become anxious over, spurring even more of an irregular heart beat.
- Ventricular Tachycardia - this occurs when the heart's ventricles, or lower chambers, pump too fast and cannot deliver enough blood to the rest of the body. The increased heart rate, as a result from your blood not being pumped regularly, can lead to cardiac arrest if left untreated for very long.
- Supraventricular Tachycardia - this occurs when the heart's electrical system begins above the ventricles and causes the heart to beat very rapidly and in an erratic fashion. This strains the heart and leads to decreased blood flow throughout the body. Supraventricular Tachycardia occurs in three types. 1) Atrial flutter 2) Atrial fibrillation 3) Paroxysmal SVT
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What raises the risk for heart disease?
A: There are a lot of factors that you cannot control, such as your sex or your age, or have a family history of heart disease. Other things, such as inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, or gestational diabetes can also increase your chances of heart disease. Other factors include: smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, lack of exercise, obesity, diabetes, diet, and stress.
Q: What kind of link is there between smoking and heart disease?
A: Well, smoking can lead to atherosclerosis, which could lead to the onset of future, more serious and life-threatening heart diseases. Cigarette smoke can decrease the amount of oxygen the heart receives, cause a rise in blood pressure and heart rate, damage the cells and tissue that line arteries and blood vessels and increase your chance of blood clots.
Q: What do I do if I think I am at risk of heart disease?
Lots of things. Improving your diet can help lower your risk of heart disease, and so can an increase in your exercise habits. Cutting out smoking helps tremendously, and if you can cut down on stress, you are well on your way to reducing your risk of heart disease. See your doctor for a personalized plan.
