Without a fully functional heart,
blood, oxygen, and nutrients will not be circulated through the body,
increasing your risk of a variety of life-threatening conditions. Various types
of heart disease, for example, could result in a heart attack and even death.
As a matter of fact, an estimated 610,000 people
in the United States die every year because of heart
disease.
Some people are surprised to learn
that heart disease comes in many forms. Because they all can be deadly, proper
understanding is imperative. With this guide and your heart
specialist's
help, you will become better able
to prevent a few common forms of heart disease.
Coronary artery disease is a common,
yet potentially dangerous, form of heart disease. Also known as
atherosclerosis, this disease is basically a hardening or clogging of the
arteries from cholesterol/fat deposits known as plaque.
If the arteries are clogged with
hardened cholesterol and plaque, blood will not be able to flow through the
circulatory system properly. This essentially starves the heart and body of
oxygen and nutrients that are necessary for life.
A primary sign of heart disease is
angina, a form of chest pain. Heart attacks, both minor and more severe, are
common in patients who have coronary artery disease.
Patients who have coronary artery
disease have many treatment options. For example, balloon angioplasty can be an
effective option for removing hardened cholesterol and plaque from the arteries
to improve blood flow.
If you were born with one or more
abnormalities of the heart, you will be diagnosed with congenital heart
disease. The type of defect affecting the heart may range from minor, which may
or may not cause symptoms, or more severe, which will show symptoms and become
life-threatening without proper management.
A few common symptoms of congenital
heart disease are:
- Abnormal heart rhythms
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue that occurs quickly after exertion
- Edema, or swelling of tissue/organs
- Cyanosis, or bluish tint to skin/lips/fingertips
If you experience any of the above
symptoms, you should have your heart and heart functions tested immediately.
Once the actual defect is determined, doctors will design a treatment plan
suited to your specific needs.
Another common form of heart disease
is dilated cardiomyopathy. This condition occurs when the left ventricle, which
is the heart's main pumping chamber, is weakened or enlarged. This distress of
the left ventricle prevents the heart from pumping blood effectively and
efficiently, which could lead to a heart attack or heart failure.
Symptoms are not always present or
noticeable in patients who have dilated cardiomyopathy. However, if you are
experiencing chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, weight gain, swelling of
the lower extremities, dizziness, fainting, and/or heart palpitations, your
heart specialist may want to test for dilated cardiomyopathy.
Various medications to manage
symptoms and decrease the risk of heart failure will be prescribed if you are
diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy.
If you have a more severe case of
the disease, surgery may be recommended. Surgery may involve placing a
pacemaker to stimulate both ventricles to improve the overall function of the
heart.
Other surgical options include
shocking the heart's muscles using a defibrillator to help maintain normal
rhythms. Surgical repair of the left ventricle may also be an option
recommended.
Lastly, an arrhythmia is a common
type of heart disease. Even though this irregular heartbeat or fluttering
rhythm is usually harmless, doctors should still monitor your arrhythmia. In
addition, if the arrhythmia is severe or it is caused by another underlying
heart condition, treatment may be necessary.
Pacemakers are often used to control
abnormal heart rhythms, but less-invasive options are also available if you
have a less severe type of arrhythmia. Medications, electrical shock, and vagal
maneuvers that stop some forms of arrhythmia can all be beneficial.
Understanding different versions of
heart disease is important for your health and wellness. For more information
on these or other types of heart disease/conditions, contact Anderson Heart PC.
