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ACLS Online Library: Heart Disease Resource Guide

The heart is supported by several veins and arteries that supply blood to and from the heart. When these vessels are affected, they can cause serious heart diseases that eventually lead to death. Heart diseases cause hundreds of thousands of deaths throughout the world each year. Some common heart diseases include coronary heart disease, cardiomyopathy, cardiovascular disease, Ischemic heart disease, heart failure, hypertensive heart disease, inflammatory heart disease and valvular heart disease.

CORONARY HEART DISEASE

This is also known as coronary artery disease. Statistics show that more than 13 million people (men and women) are affected by this in the US. The disease is caused by blockage of the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle (known as myocardium). When the blood flow to the heart is reduced, it causes chest pain or angina. Therefore, individuals having chest pains should not take their feelings for granted because of the possibility of having the disease. To prevent/reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, foods high in cholesterol, smoking and lack of exercises must be avoided.

• Causes of Coronary artery disease: Coronary artery disease is caused by the damages done to the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries are damaged by several factors such as smoking and taking excess sugar.

• Understanding coronary artery disease: The site is very informative on the symptoms, definition, causes, diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

• Understanding coronary artery disease: The coronary arteries develop fault when they are blocked by cholesterol. This prevents blood supply and malfunction.

CARDIOMYOPATHY

Cardiomyopathy refers to the condition whereby the heart can no longer pump as much blood as it used to. This condition makes the heart pump blood slowly as a result of the weakness in the muscle structure. Cardiomyopathy is caused by external factors such as drinking, certain infections, other idiopathic and genetic causes. There are different types of Cardiomyopathy namely: Ischemic cardiomyopathy, restrictive cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy and peripartum cardiomyopathy. Dilated cardiomyopathy refers to the condition where heat the heart is enlarged and weak so that it cannot pump blood effectively. In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the heart muscle is so thick that blood finds it uneasy to flow out. This heart disease usually comes from birth. People suffering from restrictive cardiomyopathy have very stiff heart. The stiffness makes it difficult for the heart to get properly filled with blood.

• Treatment for Cardiomyopathy: Cardiomyopathy can be treated by taking rest, taking medicines and most importantly, abstaining from the causes.

• Cardiomyopathy overview: Cardiomyopathy is the condition whereby the heart can no longer perform its pumping task as a result of weakness.

• Types of Cardiomyopathy: Some of the types of Cardiomyopathy are: dilated Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Restrictive Cardiomyopathy, and rare Cardiomyopathy. Information on these types of Cardiomyopathy can be obtained in details by following the links shown on the page.

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

This is the disease of the arteries, veins and the heart. Since adolescents are vulnerable to this, it is important to start applying tips for its prevention very early in life. Some of the common tips for reducing the risk of the disease include eating healthy meals, having regular exercise and avoid smoking. The numerous kinds of cardiovascular disease include angina, aneurysm, atherosclerosis and peripheral vascular disease. People having any form of cardiovascular disease can be treated by improving their diet and exercising. The right professionals for the disease are cardiologists, thoracic surgeons, vascular surgeons, neurologists and interventional radiologists. The professional to be seen at any time depends on the injured heart vessel.

• Preventing cardiovascular disease in women: Women should endeavor to be away from smoke, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and participate in moderate physical activities.

• Fact sheet on cardiovascular disease: The site contains information on the causes, definition, and common symptoms of the disease.

• Cardiovascular disease statistics: Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of death in the world today. In 2006 for instance, it claimed more than 820,000 lives. 

ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASE

This is the disease that occurs when blood supply to the heart muscle is reduced. This sickness normally arises when the coronary arteries have been affected. The disease gets worse as one grows older. Smoking and a diet high in cholesterol also aggravates the disease. The symptoms of ischemic heart disease include chest pain (also known as agina) and inability to perform exercises for long periods. The possible treatments for this are angioplasty, medication and coronary artery bypass surgery. Ischemic heart disease is most common in older individuals with men being more prone however, women become equally as prone following menopause.

• What is Ischemic heart disease?: When the metabolic demand of the myocardium is not balanced with the myocardial blood flow, the result is normally known as Ischemic heart disease.

