Heart conditions include a wide variety of diseases, disorders and conditions that affect the heart and sometimes the blood vessels as well. Types of heart conditions include angina, heart attack (myocardial infarction), atherosclerosis, heart failure, cardiovascular disease, and cardiac arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms). Other forms of heart conditions include congenital heart defects, cardiomyopathy, infections of the heart, coronary artery disease, heart valve disorders, myocarditis, and pericarditis.
Symptoms of heart conditions vary depending on the specific type of heart conditions. A classic symptom of some heart conditions is chest pain. However, with some forms of heart conditions, such as atherosclerosis, there may be no symptoms in some people until life-threatening complications develop. For more information on symptoms and complications, refer to symptoms of heart conditions.
Risk factors for developing heart conditions include having hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipidemia), obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle. Other risk factors for heart conditions include being of African-American ancestry, male, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, having a lot of long-term stress, smoking and having a family history of a heart attack at an early age.
Certain congenital heart defects can run in families and/or be caused by exposure during pregnancy to specific toxins. Pregnant women with some conditions and diseases can have a higher risk of having a baby with a congenital heart defect.
People who have high C-protein levels, which increases atherosclerosis, are also at a higher risk for heart conditions. In addition, people who have high homocysteine levels, which may damage artery walls and increase the risk of clots, are also at an increased risk.
Making a diagnosis of heart conditions includes completing a complete medical evaluation and history and physical examination. A comprehensive evaluation from a licensed health care professional includes compiling and analysing many factors that impact the risk for heart conditions. These include lifestyle, family history, personal history, dietary habits, weight, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, stress levels, and smoking/drinking habits.
Tests that may be used to diagnose heart conditions or the risk of developing heart conditions include blood tests, exercise stress testing, EKG, X-Ray, and imaging tests, such as heart scan, ultrasound and echocardiogram. A coronary angiogram may be dome in certain cases. A coronary angiogram is an invasive procedure that reveals which coronary arteries are narrowed or blocked.
It is very possible that a diagnosis of some heart conditions can be missed or delayed because there may be no symptoms and for other reasons. For more information on misdiagnosis, refer to misdiagnosis of heart conditions.
Heart conditions are treated with an individualized treatment plan that best fits the specific heart conditions, a person's life style, and other factors. Treatment involves regular medical monitoring and testing, lifestyle and dietary changes, and may include medications and surgery. For more information on treatment, refer to treatment of heart conditions.
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