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By: by Amino Science
Cardiovascular disease, or CVD, is the leading cause of death in the United States. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that over 600,000 people die of cardiovascular disease each year. Yet many Americans are unaware they’re at risk. So, in this article, we’re going to discuss the causes of cardiovascular disease as well as effective treatment and prevention strategies, because arming yourself with knowledge is the first step to better heart health.
Heart disease encompasses a range of heart problems. Here are the most common.
Comprised of three separate conditions—atherosclerosis (the most common type), arteriolosclerosis, and Mönckeberg medial calcific sclerosis—arteriosclerosis is the number one cause of heart disease–related deaths. The condition is a result of the gradual thickening and hardening of the arteries, whether caused by fatty deposits on the arterial walls (atherosclerosis), thickening and hardening of the small blood vessels that branch off the main artery (arteriolosclerosis), or calcium deposits within the middle layer of an artery (Mönckeberg medial calcific sclerosis).
Arteriosclerosis generally has no warning signs until arterial blood flow becomes severely restricted, in which case it can lead to an aneurysm (bulge in an arterial wall), coronary artery disease, carotid artery disease, peripheral artery disease, or even chronic kidney disease.
Also known as coronary heart disease, CAD is the most common type of cardiovascular disease and is a result of atherosclerosis. If left untreated, CAD can lead to angina (chest pain), abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia), heart failure, or a heart attack (myocardial infarction).
There are many types of arrhythmias, or irregular heartbeats, but each is the result of a disruption in the electrical impulses that control heart rhythm. The different types of arrhythmia are also classified based on whether the irregular heartbeat originates in the atria or ventricles and whether it involves a slow heart rate (bradycardia) or a fast heart rate (tachycardia). While an irregular heartbeat can represent a perfectly normal variation in heart rhythm, some arrhythmias can cause stroke, heart failure, or even sudden cardiac death.
A disease that affects the heart muscle itself, cardiomyopathy causes the heart to enlarge and thicken, which makes it more difficult to pump blood. While there are several different types of cardiomyopathy, each results in weakness of the heart muscle, which can lead to thrombosis (blood clot), heart failure, sudden cardiac death, or problems involving the heart valves.
Sometimes bacteria, viruses, or parasites invade the heart and cause infection. Pericarditis, or inflammation of the membrane that surrounds the heart, is usually mild and may improve on its own. Endocarditis, which affects the inner lining of the heart valves and chambers, can be life-threatening and is usually seen in people with pre-existing heart defects. Myocarditis, which involves inflammation of the heart muscle, is the rarest of the three primary types of heart infections and can be relatively mild or lead to severe complications, including heart failure.
Congenital heart defects, which are sometimes less accurately referred to as congenital heart disease, are the most common type of birth defect and involve abnormalities in the structure of the heart. Holes in the heart, leaky heart valves, and defective major blood vessels are common types of congenital heart defects. While some types of defects don’t cause any problems, some are serious and can lead to congestive heart failure, arrhythmia, stroke, and developmental delays.
Cardiovascular disease symptoms depend on the type of heart disease present, so let’s break down potential symptoms based on the categories we just looked at:
In addition, it’s important to remember that the symptoms of heart disease may present differently in women and men. For example, men are more likely to experience classic chest pain, while women are more likely to have shortness of breath, nausea, fatigue, and chest discomfort.
According to the CDC, approximately half of all Americans have at least one of the three main risk factors for heart disease—high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking. However, several other factors can also increase an individual’s risk of cardiovascular disease. These are:
If you’re experiencing symptoms of heart disease or have heart disease risk factors, you should make an appointment with your health care provider. They’ll want to speak with you about your personal and family history and any symptoms or risk factors you may have.
After performing a physical examination as well as blood tests to look for overt signs of heart disease, your health care provider may then choose to perform an additional series of tests to further evaluate your heart.
If you’ve been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, your treatment will vary depending on the type of heart disease you have and the symptoms you’re experiencing.
For example, some heart infections may call for antibiotic treatment, and more advanced stages of cardiovascular disease may require medication to lower blood pressure or cholesterol or decrease heart rate. And symptoms of a heart attack, serious arrhythmia, or life-threatening structural abnormality may necessitate surgery.
However, most types and stages of heart disease can be treated—and prevented—with a few simple lifestyle changes. Some of the best ways to help address the signs and symptoms of cardiovascular disease and help prevent them from occurring in the first place include:
If you or someone you love is at risk of cardiovascular disease, be sure to speak with your health care provider right away. With proper treatment and prevention strategies, it’s possible to improve symptoms, decrease risk factors, and even prevent many types of heart disease.
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