When people think about heart disease, the first thing that comes to mind is heart attacks. While it definitely is a type of heart condition, it is much more than that. It can be a mere symptom of anything that is affecting your heart’s health. There are many heart issues and diseases; a heart attack is just one thing that can happen to you. Regardless, they all pose a risk to your heart’s overall health.
If you are curious to know about common heart diseases out there, continue reading:
1. Arrhythmia
Arrhythmia is a type of issue that relates to your heartbeat. With an arrhythmia, the heart either beats too fast or too slow. It may also lead to an irregular heart beating. In most cases, arrhythmias are harmless. However, it can be life-threatening. For example, a heart with an arrhythmia may experience various problems, such as stroke or even cardiac arrest.
2. Heart Failure
The heart is a muscle designed to pump blood throughout the body. Unfortunately, that muscle can become weak or even harden, affecting your heart’s ability to pump blood. Other problems like problematic valves can also affect this. All of these lead to a problem called congestive heart failure. Despite the name, heart failure does not actually mean the heart stopped working entirely.
There are two types of congestive heart failure: low output and high output. The low output means that the body does not get enough oxygenated blood to perform fully. The high output indicates that the blood pressure is too high, causing fluid to back up into the ankles, lungs, and various other places.
3. Aortic Aneurysms
The aorta is the largest blood vessel in the body, carrying the blood and dispersing it to the rest of the body. With an aneurysm, the aorta can develop a bulge which can burst and lead to dangerous consequences. This is similar to an aneurysm in the brain, which can be fatal to the unfortunate individual.
4. Valvular Heart Disease
The heart has four different valves, and unfortunately, each of them can face problems, whether by infection or through a congenital issue. Regardless, such infections can either cause the valve to either not close tightly or open fully, hurting the heart’s ability to regulate blood throughout the body.
5. Coronary Artery Disease
The most common heart disease found in the human population is coronary artery disease. It occurs when bad cholesterol builds in the arteries. While it does not have any symptoms in its early phase, it can later lead to fatigue and even chest pains. If such buildup breaks apart, a clot can form, block an artery, and hurt the heart in various ways.
For instance, it can block oxygen from reaching a specific part of the heart, eventually causing damage. In some cases, it can also lead to heart attacks, which can prove fatal.
Conclusion
All of these heart diseases are things you do not want to experience. They all pose a risk to your health. In some cases, they can become fatal. For that reason, we highly recommend working with physicians to ensure you do not run into heart problems. If you do have a heart problem, do not waste time. Do what you can to give yourself the best chances of recovery and ensure a fulfilling life for many years to come!
Garden State Medical Group offers specialized physicians offering integrative and functional medicine to prevent and manage health problems. If you are looking for primary care doctors in New Jersey to care for your heart, schedule an appointment with us today!