Information on Heart Disease

Heart disease, also known as cardiovascularfatigue, palpitations (the sensation of the heart
disease, includes a number of conditions affectingbeating in the chest), lightheadedness, and fainting,
the heart: congestive heart failure, congenitalor feeling about to faint.
heart disease, and heart attack, among others. IfA heart attack is an injury to the heart muscle
you don't know the symptoms, you could be atcaused by a loss of blood supply. The medical
risk and not even know it. Heart disease is theterm for heart attack is "myocardial infarction,"
leading cause of death for men and women in theoften abbreviated MI. A heart attack usually
U.S. Keys to prevention include quitting smoking,occurs when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood
improving cholesterol, controlling high bloodthrough a coronary artery - a blood vessel that
pressure, maintaining a healthy weight, andfeeds blood to a part of the heart muscle.
exercising.Interrupted blood flow to your heart can damage
The heart consists of a muscle (myocardium)or destroy a part of the heart muscle.
that pumps blood, arteries that supply blood toAfter age 50, your health care provider will
the heart muscle, and valves to ensure that therecommend a screening colonoscopy. This test
blood is pumped in the correct direction. At anyinvolves giving you IV sedation to make you
point in the pumping process, or in any part ofsleepy, then passing a very small, flexible scope
the heart, something can go awry. The diseasesinto your lower intestine (the colon) via your
and conditions affecting the heart are collectivelyrectum. It can be a bit uncomfortable, but not
known as heart disease.painful, and the outcome is well worth this
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in thediscomfort. This is because the provider can
United States and is a major cause of disability.directly visualize any colon polyps that are present
Almost 700,000 people die of heart disease in theand remove them. Colon polyps are usually a type
U.S. each year. That is about 29% of all U.S.called an "adenoma," which can develop into a
deaths. Heart disease is a term that includescancer.
several more specific heart conditions. The mostHigh blood pressure increases the heart's
common heart disease in the United States isworkload, causing the heart to enlarge and
coronary heart disease, which can lead to heartweaken over time. When high blood pressure
attack.exists with obesity, smoking, physical inactivity,
Chest pain (angina pectoris) occurs, for instance,high blood cholesterol levels or diabetes, the risk
when the oxygen demand of the heart muscleof heart attack increases greatly. Although the
exceeds the oxygen supply because of thatcause of most high blood pressure is unknown, it
narrowing in the coronary arteries. When thecan be controlled.
imbalance of oxygen supply lasts for more then aThe risk of coronary heart disease can be
few minutes, heart muscle can begin to die,reduced by taking steps to prevent and control
causing a heart attack (myocardial infarction). Thisthose adverse factors that put people at greater
may occur without symptoms (silent heartrisk for heart disease and heart attack.
attack), especially in people with diabetes.Additionally, knowing the signs and symptoms of
Symptoms of heart disease varies according toheart attack, calling 911 right away, and getting to
the type of heart disease. Unfortunately, somea hospital are crucial to the most positive
heart diseases cause no symptoms early in itsoutcomes after having a heart attack. People who
course. When symptoms occur, they vary fromhave had a heart attack can also work to reduce
person to person. Symptoms may may includetheir risk of future events.
chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness and