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Heart disease is a category of illnesses that affects the regular functionality of the heart that can start varied origins. These diseases cause damage the different muscles and blood vessels connected to the heart and affects its ability to work properly. Since the 1900’s, Heart Disease has become the number one cause of death in America, England, Wales and Canada. Heart disease is responsible for killing someone every 34 seconds in America and more than 60 million Americans have some form of cardiovascular disease. There are a lot of persons who are uninformed about its causes, symptoms and ways of preventing it affecting you and your family.

There are several category of heart disease which all have the same type of symptoms and treatment methods. Ischaemic Heart Disease affects the heart by minimizing the blood circulation to the heart muscle. Ischaemic Heart Disease displays symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, swelling of the legs and can also reduce an individuals ability to exercise.

Coronary Heart Disease is a disease that causes the artery and the blood vessels connected to the heart to constrict. This takes place as a result of plaque build up composed from fatty material, scar tissues and calcium. These vessels transfer precious blood and oxygen throughout the body so when they are blocked the heart is not properly fed with enough blood to perform its usual function. Symptoms include severe chest pain, heart attacks and even cardiac arrest. There are certain factors that increase a person’s risk developing Coronary Heart Disease. Obesity, High blood pressure, Diabetes, smoking, high stress level, insufficient physical activity, high cholesterol level and in some women menopause.

A valvular Heart Disease is any disease which affects one or more of the valves in the heart. This illness can either be contract from birth or it can be attained over the course of a person’s life. If the disease does not turn out to be severe then medications are available to correct the ailment, but if it becomes critical then an operation will have to take place in order to either repair the valve or replace it. Valvular heart disease can be caused from rheumatic fever, hypereosinophilic syndrome, bacterial infection and cancer, just to name some.

Hypertensive Heart Disease refers to any heart dysfunction that leads to hypertension. Symptoms of hypertensive heart disease include, bloating, irregular pulse rate, tiredness, unexpected weight gain, frequent urination at nights, difficulty breathing. Cardiovascular heart disease affects the cardiovascular system by causing damage to the arteries and veins.

Other forms of heart disease are Inflammatory heart disease which inflames the heart’s surrounding tissues, Cardiomyopathy which deteriorates the muscles of the heart, and heart failure which occurs when the heart is not capable of providing sufficient quantities of blood throughout the body to fulfill its needs. Sustaining a healthy lifestyle which includes regular exercise, upkeeping a nutritious diet and eliminating bad habits such as smoking, can lower the chances of someone developing heart disease. Various medicines are available to regulate the functions of the heart and sometimes depending on how devastating the heart disease is surgery may be required.