What Is Heart Disease?



What do you know about heart disease? It's the leading cause of death in the US, affecting people of all racial and ethnic groups and sexes¹. February is American Heart Month, the perfect time to learn more about the condition, including what causes it and how to prevent it.



Types of Heart Disease



"Heart disease" isn't a single condition. Instead, it refers to a group of conditions that affect the heart and circulatory system. The types of heart disease include:



● Arrhythmias, or problems with heart rhythm.

● Disease of the arteries and other blood vessels.

● Congenital heart defects.

● Disease of the heart valve.

● Heart muscle disease.

● Infections that affect the heart.



The most common type of heart disease in the US is coronary artery disease². People develop coronary artery disease when plaque builds up in the blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the heart. The plaque buildup, which usually consists of cholesterol and fats, narrows and hardens the arteries and blood vessels.



Other examples of heart disease include:



● Heart failure

● Deep vein thrombosis

● Peripheral artery disease

● Cerebrovascular disease

● Arrhythmia



Risk Factors for Heart Disease



Heart disease can affect anyone, but certain factors can raise your risk of developing a heart problem. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost half of Americans have at least one of the most common risk factors for heart disease³.



Your lifestyle choices can affect your risk of developing heart disease. For example, using tobacco elevates your risk in several ways. Smoking raises your blood pressure, so the heart has to work harder. Tobacco smoke also contains carbon monoxide, which reduces the amount of oxygen in your blood.



Diet can be a risk factor for heart disease, too. If your diet contains a lot of saturated fat, it can elevate your cholesterol levels and increase the risk of hardening of the arteries. A diet that's high in sodium can increase blood pressure.



Some medical conditions also raise the risk of developing heart disease. Those conditions include diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and high cholesterol.

Fortunately, there are ways to reduce your risk of developing heart disease. Depending on the factors that affect you, you can change your diet, cut out tobacco products, or get certain medical conditions under control. Getting more physical activity can also help reduce the risk of heart disease.



Signs of Heart Disease



The signs of heart disease vary based on the type of disease. Symptoms can also differ among men and women. For example, in women, a common sign of coronary artery disease is nausea. For men, chest pain is a more common sign.



Other signs of heart disease can include:

● Racing heartbeat

● Slow heartbeat

● Getting tired or short of breath easily

● Blue skin

● Dizziness

● Swelling in the limbs

● Fatigue



Heart Disease Prevention Tips



You can take action to help prevent heart disease. For example, you can make changes to your diet to cut back on foods high in saturated fat or cholesterol. Limiting the amount of sodium and sugar in your diet can help to reduce your risk, too.



You can add specific foods to your diet to help prevent heart disease, too. Foods high in fiber, like oatmeal, can help reduce cholesterol levels, for instance.



Cutting back on or avoiding alcohol can also help protect you against heart disease. Alcohol increases blood pressure.



Other ways to help prevent heart disease include getting at least 150 minutes of moderate activity per week, keeping your weight within the recommended range, and quitting or avoiding tobacco products.



If you have a medical condition that can raise your risk of heart disease, working with your family physician to control the disease will help lower your risk of heart disease.



Heart Disease Treatments



If you are diagnosed with heart disease, multiple treatments are available, depending on the type of disease. For some people, making lifestyle changes will be enough to keep their hearts healthy. Others might need to take medicine to control the disease.



Surgery might be recommended in some cases, depending on the type of disease and how the person responds to other treatments.



Talk to your family doctor today if you're concerned about heart disease. They can help you develop a plan to reduce your risk and keep your heart healthy.