Heart Disease

Heart disease, medically referred to as cardiovascular disease (CVD), encompasses a range of conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels. These conditions include coronary artery disease, which leads to myocardial infarction (heart attacks), arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms), heart failure, congenital heart disease (present from birth), and diseases of the heart valves. The root cause often involves the build-up of fatty plaques in the arteries, known as atherosclerosis, which narrows the vessels and hinders blood flow to the heart muscle, precipitating ischemia and potential tissue damage.

Risk factors for developing heart disease are multifaceted and can be both modifiable and non-modifiable. Modifiable risks include hypertension, high cholesterol, obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, and smoking, while non-modifiable risks encompass age, family history, and genetics. Diagnosis usually involves a combination of medical history evaluation, physical examination, and specialized tests like electrocardiograms (ECG), echocardiography, stress testing, and cardiac catheterization. Management ranges from lifestyle changes and medications to interventional procedures such as angioplasty and surgical options like bypass surgery. Prevention strategies emphasize controlling risk factors, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and routine screening for those at higher risk.