Heart disease is the most common cause of death in the United States. Medical experts have estimated that nearly half of Americans will die from heart disease, which can lead to heart failure. In order to better understand how this condition affects the rest of your body, it’s important to understand what types of heart disease there are and how they’re diagnosed and treated.
Arrhythmias
Arrhythmias are irregular heartbeats that may be caused by high blood pressure, heart attack and heart failure. Arrhythmias can also be a symptom of cardiomyopathy, Dr. John Strobeck a disease that causes the heart muscle to weaken and become enlarged.
Angina
Angina is a symptom of heart disease, not a disease itself. It means that your heart muscle isn’t getting enough oxygenated blood. The pain associated with angina usually feels like pressure or squeezing in the chest that lasts for at least 10 minutes. The discomfort can come on suddenly or be gradual and last up to 30 minutes.
It’s important to know what type of angina you have because this will determine how it’s treated:
• Stable angina is managed through lifestyle changes such as losing weight and eating healthier foods; medication may also be prescribed if other measures don’t work well enough alone
• Unstable (unstable) angina needs immediate medical attention because there’s likely an issue with blood flow into your heart muscle; treatment options include medications plus procedures like coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery.
Cardiac Arrest
The most severe type of heart disease is cardiac arrest, says Dr. John Strobeck. Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating, which can lead to death if not treated immediately. It’s important to know the symptoms of cardiac arrest, who is at risk for it, and how you can prevent it from happening to you or someone else.
Cardiac arrest happens when electrical impulses in your heart stop working properly and blood flow stops moving through your body.
This can happen when there’s damage from a heart attack or stroke; an abnormal rhythm called ventricular fibrillation (VF); low blood pressure; diabetes; high blood cholesterol levels; physical exertion such as strenuous exercise or sex; alcohol use/abuse – especially excessive drinking over many years.