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The Dangers of an Unhealthy Heart
The human heart has been the object of
intense wonder and study for thousands of years. The ancient Greeks
believed it housed the soul. Modern poets named it the arbiter of
love and desire. While the mystique of this muscle remains intact
for many of us, medical science has provided great insights into
how the heart functions and what makes it sick. Below find out about
the most common types of heart disease and how to prevent them.
Angina
Chest pain due to reduced blood flow to the heart is known as angina
or angina pectoris. There are three main types of angina. The first
is called stable angina. This type of chest pain comes on during
exercise and is both common and predictable. Stable angina is most
often associated with atherosclerosis. A second type, called variant
angina, can occur at rest or during exercise. This type is primarily
due to sudden coronary artery spasm, though atherosclerosis may
also be a component. The third, most severe type is called unstable
angina. This angina occurs with no predictability and can quickly
lead to a heart attack. Anyone with significant, new chest pain
or a worsening of previously mild angina must seek medical care
immediately. Read
more...
Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, is a very common
disease of the major blood vessels. It is characterized by fatty
streaks along the vessel walls and by deposits of cholesterol and
calcium. Atherosclerosis of arteries supplying the heart is called
coronary artery disease. It can restrict the flow of blood to the
heart, which often triggers heart attacks-the leading cause of death
in Americans and Europeans. People with elevated cholesterol levels
are much more likely to have atherosclerosis than people with low
cholesterol levels. Many important nutritional approaches to protecting
against atherosclerosis are aimed at lowering serum cholesterol.
Read
more...
Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy refers to abnormalities in the structure or function
of the heart muscle. There are three major types of cardiomyopathy:
dilated congestive, hypertrophic, and restrictive. The most prevalent
form is dilated congestive cardiomyopathy (DCM). In people with
DCM, the heart muscle is damaged, most commonly by coronary artery
disease. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is usually a hereditary disorder,
although incidence of this form of cardiomyopathy may also be higher
in people with hypertension. Restrictive cardiomyopathy is usually
due to a connective tissue disease, cancer, or an autoimmune condition.
Both hypertrophic and restrictive cardiomyopathies are relatively
uncommon. Read
more...
Cardiac Arrhythmia
Cardiac arrhythmia is a term that denotes a disturbance of the heart
rhythm. Cardiac arrhythmias can range in severity from entirely
benign to immediately life-threatening. If arrhythmia is suspected,
a cardiologist should be consulted for confirmation. In addition,
a doctor should always supervise the use of natural substances for
arrhythmia. Read
more...
Congestive Heart Failure
Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a chronic condition that results
when the heart muscle is unable to pump blood as efficiently as
is needed. High blood pressure can cause congestive heart failure.
Failure of the heart pump can also result from many other causes,
such as severe anemia, hyperthyroidism, heart attacks, and arrhythmias
of the heart. Read
more...
Heart Attack
Heart attacks occur when blood flow to a portion of the heart is
severely reduced or cut off. The result is death of heart muscle
cells (called an infarct). Hardening and narrowing of the coronary
arteries (artherosclerosis) that feed the heart is usually the underlying
problem. In some cases, a blood clot blocks blood flow; other times,
the narrowing is caused by atherosclerosis alone. Spasm of the coronary
arteries may also cause a heart attack. Read
more... |
