Heart disease is a common term that is used to describe all kinds of diseases or defects related to the heart. There are different Various Types of Heart Diseasess, and various causes are attributed to the different types. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in many countries around the world.
The most common and prevalent form of heart disease is Coronary Heart Disease. This is just one kind of cardiovascular disease, though many people assume it to be the only type of heart disease. When the arteries that are connected to the heart become narrow, it makes the flow of blood difficult, which exerts extra pressure on the heart to pump blood. Such a prolonged condition can lead to coronary heart disease.
The arteries become narrow, constricted or hardened by the deposits of atheromatous plaque inside the artery walls. Eventually, it may lead to chest pain and the consequence may be a heart attack.
Another eminent cause of heart disease is abnormal rhythmic patterns of the heart. Basically, the heart functions like a pump that beats in a regular rhythm, about 60 to 100 times per minute. But when the heartbeat becomes irregular or abnormal, it leads to a condition called arrhythmia or dysrhythmia, that can eventually lead to malfunctioning of the heart or a heart attack.
Sometimes, heart suffers from some structural or basic defect from birth itself or before the birth. It is known as a congenital heart disease. Nearly 0.8% of all children are born with such birth defects of the heart or blood vessels. The symptoms of such defects can be revealed at birth itself, or during childhood or adulthood. The causes of such defects are difficult to determine, though genetic disorders or damage to the fetus during pregnancy could be the likely causes.
Heart disease can also occur due to muscular dysfunction of the heart as well. Any abnormality of the heart muscles can create a heart problem, and such abnormalities are known as cardiomyopathies. This condition leads to an abnormal size of the heart, usually enlarged, thickened or hardened. This reduces the heart’s capacity to pump blood, and can lead to heart attack after some time.
Pericarditis is another cause of heart disease. In rare cases, the inner lining of the heart may get inflamed due to some infection, which is known as pericarditis. If left untreated, it can lead to malfunctioning of the heart or a heart failure.
One of the main arteries of the heart is the Aorta that supplies oxygen-rich and pure blood to various parts of the body. Any condition that causes the aorta to dilate or damage increases the risk of a heart failure. Aorta disease needs specialized treatment and surgery in order to bring the heart’s condition back to normalcy.
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