Heart Disease - Spotlight on Heart Disease
Heart Disease is the leading cause of death and disability for males and females in the United States. The term is a very general one for diseases with many different causes and origins.
The heart is basically a muscle that pumps blood throughout the entire body. It has a right and left side. The right side of the heart receives blood from the body and pumps it to the lungs where it is supplied with oxygen. The left side takes blood from the lungs and pumps it into the body where it provides our organs with nutrients such as oxygen.
The work of the heart is done in four chambers, two on each side: two atria (at the top of the heart) and two ventricles (at the bottom on the heart). The atria fill with blood which is then released to the ventricles. The ventricles then pump the blood into the body (left side) or the lungs (right side). In addition, there are four valves in the heart that regulate blood flow between the chambers and the lungs and the body.
Blood travels in blood vessels. Vessels that carry blood away from the heart are called arteries and vessels that carry blood to the heart are called veins.
Disease can affect any of the many parts of the heart, including the blood vessels that surround it. Some people are born with these problems; others develop them throughout the course of their lives, often due to a poor diet, smoking, or a sedentary lifestyle.
Terms to know and understand
Here are a few terms you might hear or read about in connection with heart disease:
Angina - Chest pain that occurs when your heart does not get enough blood. The pain may occur over the heart region or in your shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back.
Atherosclerosis - Another name for hardening or narrowing of the arteries that provide blood to the heart. Atherosclerosis can lead directly to angina or a heart attack.
Cholesterol - A waxy, fat-like substance found in the body’s cells. Too much cholesterol in your blood can build up in the walls of your arteries, causing atherosclerosis.
Congenital heart defect - A problem in the heart present from birth. These defects can affect the chambers, the valves or the blood vessels near the heart. Each year, more than 30,000 babies are born with a congenital heart defect in the United States.
Coronary artery disease - Coronary artery disease affects 13 million Americans, causing more than 500,000 deaths each year. The disease is caused by atherosclerosis and can lead to angina and heart attacks.
Heart attack - A heart attack occurs when the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart is blocked. In the United States, a heart attack occurs about every 20 seconds with a heart attack death about every minute. Everyone should know the warning signs of a heart attack which may include: numbness or discomfort in the chest; pain in the back, neck, jaw or stomach; shortness of breath; dizziness; nausea; sweating; and vomiting.
Heart failure - Heart failure, often called congestive heart failure, is a condition in which the heart is “weakened” and can’t pump enough blood to the body. Heart failure can lead to symptoms such as shortness of breath, fluid retention and fatigue. Heart failure does not mean that the heart has stopped or is about to stop. About 5 million people in the United States are currently living with heart failure.
Hypertension (high blood pressure) - Blood pressure is the force of the blood as it presses against the walls of the arteries. High blood pressure is dangerous because it makes the heart work too hard. It puts people at a greater risk of having a heart attack, especially when it is present with other risk factors such as diabetes, smoking or obesity. Hypertension is treatable.
Prevention
Preventing heart disease has a lot to do with how you live your life. Some risk factors like age, race or family history can’t be helped or changed. Other factors are within your power to change. Here’s a quick list of things you can do:
Eat a healthy diet - Eating foods that are high in fat and cholesterol can increase your risk of heart disease. In addition, foods that are high in sodium can lead to high blood pressure. Replacing these foods with fresh fruits and vegetables, grains and fibers is great way to get heart healthy.
Get regular exercise - Exercise strengthens the heart. It also lowers blood pressure and cholesterol.
Maintain a healthy weight - Excess weight can lead to high blood pressure and other conditions that affect the heart.
Quit smoking - Tobacco smoke contains almost 4,800 chemicals that can damage the heart. Additives like nicotine and carbon monoxide are particularly dangerous.
Get regular health screenings - Monitoring your blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels can help you avoid heart disease.
Manage your diabetes - According to the American Diabetes Association, 2 out of 3 people with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke.
Reduce stress - People with heart disease are more likely to have a heart attack during times of stress. Find out more about reducing stress by clicking here.
Edited by Bruce Jay Gould, MD, Fellow, College of Physicians of Philadelphia
