The word “heart disease” refers to various cardiac disorders. The CDC, or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, says that coronary artery disease (CAD), which damages blood flow to the heart, is the most prevalent form of heart disease in the United States. Heart disease manifests in various ways, including CAD, heart valve diseases, pericarditis, cardiomyopathy, and atrial fibrillation (arrhythmias).
The main agenda of this blog is to shed light on heart disease 101, its causes and how lifestyle changes, medication, or surgery treat them. For example, a medicine like Xarelto 2.5 mg tablet effectively treats irregular heartbeat or atrial fibrillation.
Types of Heart Diseases
Heart disease occurs in various forms, each with unique causes and treatments. Some people’s health is significantly improved by making lifestyle modifications and taking medications. Others require surgery to restore the functionality of their heart.
Here are some of the common types of heart diseases:
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
Coronary artery disease, or CAD, is known as the most prevalent kind of cardiac disease in the US. It is also named ischemic heart disease or coronary heart disease.
Cause: The cause of CAD is the formation of plaque in walls of the coronary artery. This artery pumps blood to the heart and other parts of the body. Plaque is formed by accumulated cholesterol (fat) in the artery.
Over time, the accumulation of plaque results in thinning of arteries, which partially or entirely obstruct the flow of blood or atherosclerosis.
Treatment: The following steps help reduce your risk of a heart attack or worsen heart disease:
- Eating healthier (lower salt, lower fat), regular physical exercise, and preventing obesity (maintaining a healthy weight).
- Medicines address CAD risk factors such as the medicines used to treat high b.p. (blood pressure), high level of bad cholesterol, or an irregular heartbeat.
- Surgical treatments to aid in the restoration of blood flow to the heart.
Heart Valve Disease
Heart valve disease is a heart disorder that causes one or more of your heart’s valves to malfunction. The standard heart comprises four chambers (right and left atria and right and left ventricles) with four valves.
The CDC reported that 2.5 percent of the USA population have heart valve diseases. The heart’s four valves ensure that blood flows in just one direction via the heart. The valves in the heart are:
- The mitral valve or bicuspid valve is located between the left ventricle and left atrium.
- The right atrioventricular valve or tricuspid valve is present between the right ventricle and the right atrium.
- The aortic heart valve is present between the left ventricle and the aorta.
- The pulmonary valve in the heart is present between the pulmonary artery and right ventricle.
Cause: Heart valve disease is caused by a variety of factors, including congenital diseases (being born with it), infections, and degenerative disorders (wearing out with age) such as:
- Rheumatic Disease: This disease develops if the bacteria that cause throat infections reaches the heart valve and causes infection. It can be prevented if the throat infections are treated with antibiotics as soon as they appear.
- Congenital Heart Valve Disease: This disease refers to heart valve defects such as missing leaflets. Leaflets are small flaps in each valve of the heart. These flaps open and shut with each heartbeat to let the blood move.
Treatment: Although lifestyle changes and medication cannot treat heart valve disease, a healthy lifestyle and certain medications decrease the chances of stroke. A stroke happens when an artery of blood leading to the brain becomes blocked or ruptures.
Pericarditis or Pericardial Disease
Pericarditis is known as the inflammation (infection or swelling) of the pericardium. The pericardium is a tiny sac that protects your heart. It protects and lubricates the heart and keeps it fixed in the chest.
Cause: Viral infection is the most prevalent cause of pericarditis. It is also caused by bacterial infection and non-infectious causes such as a tumor (mass of abnormal cells) impinging on the pericardium, previous heart disease or surgery.
Treatment: In bacterial infection, your doctor gives you antibiotics to treat pericarditis. If there is severe or recurrent pericarditis, surgery is recommended. The surgical removal of the pericardium is known as pericardiectomy.
[Recurrent pericarditis is when you get pericarditis for the second time after being symptom-free for at least four weeks].
Cardiomyopathy (Heart Muscle Disease)
Cardiomyopathy is a heart condition that affects the myocardium (heart muscle). The heart muscle typically weakens and becomes less capable of adequately pumping blood to the rest of the body.
Cause: The cause of cardiomyopathy is either genetic or acquired. It is caused by high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, or many other illnesses.
Treatment: These diseases can be treated by following the steps:
- Maintaining a healthy lifestyle
- Medications that are used to treat high blood pressure, blood clotting, and abnormal heart rhythm.
- If the situation is severe and dangerous, surgical removal of the affected part or a heart transplant is required.
[Heart transplant is a surgical procedure of implanting a healthy heart from a donor to a patient with a failed heart].
Heart Arrhythmia (AFib)
Heart arrhythmia is an irregular beating of the heart. The most commonly cured heart arrhythmia is atrial fibrillation, also known as AFib or AF. The CDC estimated that 12.1 million people are at risk of getting Afib in 2030.
Cause: It is caused by high blood pressure, diabetes (high blood sugar), hyperthyroidism (high level of thyroid hormone), heart failure or various heart diseases.
Treatment: Heart arrhythmia or atrial fibrillation is treated in various ways:
- Medicines like Xarelto 2.5 mg tablets are used to treat AFib and maintain a regular heartbeat. Blood thinning medicines are also used as they prevent blood clotting and reduce the chances of Afib.
- In severe cases, surgical treatment is needed.
Remember, a healthcare professional provides you with personalized treatments, considering heart disease 101. They generally prescribe medication or surgical treatments depending on the severity of the disease. These medications are easily bought online at the best Canadian online pharmacy.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are many types of heart disease, and each has its causes and therapies. Making lifestyle changes and taking medicine significantly relieve someone’s health anxiety about blood clots. Others need surgery to get their hearts working again.
Coronary artery disease is the most common kind of heart illness in the US. Other diseases are pericarditis, heart valve disease, cardiomyopathy, and heart arrhythmia (AFib). Various medicines are used to treat heart disease 101. The medications treat blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol treat various heart diseases.
