Heart Disease
Learn about heart disease to improve your odds
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in numerous developed countries, including the United States and Canada. Given the frightening statistics, it's vital that you know how to improve your chances of avoiding this major killer.
All About Heart Disease Types
The term "heart disease" is an umbrella for a range of different conditions that affect your coronary health. The individual conditions that comprise heart disease include:
Cardiomyopathy. A disease of the myocardium, or main heart muscle, cardiomyopathy can be either extrinsic (caused by something outside the myocardium) or intrinsic (not due to an external cause). Any weakness or functional irregularity of the myocardium is considered a form of cardiomyopathy.
Cardiovascular disease. This term is used to describe diseases that affect the veins and arteries that supply the heart with blood, as well as heart weaknesses that result from venous or arterial abnormalities.
Coronary heart disease. When most people think of heart disease, they think of coronary heart disease. This condition is marked by the buildup of plaque in the arteries that service the heart, and it can lead to sudden heart attacks.
Ischemic heart disease. With ischemic heart disease, weakness or deterioration of heart function results in a reduced blood supply to vital organs, causing numerous health complications.
Hypertensive heart disease. High blood pressure that is localized to the heart region causes hypertensive heart disease. It can lead to numerous other heart diseases, including cardiomyopathy, cardiovascular disease and cardiac failure.
Inflammatory heart disease. Endocarditis, myocarditis and inflammatory cardiomegaly are all types of inflammatory heart disease, which is defined as an inflammation of heart tissues that interferes with proper heart functioning.
Valvular heart disease. Your heart has four valves: the tricuspid valve, the pulmonic valve, the mitral valve and the aortic valve. Valvular heart disease is a condition that affects the proper functioning of one or more of these valves.
Congestive cardiac failure. Also known as heart failure, this form of cardiac disease results from the heart's inability to pump enough blood throughout a patient's body. While it can be managed, this condition can easily prove fatal.
How to Prevent Heart Disease
Prevention is, without doubt, the best treatment of heart disease. Diet and lifestyle factors have a very strong impact on whether or not a person develops any form of heart disease. To give yourself the best chance of avoiding it, partake in a regular cardio workout, don't smoke, limit your alcohol intake and eat properly. A diet that is low in sodium, fat and cholesterol is recommended by most doctors and dieticians.
If you are over the age of 40, you should get an annual physical from your doctor to check for warning signs of heart disease. Also, keep your blood pressure within a target range and avoid excess weight gain to avoid putting too much strain on your heart.
