heart disease

Types of heart and cardiovascular afflictions:

• Coronary Heart Disease – Occurs when arteries in the body become blocked and secondary symptoms are present. Often precedes congestive heart failure and heart attacks.
  
• Congestive Heart Failure – When the heart loses its ability to pump efficiently, causing edema throughout the body.
  
• Arteriosclerosis – The scarring and hardening of the arteries, often accompanied by some other form of heart disease.
  
• High Blood Pressure – An excess of pressure in the arteries caused by narrowed or blocked blood vessels.
  
• Stroke – The loss of oxygen in the brain resulting in brain damage. Often caused by clots in the blood vessels in the brain or an aneurysm in the brain.
  
• Heart Attack – The loss of oxygen to the heart resulting in the death of cardiac muscle tissue. Again, often caused by clots or blockages in the arteries. Can also be caused by overexertion, use of amphetamines, and inherited heart disorders.
  
• Aneurysm – A bubble created in a blood vessel caused by the build up of pressure due to blockages. If left untreated, an aneurysm has the potential to burst, causing strokes or hemorrhages.

Risk factors and causes:

• Poor Diet – A diet high in fat and refined starches, and devoid of fruits, vegetables and whole grains puts people at a higher risk for heart disease.
  
• Obesity - Defined as body weight of 30 percent greater than ideal body weight, however, even 20 pounds of excess weight can put a person at a greater risk for heart disease. Diet and weight are the two biggest contributors to these diseases.
  
• Smoking - Smoking, especially in women who are taking birth control pills, can increase risk.
  
• Alcohol - Although moderate drinking has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, heavy drinking can put a person at greater risk.
  
• Stress - Elevated stress hormones are shown to cause the body to produce excess cholesterol and block the arteries, as well as increase the pressure of the blood.
  
• High Cholesterol - Elevated levels of cholesterol can cause the arteries to become blocked.
  
• Heredity - Many times, a predisposition to heart disease is inherited.

Heart disease is currently the number one killer in the United States, and other affluent countries, killing over 700,000 people in the us alone. In 2001, an estimated $299 billion was spent on treatment and loss of productivity in the United States.

This disease can be prevented by regular exercise, healthy diet, weight loss, avoidance of tobacco and alcohol, and other lifestyle changes. Damage to the arteries can usually be reversed in the early stages of these diseases; therefore, it is important to be regularly monitored for conditions that can lead to the diseases.

Information from the Centers for Disease Control: www.cdc.gov
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