by Anonymouse

Created on: April 05, 2009   Last Updated: April 22, 2009

Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. In fact, approximately 650,000 Americans die of heart disease annually. This makes up for "about 27% of all U.S. deaths" (CDC). The most common type is coronary heart disease, which often leads to heart attack. Other varieties include congenital heart disease, heart valve disease, and heart muscle disease. You can protect yourself from heart disease by learning ways to prevent this extremely serious condition.

Coronary Heart Disease

Atherosclerosis causes coronary arteries to become clogged with plaque, restricting blood flow to the heart, and blocking oxygen and vital nutrients it needs to function. This is called coronary heart disease, and it's the number one killer in America. Angina is the most common symptom of coronary heart disease. Signs of angina include pressure, aching, burning, squeezing, and pain in the chest. The shoulders, arms, neck, throat, jaw, and back may also be similarly affected. Angina is often misdiagnosed as indigestion or heartburn. Shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, dizziness, nausea, and sweating are further signs of coronary heart disease.

Congenital Heart Disease

According the American Heart Association, "a congenital heart defect occurs when the heart or blood vessels near the heart don't develop normally before birth." Symptoms may be evident at birth, or they may not show up until adulthood. While the cause is still unknown, certain factors put some people at higher risk. Genetic abnormalities like Down Syndrome, alcohol or drug abuse during pregnancy, and viral infection during the first trimester of pregnancy make this condition more likely the affect children. Symptoms include shortness of breath and irregular heartbeat. Approximately 500,000 adults in the U.S. are affected by congenital heart disease.

Heart Valve Disease

Heart valves are responsible for pumping blood properly. When the valves cannot pump correctly, heart valve disease is usually the reason. Nearly "5,000,000 Americans are diagnosed with valvular heart disease each year" (AHA). Symptoms of heart valve disease are shortness of breath, weakness, dizziness, irregular heartbeat, and chest discomfort. Heart valve disease can cause also heart failure, signs of which include swelling of the feet, abdomen, or belly. Another indicator is rapid weight gain (e.g., 3 pounds in 24 hours). Sufferers of heart valve disease should be cautious about surgeries and infections that may cause bleeding, which will stress

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