HEART DISEASE

Heart disease refers to any condition affecting the cardiovascular system. There are several different types of heart disease, and they affect the heart and blood vessels in different ways.

Some different types of heart disease in more detail.
Coronary artery disease
Coronary artery disease, also known as coronary heart disease, is the most common type of heart disease.

It develops when the arteries that supply blood to the heart become clogged with plaque. This causes them to harden and narrow. Plaque contains cholesterol and other substances.

Congenital heart defects
A person with a congenital heart defect is born with a heart problem. There are many types of congenital heart defects, includingTrusted Source:

• Atypical heart valves: Valves may not open properly, or they may leak blood.
• Septal defects: There is a hole in the wall between either the lower chambers or the upper chambers of the heart.

Arrhythmia

Arrhythmia refers to an irregular heartbeatTrusted Source. It occurs when the electrical impulses that coordinate the heartbeat do not work correctly. As a result, the heart may beat too quickly, too slowly, or erratically.

There are various types of arrhythmias, including:

Tachycardia: This refers to a rapid heartbeat.

Bradycardia: This refers to a slow heartbeat.

Premature contractions: This refers to an early heartbeat.

Atrial fibrillation: This is a type of irregular heartbeat.

Heart failure

When a person has heart failure, their heart is still workingTrusted Source but not as well as it should be. Congestive heart failure is a type of heart failure that can occur from problems with the pumping or relaxing function.

Heart failure can result from untreated coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, arrhythmias, and other conditions. These conditions can affect the heart’s ability to pump or relax properly.

Symptoms

The symptoms of heart disease depend on the specific type a person has. Also, some heart conditions cause no symptoms at all.

That said, the following symptoms may indicate a heart problem:

angina, or chest pain

difficulty breathing

fatigue and lightheadedness

swelling due to fluid retention, or edema

In children, the symptoms of a congenital heart defect may include cyanosis, or a blue tinge to the skin, and an inability to exercise.

Some signs and symptoms that could indicate heart attack include:

chest pain

breathlessness

heart palpitations

nausea

stomach pain

sweating

Causes and risk factors

Heart disease develops when there is:

damage to all or part of the heart

a problem with the blood vessels leading to or from the heart

a low supply of oxygen and nutrients to the heart

a problem with the rhythm of the heart

In some cases, there is a genetic cause. However, some lifestyle factors and medical conditions can also increase the risk. These include:

high blood pressure

high cholesterol

smoking

a high intake of alcohol

overweight and obesity

Treatments

The treatment options will vary depending on the type of heart disease a person has, but some common strategies include making lifestyle changes, taking medications, and undergoing surgery.

The following sections look at some of these options in more detail.

Medications

Various medicationsTrusted Source can help treat heart conditions. The main options include:

Anticoagulants: Also known as blood thinners, these medications can prevent clots. They include warfarin (Coumadin) and the direct oral anticoagulants dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and apixaban.

Antiplatelet therapies: These include aspirin, and they can also prevent clots.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors: These can help treat heart failure and high blood pressure by causing the blood vessels to expand. Lisinopril is one example.

Angiotensin II receptor blockers: These can also control blood pressure. Losartan is one example.

Angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitors: These can help unload the heart and interrupt the chemical pathways that weaken it.