What is Heart Disease?

Knowing about the common heart diseases is the first step to preventing them from occurring.

What is Heart Disease?

Heart disease describes a number of conditions that affect the healthy functioning of your heart. Diseases that fall under the heart disease, range from blood vessel diseases, such as coronary artery disease, and birth heart defects, to heart rhythm problems. The term heart disease is also often referred as cardiovascular disease. A condition where blood vessels are blocked or narrowed that gives rise to heart attack is usually referred as cardiovascular disease. Any condition that has a negative impact on your heart valves, muscles, or rhythm can be considered as the forms of heart disease.

Common forms of heart disease

Heart Attack

When the blood supply to a part of the heart is slowed or stopped because of a blood clot, it results in a heart attack. When the clot completely cuts off the blood flow, the part of the heart muscle connected to that artery, begins to die. A heart attack may also occur when a coronary artery experiences a severe spasm, or contracts temporarily. It shuts off the blood flow to the heart and ultimately damages the heart.

Heart failure

Heart failure is also called as congestive heart failure and occurs when the heart is not in a position to pump blood effectively to the entire body. The situation usually arises when the heart becomes damaged or weakened by any type of heart disease including, a heart attack. The heart keeps working, but it is not able to effectively meet the demand of the body for blood and oxygen. Heart failure can turn worse if it is left untreated.

Arrhythmia

Arrhythmia occurs when your heart is not beating properly, or it beats too slowly or rapidly. The heart of an average human being beats around 60 to 80 times per minute. Bradycardia occurs when the heart beats less than 60 beats a minute, and Tachycardia occurs when the heart beats more than 100 beats a minute. Due to arrhythmia, the heart is not able to pump enough blood to meet the complete requirement of the body.

Heart Valve problems

There are different kinds of heart valve problems, and they can range from mild, moderate to severe symptoms. If left untreated, a valve disorder can cause irregular pulse, chest pain, dizzy spells, shortness of breath, or other serious complications. When the heart valves do not open properly, it results in Stenosis. Another common heart valve problem is Regurgitation wherein a heart valve does not close securely and causes blood leakage. When the valve flaps do not close evenly or smoothly, it is known as Prolapse. Heart valve disorders are, usually, diagnosed easily with the help of a physical examination. As this disorder causes a typical murmuring sound in the chest, it is easily recognised with the help of a stethoscope.

Angina

Angina mimics the symptoms of a heart attack, and it is a warning signal to the body that the heart is at an increased risk to experience sudden cardiac death or cardiac arrest. It occurs when the heart is unable to receive sufficient oxygen or blood due to the blockage of any of the heart arteries. Angina causes acute pain in the chest when it strikes.

Heart diseases are increasingly becoming a concern among many individuals with the increased stress in life, sedentary lifestyle, and unhealthy eating choices. With healthy lifestyle choices, it is possible to prevent or treat many forms of heart diseases. You may consider fortifying your daily diet with efficient heart supplements such PomeMax Pure High Strength Pomegranate Extract to enhance your heart health.