Heart disease continues to be the number one cause of death in the United States, accounting for as many as one in four deaths.
Despite the continuous efforts of researchers and healthcare professionals to try and mitigate the obviously devastating effects of this condition, there are simply too many factors at play to eliminate it completely.
Before we discuss the specific types of heart disease, it is important to understand how certain lifestyle factors are the most influential when it comes to the development of the disease.
As with most other body system impairments, a relatively small percentage of individuals will be diagnosed with heart disease because of congenital issues, things they were born with. “CHDs affect nearly 1% of―or about 40,000―births per year in the United States”
(https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/heartdefects/data.html).
However, the reason that heart disease is taking such a toll on the population has to do with mostly preventable issues.
Heart diseases in large part is considered a lifestyle disease, which means it is our lifestyle choices such as diet and exercise that are killing us.
When considering the biggest risks of developing or dying from heart disease, which include smoking, obesity, diabetes, uncontrolled cholesterol, sedentary lifestyle, and diets high in trans fats, it is relatively easy to notice that these things come down to choices.
(https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353118)
Heart disease, as with many other serious conditions, is usually the culmination of living a poor lifestyle for an extended quantity of time.
Read the above line again. And take a moment to think about it. Seriously.
Now that we have discussed the prevalence and risks factors related to heart disease, it is important to describe the disease itself.
Heart disease is not one specific health condition, rather an umbrella term that covers several different conditions that all negatively affect the heart. The remainder of this article will touch on the different diseases that fall under the overall term itself.
Coronary Artery/Vascular Disease
According to the Mayo Clinic, although they have two different names, coronary artery disease and vascular disease are generally listed together because the usually have the same cause. These two disorders are characterized by a hardening or stiffening in the walls of arteries supplying the heart or other parts of the body. This is known as atherosclerosis.
In a healthy cardiovascular system, arteries are flexible, pliable vessels that actually contain a significant amount of smooth muscle tissue. Therefore, arteries have the ability to constrict and expand in order to adjust to changes in blood pressure and differing circulatory demands throughout the body.
When these structures become stiffened, they lose this ability. Similarly, atherosclerosis tends to cause plaque-like buildup around the inside of arterial walls, further complicating the flow of flood.
Both of these issues place a large amount of undue strain on the heart, causing it to gradually become weaker over time. However, coronary artery and vascular diseases also increase the risks of much more acute problems such as heart attack and stroke.
Rhythm Disorders
While the actual sound of a beating heart is typically made up of only two quick noises, there is an extremely intricate process at work. The heart uses a specialized system of cells and electrical components to ensure that blood enters and exits the heart in an organized fashion.
There are several different disorders, commonly referred to as arrhythmias, which are characterized by a disruption or alteration in this conduction system. The risks associated with each type of arrhythmia ranges from harmless, potentially dangerous to immediately life threatening. The various rhythm disorders falling in the latter two categories are what typically fall under the diagnosis of heart disease (https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/arrhythmia/about-arrhythmia/other-heart-rhythm-disorders).
Structural Heart Disease
As the name implies, this type of heart disease describes a physical issue with one or more of the mechanism within the heart such as valves, vessels, or walls. This is one of the main examples of congenital heart disease, although it can occur from other injuries or gradual degradation of the heart over time (https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/structural-heart-disease/).
Heart Failure
WebMD reports that though not an extremely specific disorder, heart failure is a type of heart disease characterized by a weakening or damage to the heart that leaves it unable to meet the body’s demand for blood. Heart failure is even further divided into several other disorders such as left and right heart failure.
Although a diagnosis of heart failure is permanent, this disease can vary dramatically in severity and level of impairment. With early diagnoses and proper management, individuals can take measured steps to prevent any additional damage or increases in workload to the heart.
Conclusion
Just about all heart conditions that you can have come from how you choose to live your life. So choose wisely.
Eat right and exercise.
It is fairly easy when you make your mind up to make the right choices.
Take care of your self. Take care of your heart.
Be A Man – Do The Right Thing. It’s Your Life. It’s Your Choice. Take Care Of Yourself. Eat Right And Exercise.
BAM!!! Be A Man! Do The Right Thing.
Be the DtRTy Guy!