Heart disease, otherwise known as coronary artery disease, is a name given to a side array of conditions that impact the heart. These disease include arrhythmias, congenital heart defects, and. At times, heart disease has been called cardiovascular disease as if the two refer to the same issue. While they both involved the heart and human body, they are not the same. Heart disease refers to the aforementioned issues, among others, while cardiovascular disease refers to blocked, clogged, or narrowing blood vessels. Cardiovascular disease can often lead to an angina, a heart attack, general chest pain, or even a stroke. Currently, heart disease does not have a cure, but it can be treated and prevented by lifestyle changes.
In addition to the perils of heart disease in itself, it is important to understand the symptoms of the disease. Unfortunately, one can only know the symptoms if one understands there are several different types of heart disease. For example, heart disease cause by an arrhythmia, or abnormal heartbeat, will be characterized by tachycardia or brachycardia, chest pain, a fluttering feeling in one’s chest, dizziness, and even fainting. In contrast, valvular heart disease only shares fainting, irregular heartbeat, and chest pain as a symptom. Other symptoms include fatigue and the swelling of feet or ankles. Atherosclerotic heart disease presents with an angina, or chest pain, and shortness of breath. However, one will also feel pain in their extremities, jaw, back, upper abdomen, and throat. The legs may also feel weak. If heart disease if caused by a congenital defect, the individual’s skin will become gray or blue, and swelling may be experienced in the lower extremities, as well as around the eyes. It is important to know the various symptoms and when one is at risk for which variant of the disease. Most importantly, however, is to understand when to see a doctor, characterized by when an individual faints, experiences irregular breathing, or angina.
While much is known about the symptoms of heart disease in its various forms, it appears even more is known about the various things that cause damage to each mechanism in the heart, leading to heart disease. Cardiovascular heart disease, for instance, is caused by a continuous build-up of fatty plaques that damage the arteries. These plaques cause the arteries to stiffen, making blood flow difficult. Obesity and smoking also contribute to this form of heart disease. Arrhythmia’s, in contrast, are often caused by coronary artery disease, a defect one is born with, high blood pressure, drug use, stress, and a variety of other issues in one’s life that can place unnecessary stress on the body. Congenital heart defects leading to heart disease develop in-utero as the heart develops. The lifestyle of the mother may play a role in congenital defects. Valvular heart disease, another among many variances of the disease, can be caused by an infection or a disorder within the heart’s connective tissue.
Over time, researchers have found risk factors in accordance with heart disease based on who is more likely to develop it. Using these factors, they have been able to develop ways for individuals to prevent the disease in many cases, or treat it if the disease develops. Age is unavoidable, but as one ages, the arteries weaken and one is more at risk for developing the disease. Eating healthy and exercising regularly can help this. Males are more likely to experience the disease. After women experience menopause, the likelihood is equalized, and there is not yet any research that yields preventative measures against this. Smoking restricts blood vessels significantly, disallowing blood flow. It also weakens the inner lining of vessels, leaving one susceptible to a heart attack. It is widely recommended individuals to not smoke to prevent the disease, or stop in order to treat it. Family history can increase an individual’s susceptibility, increasing the demand for a healthy lifestyle. High cholesterol and blood pressure also harden the vessels and weaken the heart. This is often due to high stress levels and poor diet, making it essential for an individual to eat healthy and have a relaxation routine in order to avoid the disease if possible. Other issues, such as obesity, physical inactivity, and even poor hygiene increase one’s chances of experiencing heart disease. These three risk factors make it crucial, once more, to eat healthy, stay active within a safe range for your age and body, and keep a good hygiene routine in order to remain healthy.
If lifestyle changes are impossible, or the individual is in need of a quicker form of treatment, other options are available. Medications can be prescribed based on the particular type of heart disease one has. Beta Blockers, for example, are preliminary for individuals who have experienced a heart attack or any hardening of blood vessels. Something as simple as baby aspirin may be prescribed, as well. Surgery may also become an option depending on the severity of the disease, as well as the type. Specific lifestyle changes that are typically recommended include regularly checking one’s cholesterol and blood pressure, managing stress and any existing mental illnesses such as depression, and exercising regularly.
While there is no cure for heart disease, much is known about it. Enough research has been gathered to help the population prevent the disease from happening if they adhere to a relatively healthy lifestyle. Lifestyle changes are also available in order to treat the various forms of the disease and if these are not enough, medication and surgical options are available. Research has also discovered multiple forms of heart disease exist, allowing us to assess our bodies for the different symptoms coinciding with each one. We are fortunate to live in a time wherein we are able to have all of this knowledge, assess our bodies, and create preventative plans based on our lifestyles in order to avoid such a tremendous health catastrophe.
References
Anderson, L., & Taylor, T. (2014). Cardiac rehabilitation for people with heart disease: An overview of Cochrane systematic reviews. International Journal of Cardiology, 348-361.
Dawber, T. R., Moore, F. E., & Mann, G. V. (2016). Coronary Heart Disease in the Framingham Study. International Journal of Epidemiology, 1767-1780.
Mann, D., Zipes, D., Libby, P., & Bonow, R. (2014). Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. New York: Elselvier Health Sciences.
