Who is at Risk for Heart Disease?

As printed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of mortality in the United States (CDC). Heart disease is the cause of one out of every four deaths in the United States. Each year, over 610,000 individuals die as a result of the disease.

Heart disease knows no bounds. It is the leading cause of death for a variety of individuals, including whites, Hispanics, and African-Americans. Heart disease affects about half of all Americans, and the number is rising. Learn more about the rise in the number of people suffering from heart disease.

While heart disease is fatal, it is also avoidable in the majority of cases. Early adoption of healthy living choices will help you live longer and have a healthier heart.

What Are the Types of Cardiovascular Disease?

The term “heart disease” refers to a variety of cardiovascular issues. Heart illness encompasses a wide range of diseases and ailments. The following are instances of different types of cardiac disease:

Arrhythmia: A heart rhythm anomaly is known as arrhythmia.

Atherosclerosis: The hardening of the arteries is known as atherosclerosis.

Cardiomyopathy: The cardiac muscles harden or weaken as a result of this disorder.

Heart defects are present at birth. Heart abnormalities that are present at birth are known as congenital heart defects.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a condition that affects (CAD). Plaque buildup in the arteries of the heart causes CAD. Ischemic heart disease is another name for it.

Infections of the heart: Bacteria, viruses, and parasites can all cause heart infections.

The phrase “cardiovascular disease” refers to heart disorders that affect the blood vessels particularly.

What are the signs and Symptoms of Coronary Artery Disease?

Different types of heart disease can cause a wide range of symptoms.

Arrhythmias

Arrhythmias are irregular heartbeats. The symptoms you encounter may vary depending on the type of arrhythmia you have – fast or slow heartbeats. An arrhythmia can cause the following symptoms:

• lightheadedness
• a speeding heartbeat or a fluttering heart
• a slow heartbeat
• episodes of fainting
• dizziness
• chest discomfort

Atherosclerosis

The supply of blood to your extremities is reduced as a result of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis symptoms include chest pain and shortness of breath, as well as:

• a feeling of coldness, particularly in the limbs
• numbness in the limbs, especially
• Pain that is unique or unexplainable
• a lack of strength in your legs and arms

Congenital Heart Defects

Heart issues that arise while a fetus is growing are known as congenital heart defects. Some cardiac problems go undetected for years. Others may be discovered as a result of symptoms, such as:

• Swelling of the extremities with a blue tint
• Breathing problems or shortness of breath
• weariness and exhaustion
• heartbeats that are irregular

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

Plaque buildup in the arteries that transport oxygen-rich blood through the heart and lungs is known as coronary artery disease (CAD). Symptoms of coronary artery disease include:

• chest discomfort or agony (a sensation of pressure or squeezing in the chest)
• nausea and lack of breath
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or gas

Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy is a condition in which the heart muscles enlarge and become rigid, thick, or weak. The following are some of the signs and symptoms of this condition:

• fatigue
• Legs bloated with bloating, especially ankles and feet
• shortness of breath, pounding heart, or fast heartbeat

Heart Infections

Endocarditis and myocarditis are two disorders that might be described as heart infections. A heart infection can cause the following symptoms:

• chest discomfort
• Fever chills
• skin rash
• chest congestion or coughing

What are the signs and Symptoms of Women’s Heart Disease?

Women and men have different indications and symptoms of heart illness, especially when it comes to coronary artery disease (CAD) and other cardiovascular diseases.

In fact, a 2003 study looked at the most common symptoms in women who had had a heart attack. “Classic” heart attack symptoms like chest pain and tingling were not among the top symptoms. Women, on the other hand, were more likely to express worry, sleep difficulties, and unexpected or unexplained exhaustion, according to the study.

Furthermore, 80% of the women in the research said they had been experiencing similar symptoms for at least a month before having a heart attack.

Heart disease symptoms in women can be confused with those of other illnesses such as depression, menopause, and anxiety.

