Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Every 34 seconds, an American dies from this condition. Certain factors can increase your risk of getting heart disease. Fortunately, you can take steps to avoid this condition, even if you meet one or more risk factors for it.
What Is Heart Disease?
Heart disease is an umbrella term for a number of conditions that affect the health and functioning of your heart.
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease, and it affects an estimated 20.1 million adults in the United States aged 20 and older or about 7.2% of this population. CAD occurs when plaque builds up in the heart’s arteries to prevent your heart from getting the amount of oxygen-rich blood it needs.
Other common types of heart disease include:
- Angina. This condition occurs when a lack of blood flow to the heart causes chest pain.
- Arrhythmia. This condition is characterized by an irregular heart rate.
- Atherosclerosis. This condition can develop when fats, cholesterol, and other substances build up on the walls of arteries to block blood flow.
- Cardiomyopathy. This condition occurs when the heart muscles harden or become weak.
- Congenital heart defects. This condition is characterized by heart defects or irregularities with which you are born.
- Heart attack. A heart attack occurs when a lack of blood flow causes part of the heart muscle to die.
- Heart failure. Heart failure can occur when your heart is unable to pump enough blood due to factors such as infection, alcohol use, and obesity.
Symptoms of Heart Disease
Signs and symptoms of heart disease will vary based on its type and severity. Many times, heart disease doesn’t cause symptoms, and you may not know you have it until it leads to a complication such as a heart attack.
Common symptoms of heart disease include:
- Chest pain or burning
- Pressure in the chest
- Dizziness
- Rapid or irregular heart rate
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Numbness and weakness in the limbs
- Coldness in the limbs
- Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back
- Pain or discomfort in one or both arms or shoulders
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Indigestion
- Flatulence
- Cough
- Fever and chills
- Swelling of the extremities
- Skin rash
Causes of Heart Disease
Genetics, environment, lifestyle, infections, and medications can all be factors that cause heart disease. For example, smoking can cause plaque to build up in the arteries. Therefore, if you smoke tobacco products, you face a greater risk of heart disease.
Common causes and risk factors of heart disease include:
- Family history and genetics. Your risk is higher if heart disease runs in your family.
- Diet. Eating high amounts of foods high in salt, saturated fats, and refined carbohydrates can increase your risk.
- Activity level. Lack of exercise or a sedentary lifestyle can lead to heart disease.
- Alcohol use. Drinking high amounts of alcohol increases your risk.
- Stress level. Chronic stress is linked to a higher risk of heart disease.
- Medical conditions. Certain medical conditions increase your risk for heart disease, including diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and chronic kidney disease.
- Medications. Some medications have been associated with drug-induced heart disease, including chemotherapy drugs, appetite suppressants, and antipsychotics.
Your doctor can review your personal and family medical histories and talk to you in greater detail about your lifestyle to determine whether you may be at risk for heart disease.
Treatments for Heart Disease
Lifestyle changes, medications, and surgery are the most common treatments for heart disease. Treatment usually depends on the type of heart disease you have, its symptoms, and comorbid health conditions. Your doctor may work with you to identify the root cause of your heart disease so you can take the right steps to improve your symptoms.
Lifestyle Changes
Making healthy changes to your lifestyle can often improve your symptoms—especially if you are practicing behaviors such as smoking that contribute to heart disease. Lifestyle changes that can treat heart disease include exercising regularly, eating healthier foods, and reducing your alcohol intake.
Medications
Medications work in different ways to treat heart disease. For example, if you have CAD, your doctor may prescribe cholesterol drugs that can reduce plaque buildup in your arteries while also lowering your cholesterol level.
Other medications frequently prescribed to treat heart disease include beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and anticoagulants. Your doctor can talk to you about your medication options and recommend the best treatment.
Surgery
Surgery may be performed to treat severe cases of heart disease, such as when arteries to the heart have become completely blocked. Heart valve repair, pacemaker implantation, and heart transplant are some of the many surgeries that can be used to treat heart disease.
How to Prevent Heart Disease
The key to preventing heart disease is understanding its causes and risk factors and taking steps to avoid and/or manage those factors. For example, easy ways to reduce your risk for heart disease include getting plenty of exercise and not smoking.
Other ways to prevent heart disease include:
- Eating a higher amount of healthy foods
- Avoiding unhealthy foods such as pizza, donuts, and fast food
- Managing health conditions linked to heart disease
- Losing excess weight
- Reducing and managing stress
- Improving your sleep quality
- Changing medications, if you are using drugs that are linked to heart disease
- Reducing your alcohol intake
Start a conversation with your doctor about heart disease at your next annual checkup or wellness visit. Your doctor can work with you to treat heart disease or reduce your risk.
Resource Links
- “Heart Disease Facts” via Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- “Heart Diseases” via MedlinePlus
- “Angina: Symptoms, diagnosis and treatments” via Harvard Medical School
- “Heart Attack Symptoms, Risk, and Recovery” via Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- “Smoking and Cardiovascular Disease” via Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- “Drugs That May Cause or Exacerbate Heart Failure” via Circulation