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The heart is the organ that pumps blood, with its
life-giving oxygen and nutrients, to all tissues of the
body. If the pumping action of the heart becomes
inefficient, vital organs like the brain and kidneys suffer.
And if the heart stops working altogether, death occurs
within minutes. Life itself is completely dependent on the
efficient operation of the heart.
There are many kinds of heart disease, and they can affect
the heart in several ways. But the ultimate problem with all
varieties of heart disease is that, in one way or another,
they can disrupt the vital pumping action of the heart.
If you're like most people, you
think that heart disease is a problem for other
folks. But heart disease is the number one killer in
the U.S. It is also a major cause of disability.
There are many different forms of heart disease. The
most common cause of heart disease is narrowing or
blockage of the coronary arteries, the blood vessels
that supply blood to the heart itself. This is
called coronary artery disease and happens slowly
over time. It's the major reason people have heart
attacks. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most
common type of heart disease. It is the leading
cause of death in the United States in both men and
women. CAD happens when the arteries that supply
blood to heart muscle become hardened and narrowed.
This is due to the buildup of cholesterol and other
material, called plaque, on their inner walls. As
the buildup grows, less blood can flow through the
arteries. As a result, the heart muscle can't get
the blood or oxygen it needs. This can lead to chest
pain (angina) or a heart attack. Most heart attacks
happen when a blood clot suddenly cuts off the
hearts' blood supply, causing permanent heart
damage.
Over time, CAD can also weaken the heart muscle and
contribute to heart failure and arrhythmias. Heart
failure means the heart can't pump blood well to the
rest of the body. Arrhythmias are changes in the
normal beating rhythm of the heart.
A heart attack is also called a MI or Myocardial
infarction. Each year over a million people in the
U.S. have a heart attack. About half of them die.
Many people have permanent heart damage or die
because they don't get help immediately. It's
important to know the symptoms of a heart attack and
call 9-1-1 if someone is having them. Those symptoms
include
Chest discomfort - pressure, squeezing, or pain
Shortness of breath
Discomfort in the upper body - arms, shoulder, neck,
back
Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, lightheadedness,
sweating
These symptoms can sometimes be different in women.
What exactly is a heart attack? Most heart attacks
happen when a clot in the coronary artery blocks the
supply of blood and oxygen to the heart. Often this
leads to an irregular heartbeat – called an
arrhythmia - that causes a severe decrease in the
pumping function of the heart. A blockage that is
not treated within a few hours causes the affected
heart muscle to die.
Other kinds of heart problems may happen to the
valves in the heart, or the heart may not pump well
and cause heart failure. Some people are born with
heart disease.
Heart Valve Disease is also called Valvular heart
disease. Your heart has four valves. Normally, these
valves open to let blood flow through or out of your
heart, and then shut to keep it from flowing
backward. But sometimes they don't work properly.
What can happen?
Blood can leak back through the valve in the wrong
direction, which is called regurgitation. One of the
valves, the mitral valve, sometimes has "floppy"
flaps and doesn't close tightly. This is called
mitral valve prolapse, and it's one of the most
common heart valve conditions. Sometimes it causes
regurgitation. When the valve doesn't open enough,
which blocks blood flow, it is called stenosis.
Valve problems can be present at birth or caused by
infections, heart attacks, or heart disease or
damage. Some valve problems are minor and do not
need treatment. Others might require medicine,
medical procedures or surgery to repair or replace
the valve.
You can help reduce your risk of heart disease by
taking steps to control factors that put you at
greater risk:
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