Heart diseases are medical conditions that adversely affect your heart, and such diseases vary in severity and type. However, the most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease (CAD), a medical condition most people are familiar with. However, it is possible to experience trouble with different parts of your heart, such as the heart muscle, the valves, or even the heart’s electrical system.
In the United States, heart diseases are the leading cause of death, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These reports and statistics indicate that 1 in every four deaths stems from a heart-related condition. Specifically, that is about 610,000 deaths every year. However, while these diseases can be fatal, they can be avoided and managed —in cases where the patient already suffers from such conditions. Therefore, this article will briefly highlight some of the different types of heart diseases, as well as the available treatments.
The Different Types of Heart Diseases
There are different types of heart diseases. These include:
- Arrhythmia: This is a medical condition that causes the heart to beat abnormally.
- Atherosclerosis: This medical condition involves the hardening of the heart’s arteries.
- Cardiomyopathy: Cardiomyopathy occurs when the heart’s muscles harden or become weak.
- Congenital heart defects: These are irregularities of the heart that appear during the birth of a child.
- Coronary artery disease (CAD): This is the buildup of plaque within the heart’s arteries. It is also known as ischemic heart disease.
- Heart Infections: Heart infections can be caused by various parasites, viruses, or bacteria.
What Treatments Are Available For Heart Diseases?
Before we delve into the heart of the matter, heart disease treatments largely depend on the specific medical condition you have been diagnosed with. The treatment for heart disease generally falls under three categories:
- Lifestyle Changes
Making healthy lifestyle choices is one great way to prevent heart disease. In cases where you have already been diagnosed with such a condition, a healthy lifestyle choice can help you prevent the worsening of the condition. To ensure you have a healthy lifestyle, the first thing to tackle is your diet.
Therefore, it is vital to ensure a healthy amount of low-sodium, low-fat foods make up a good part of your diet. You should also ensure that you eat lots of fruits and vegetables, and this lowers the risk of heart disease complications.
- Medications
Where you have already suffered from a particular heart-related condition, medications may come in handy. Your doctor can prescribe medications that can either cure or control heart disease. For instance, in cases where you’re suffering from a heart infection, you may be given antibiotics. Medication is also given to slow the risk of complications from the disease.
- Surgical Procedures
Finally, some heart diseases may require surgical procedures to treat the conditions and prevent further complications.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is important to ensure that you make healthy choices that help to lower the risk of heart-related conditions. For instance, having healthy blood pressure and cholesterol ranges are reasonable steps, to begin with. You should also ensure you find ways to manage stress, as it can significantly lower the risk of heart disease.
