What Is Heart Disease?
How the Heart Works
Where should you start? Here! Follow this link to
an illustrated guide to how the healthy heart works. You need this
information to understand heart disease.
Heart Palpitations
Heart palpitations are a feeling that your heart is beating too hard or too fast, skipping a beat, or fluttering.
What Is Heart Disease?
You asked. We answer. Here's an easy-to-read, illustrated guide to heart disease.
Causes
Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis -- hardening of the arteries --
occurs when the walls of these blood vessels thicken due to deposits of
fat and plaque. This narrowing or blockage of the arteries causes heart
disease.
Heart Attack Causes
Most heart attacks are the end result of coronary
heart disease, a condition that clogs coronary arteries with fatty,
calcified plaques.
Are You at Risk?
Risk Factors for Heart Disease
Some heart-disease risks you're born with. Some
you can avoid. Here's where to learn what to do about both kinds of risk
factors for heart disease.
Health Check: Assess Your Heart Disease Risk
Evaluate your personal health and your risks for big health problems.
Homocysteine
Your doctor may be tracking your homocysteine level. Click here to find out why.
CRP and Heart Disease
Your doctor may also be tracking your CRP level. Click here to find out why.
Metabolic Syndrome
This cluster of risk factors increases the risk of heart disease. Read more and see how you can improve your heart health.
Men and Heart Disease
When you think of heart disease in men, usually
people think of coronary artery disease (narrowing of the arteries
leading to the heart), but coronary artery disease is just one type of
heart disease.
Women and Heart Disease
The risk of heart disease in women increases with
age. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women over 40 years
old, especially after menopause.
Prevention
Cholesterol and Heart Disease
Good HDL cholesterol, bad LDL cholesterol, and
total cholesterol: Here's where to find out what they mean for heart
disease, and what you can do about it.
Lower High Blood Pressure
Click here to learn why you need to keep track of your blood pressure -- and how to lower high blood pressure.
Heart Disease and Diet
What you eat affects your heart. Find out why, and learn the basics of a heart-healthy diet.
Heart Disease Prevention and Exercise
In your heart of hearts, you know your heart needs
exercise. You're never too old or too out of shape to start exercising.
Start by briskly clicking here.
Quit Smoking
You know it's bad for your lungs. It hurts your heart, too. Don't click your lighter before clicking here.
Stress and Heart Disease
Stress itself isn't so bad -- it's all in how you handle it. Here are some helpful tips.
Alcohol and Heart Disease
What's the buzz on booze? The news isn't bad for moderate drinkers. Here's why.
Antioxidants, Vitamin E and Heart Disease
Vitamin E is an antioxidant -- one of those
substances that fight dangerous free radicals. Can they help you avoid
heart disease? Click here for more information.
Hormone Replacement Therapy and Heart Disease
Doctors once thought hormone therapy would protect women against heart disease. That's no longer the case. Here's why.
Heart Disease Guide
1
Overview & Facts
2
Symptoms & Types
3
Diagnosis & Tests
4
Treatment & Care
5
Living & Managing
6
Support & Resources
WHAT IS ANGINA?
Angina is pain or discomfort that comes when your heart does not get
enough oxygen. Angina is most often a symptom of a heart problem known
as coronary heart disease (CHD), also called coronary artery disease
(CAD).
Your heart is a muscle. It pumps oxygen-rich blood to your whole
body. Your heart also needs oxygen to work. Blood vessels called
coronary arteries carry blood with oxygen to your heart. These arteries
are on the surface of your heart.
In healthy coronary arteries, blood flows freely to bring oxygen to
the heart. In coronary heart disease, these arteries become stiff and
narrow. This lowers blood flow and the amount of oxygen that gets to the
heart. With exercise or emotional stress, the heart works harder and
needs more oxygen. Lower blood flow can lead to angina. You could feel
discomfort or pain in the chest, arm, shoulder, back, neck or jaw. When
angina has been present for months or years without much change, it is
called chronic stable angina. It most often goes away with rest or
nitroglycerin*.
If a clot forms in a coronary artery, it can further block blood
flow. This can lead to chest pain known as unstable angina. It most
often occurs at rest. Unstable angina is a medical emergency and
requires medical help right away
In summary, when blood flow is reduced, your heart does not get as
much oxygen as it needs. It cannot pump blood like it should. This lack
of oxygen can cause the pain and discomfort of angina. If you have
coronary heart disease, angina is the way your heart tells you it needs
more oxygen.
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