Symptoms of cardiac disease in women include:

• shortness of breath or shallow breathing, dizziness paleness
• lightheadedness
• Anxiety about fainting or passing out
• Nausea
• vomiting
• indigestion or gas-like pain in the chest
• stomach cold
• chills
• jaw pain
• neck pain
• backache

What Causes Coronary Artery Disease?

Heart disease is a term that refers to a group of diseases and ailments that cause heart issues. Each type of cardiac disease is caused by a different factor. Plaque buildup in the arteries causes atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease (CAD). Heart disease can also be caused by other factors, which are discussed further below.

Arrhythmia Causes

An aberrant heartbeat can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

• Diabetes
• CAD
• Congenital heart abnormalities
• natural treatments, supplements, and herbs
• blood pressure that is too high (hypertension)
• Substance abuse disorders usually caused by excessive consumption of alcohol or caffeine
• current heart damage or disease due to stress and anxiety

Causes of Congenital Heart Defects

This type of cardiac disease develops when a baby is still in the womb. Some cardiac defects are significant and should be discovered and treated as soon as possible. Some people may be undiagnosed for years.

The anatomy of your heart might also change as you get older. This can result in a cardiac defect, which can cause consequences and issues.

Causes of Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy comes in a variety of forms. Each type is the outcome of its own set of circumstances.

• Dilated cardiomyopathy is a condition in which the heart is dilated. The reason for this most prevalent type of cardiomyopathy, which results in a weaker heart, is unknown. It could be due to earlier cardiac damage, such as that caused by medicines, infections, or a heart attack.
• Cardiomyopathy with hypertrophy. This type of cardiac disease causes the heart muscle to thicken. It’s frequently passed down down the generations.
• Cardiomyopathy with constriction. The cause of this kind of cardiomyopathy, which results in hard heart walls, is frequently unknown. Scar tissue buildup and amyloidosis, a form of aberrant protein buildup, are two possible causes.

Causes of Heart Infection

The most prevalent causes of cardiac infections include bacteria, parasites, and viruses. If not treated properly, uncontrolled infections in the body can affect the heart.

What are Some Heart Disease Risk Factors?

Heart disease is caused by a good number of reasons. Some things can be controlled, while others cannot. According to the CDC, about half of all Americans have at least one risk factor for heart disease. These are some of the risk factors:

• blood pressure that is too high
• Low amounts of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the “good” cholesterol, and high cholesterol
• Smoking
• obesity
• a lack of physical activity

For example, smoking is a preventable risk factor. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, smoking doubles the risk of heart disease (NIDDK).

Diabetes patients may be at an increased risk of heart disease because high blood glucose levels raise the risk of:

angina pectoris

heart attack

stroke

CAD

If you have diabetes, it’s critical to keep your blood sugar under control to reduce your risk of heart disease. As reprinted by the American Heart Association (AHA), those with both high blood pressure and diabetes have a twofold heightened risk of cardiovascular disease.

Risk Factors You Can’t Control

Other heart disease risk factors include:

• ethnicity
• sex
• age
• family history

Although you can’t control these risk factors, you can keep track of their consequences. A family history of CAD, according to the Mayo Clinic, is especially alarming if it involves:

• a male relative, such as a father or brother, who is under 55 years old
• a female relative, such as a mother or sister, who is under the age of 65

Native Alaskans and Native Americans are at a higher risk than non-Hispanic blacks, non-Hispanic whites, and those of Asian or Pacific Island ancestry. Men also have a higher risk of heart disease than women. In fact, the CDC estimates that men account for 70 to 89 percent of all cardiac incidents in the United States.

Finally, as you become older, your risk of heart disease rises. Men and women are both at risk for coronary artery disease between the ages of 20 and 59. However, after the age of 60, the number of men who are afflicted increases to between 19.9% and 32.2 percent. Only 9.7% to 18.8% of women in that age group are affected.