Heart Disease
The term "Heart Disease" covers a variety of diseases of the heart. As of 2007, Heart Disease is the leading cause of death in this country.
The types of Heart Disease include:
- Coronary Heart Disease - refers to a failure of the coronary circulation to supply adequate blood to cardiac muscle and surrounding tissue.
- Cardiomyopathy – means "heart muscle disease"
- Cardiovascular Disease - is any of many separate diseases that affect the heart itself and/or the blood vessels, including the cardiac valves, arteriesand veins, leading to and from the heart.
- Ischemic Heart Disease – any coronary disease that results in decreased blood supply to the heart muscle
- Heart Failure – (CHF) results from structural or functional cardiac disorders that impair the heart's ability to pump a sufficient amount of blood throughout the body due to abnormal heart function (muscle weaknesses or excessive stiffness)
- Hypertensive Heart Disease - Hypertensive heart disease is heart disease caused by high blood pressure
- Inflammatory Heart Disease - involves inflammation of the heart muscle and/or tissues surrounding it
- Valvular Heart Disease - a disease process that affects one or more of the heart valves
Symptoms
The symptoms of "Heart Disease" can be unlimited. Only a few of the most common are listed here.
- Shortness of breath
- Palpitations (irregular heart beats, skipped beats)
- A fast heart beat
- Weakness or dizziness
- Nausea
- Sweating
Causes
The causes of "heart disease" are as varied as the symptoms. For more information, review the online link or speak with your personal health care provider.