Heart Disease - Types, Causes & Treatments

Heart Disease 

Any disorder of the heart can be termed as heart disease. These diseases are fatal and can lead to death if left untreated.

Types of Heart Disease
Arrhythmias

Heart rhythm disturbances are known as arrhythmias. The rhythm disturbances can be of several types, like:

•          Tachycardia - When the heart beats faster than the normal
•          Bradycardia - When the heart beats too slowly
•         Ventricular contractions - Abnormal heartbeats
•          Fibrillation - Irregular heartbeats

Cardiomyopathy

When the very low level of oxygen reaches the heart muscles; it squeezes and gets weak. As a result of heart muscle weakness, the heart chambers become dilated and do not pump blood properly. Left ventricles usually get affected in such condition.

Congenital Heart Disease

Some deformities in heart exist since birth. Such deformities are known as congenital heart diseases. Congenital heart diseases can be of several types, like:

•         Septal defects - there is a hole between the two chambers of the heart
•         Obstruction defects - the blood flow through the different heart chambers is either totally or partially blocked
•          Cyanotic heart disease - there is a shortage of oxygen around the organ

Coronary Artery Disease

The heart muscle is supplied with nutrients and oxygen by circulation of blood through the coronary arteries. These can become damaged or diseased due to plaque buildup. As a result, the coronary arteries get narrowed down as plaque deposits contain cholesterol. The heart is not able to get adequate nutrients and oxygen. This condition can result in heart failure.

Heart Infections

Heart infections are caused by bacteria, parasite, virus or harmful chemicals that reach the heart muscle. Infections can damage the inner lining of heart, valves, heart muscles and the outer membrane.

Valvular Heart Disease

This is a condition where the valves present in heart gets affected and in turn, affects how the blood flows in and out of the heart.

Signs and Symptoms of Heart Disease

Some common symptoms are:

•       Breathlessness
•          Chest Pain
•          Heart Palpitations
•          Fast heartbeat and Breathing
•          High levels of Fatigue
• Diagnosis of Heart Disease

Initially, the doctor performs a physical examination followed by evaluation of family medical history details. Blood tests and chest x-ray is also done. Apart from these, some specific tests for diagnosis include:

•        Electrocardiogram (ECG) – electrical signals of the heart are recorded
•         Holter monitoring – it is a portable device that one wears  to facilitate recording of  ECG continuously for 2-3days
•          Echocardiogram – ultrasound of chest
•        Stress test – a test is done after raising heartbeat with medication or exercise  
•           Cardiac catheterization – a short tube is inserted in artery or vein of arm or leg. X-ray images of the same are seen on a monitor
•         Cardiac computerized tomography (CT) scan – one needs to lie on a table inside a large doughnut-shaped machine. X-ray tube inside the machine collects images of chest and heart.
•        Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – one has to lie on a table of a long tube-like machine that produces magnetic fields; which are evaluated by doctors

Treatment of Heart Disease

There are different treatments for different heart conditions. Some broad treatment categories are:

•         Changes in lifestyle – low sodium and low-fat diet, regular exercise of at least 30 minutes, limited intake of alcohol, quitting smoking
•          Medication – different medications are prescribed depending on the type and extent of heart disease
•          Surgery – different surgery options depending upon specific heart conditions are advised by cardiologists.

Heart diseases are very common these days. Healthy lifestyle and avoiding certain conditions like sitting for long hours at work, maintaining body weight and regular medical examinations can keep heart diseases at bay. If one has a family history of heart disease then one should be very keen to adopt all measures so that heart diseases and heart failures can be avoided.

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