Heart Disease
Overview
Heart disease is an umbrella term for conditions that affect the heart and the blood vessels supplying it, the most common being coronary artery disease, in which the arteries feeding the heart muscle narrow over time.
Symptoms of Heart Disease
Chest pain, pressure or tightness, shortness of breath, pain that spreads to the neck, jaw or arm, an irregular heartbeat, and unusual fatigue or swelling in the legs and feet. Symptoms can present differently in women, sometimes as nausea, back pain or extreme tiredness rather than chest pain.
What Causes Heart Disease?
Gradual build-up of fatty deposits in the artery walls, driven by high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, excess weight, physical inactivity, and family history.
How is Heart Disease Diagnosed?
A physical exam and medical history, followed by tests such as an ECG, echocardiogram, stress testing, blood work for cholesterol and cardiac markers, or coronary angiography.
Treatment for Heart Disease
Lifestyle changes alongside medication such as statins, blood pressure drugs, or antiplatelet therapy. More advanced disease may be treated with angioplasty and stenting or bypass surgery.
How to Prevent Heart Disease
Not smoking, staying physically active, eating a diet low in saturated fat and salt, keeping blood pressure and cholesterol in range, and managing diabetes and body weight.
2 Sources
Mfamasia's health articles are based on evidence-backed information and review by medical professionals to ensure accuracy, reliability and up-to-date health standards.
- Webpage What is Cardiovascular Disease?. American Heart Association.
- Webpage Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). World Health Organization.