What Is Heart Disease?
Heart disease encompasses disorders that impact the functionality of your heart. The types of heart disease include coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, and congenital heart defects.
What Causes Heart Disease?
The partial or complete blockage of a coronary artery by a sudden blood clot forms on top of a fissured plaque that has hardened with calcium deposits.
Heart Disease Warning Signs
Depending on the type of heart disease, common symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, and irregular heartbeats.
Enlarged Heart (Cardiomegaly)
The heart may enlarge due to conditions such as high blood pressure or coronary artery disease; if left untreated, this could lead to further complications within the heart.
Irregular Heart Rhythm (Arrhythmia)
Arrhythmia is a condition where the heartbeat becomes irregular. This may lead to symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, and even, in worst cases, heart failure.
Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram is a type of ultrasound that looks at the structure and function of the heart, and helps diagnose certain types of heart conditions.
Chest X-Ray
A chest X-ray allows the doctor to look at the size and shape of the heart, and possible lung disorders related to heart disease.
Stress Test
A stress test measures heart function under strain; may indicate possible heart conditions by monitoring how the heart responds to exercise.
Stents
Stents are small tubes that are used to open blocked arteries, improving blood flow and reducing the risk of a heart attack in patients with coronary artery disease.
Heart Bypass Surgery
Bypass surgery involves the rerouting of blood flow around blocked arteries, improving circulation to the heart and reducing the possibility of subsequent heart attacks.
Treatment of Valve Disease
The treatment of heart valve disease involves the use of traditional surgery or less invasive procedures, such as balloon valvuloplasty.
