Who gets heart disease?

Heart disease doesn’t discriminate. It’s the leading cause of death for several populations,including Africans. While heart disease can be deadly, it’s also preventable in most people by simply adopting healthy lifestyle habits early. Heart disease encompasses a wide range of cardiovascular problems. Several diseases and conditions fall under the umbrella of heart disease.Types of heart […]

Heart disease doesn’t discriminate. It’s the leading cause of death for several populations,including Africans. While heart disease can be deadly, it’s also preventable in most people by simply adopting healthy lifestyle habits early. Heart disease encompasses a wide range of cardiovascular problems. Several diseases and conditions fall under the umbrella of heart disease.Types of heart disease include:

Arrhythmia; a heart rhythm abnormality.

Atherosclerosis; a hardening of the arteries.

Heart infections; caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites.

Cardiomyopathy; the heart’s muscles to harden or grow weak.

Congenital heart defects; are heart irregularities that are present at birth.

Coronary artery disease (CAD); is caused by the buildup of plaque in the heart’s arteries.

The symptoms of heart disease differs from lightheadedness to racing heartbeat, slow pulse,chest pain, a feeling of pressure or squeezing in the chest among other symptoms.

Each type of heart disease is caused by something entirely unique to that condition which could be either diabetes, herbal remedies, high blood pressure (hypertension), excessive alcohol /caffeine andsubstance abuse.  Other heart defect causes could occur while a baby is still developing in the womb, or by some bacteria, parasites and viruses.

Treatment for heart diseasedepends on the type of heart disease. Treatment falls into three main categories:

Lifestyle changes

Healthy lifestyle choices can help you prevent heart disease. They can also help you treat the condition and prevent it from getting worse. Your diet is one of the first areas you may seek to change. A low-sodium, low-fat diet that’s rich in fruits and vegetables may help you lower your risk for heart disease complications. One example is the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet. Likewise, getting regular exercise and quitting tobacco can help treat heart disease. Also, look to reduce your alcohol consumption.

Medications

A medication may be necessary to treat certain types of heart disease. Your doctor can prescribe a medication that can either cure or control your heart disease. Medications may also be prescribed to slow or stop the risk for complications. The exact drug you’re prescribed depends on the type of heart disease

Surgery or invasive procedures

In some cases of heart disease, surgery or a medical procedure is necessary to treat the condition and prevent worsening symptoms.

Source: https://www.healthline.com/health/