• General information on Ischemic heart disease: Ischemic heart disease is commonly known as coronary artery disease. Some of the risk factors are smoking, poor nutrition and overweight.

• Information on Ischemic heart disease: The site is good to acquire knowledge about the pathogenesis, symptoms and signs of the disease.

HEART FAILURE

Another name for heart failure is cardiac failure. It is the term used to refer to the case where the heart cannot pump enough blood for the whole body. People with heart failure can still live because their heart still functions (though not properly). This illness can cause edema, frequent tiredness and back-flow of blood and other fluid into the lungs. Heart failure is normally caused by coronary artery disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. People suffering from heart failure can use a combination of medicines and even transplantation to combat this disease. Heart failure can be prevented by maintaining a healthy weight and diet and exercising regularly. It causes about 300,000 deaths each year.

• Heart failure information: The site contains information beginning from education on the heart to what heart failure really is and other important facts. 

• Symptoms of heart failure: Some of the symptoms of heart failure include breathing difficulties, fatigue and coughing.

• Heart failure overview: Information on the site is simply educative on heart failure. 

HYPERTENSIVE HEART DISEASE

When high blood pressure is not controlled, it normally leads to hypertensive heart disease. Prolonged blood pressure causes the mycocardial structure, coronary vasculature and the entire heart system to change. These changes cause other problems in the heart such as coronary artery disease, systolic and diastolic dysfunction, myocardial infarction and other heart diseases. Hypertensive heart disease therefore refers to those diseases that result from increased blood pressure. Hypertensive heart disease is caused by the increased pressure needed by the heart to pump blood. If this is not treated on time, the heart muscle will become very thick and congestive heart failure may occur. High blood pressure can also cause atherosclerosis to worsen. With the increasing rate of high blood pressure among adults, it is important to find more preventive and curative measures to avoid hypertensive heart disease.

• Hypertensive heart disease: This is the heart disease that occurs as a result of high blood pressure.

• Hypertension and heart disease: Hypertension is the major cause of heart problem and stroke. Also known as high blood pressure, it is the force needed to push blood against the walls of the blood vessels.

• Facts about hypertensive heart disease: The site answers questions such as the causes, treatment and definition of the hypertensive heart disease.  

INFLAMMATORY HEART DISEASE

This occurs when the heart develops pains and gets swollen as a result of bacterial infection, viral infection or internal problems within the heart. Symptoms of this include rheumatic fever and kawasaki disease. The major types are myocarditis, pericarditis and endocartis. Myocarditis refers to the type of inflammation that occurs within the heart muscle. When pain is noticed on the chest, it is possible that myocarditis may be the problem. Diagnosis can be done with the electrocardiogram or magnetic resonance imaging tests. Pericarditis occurs when the pericardium is inflamed. It can be caused by infection from virus and bacteria. Endocarditis is also caused by infection but this time, the inflamation is much pronounced. Symptoms of endocarditis are night sweats and presence of blood in urine.

• Inflammatory heart disease: Inflammatory heart disease refers to the sweeling of the heart muscle as a result of infection by virus and/or bacteria.

• Heart diseases: The site contains good information about inflamatory heart disease and other kinds of heart diseases.

• Pericarditis: This is a type of inflammatory heart disease. It occurs when the pericardium is inflammed.

VALVULAR HEART DISEASE

When more than one valve of the heart is damaged, the situation leads to valvular heart disease. For instance, when the aortic and mitral valves on the left division of the heart or the pulmonary and tricuspid valves on the right side develop problems. This often leads to the backward flow of blood. Valvular heart diseases may arise from birth or as one grows up in life. Treatment of valvular heart disease can be by taking medicines or by surgery to replace the heart valves. Sometimes, valvular heart disease is caused by rheumatic fever. Examples of medicines for the disease are the ergotamines.

• Valvular heart disease: Valvular heart disease occurs when the valves do not support blood flow in the right direction. Most often, it is the aortic and mitral valves that are affected.

• Problems associated with heart valves: The problems associated with heart valves include stenosis, regurgitation and prolapse.

• Overview of valvular heart disease: The site discusses the causes, treatment, prevention and diagnosis of the disease.