By Larry Trivieri, JR
There are more than 50 different types of heart disease. The most common is coronary artery disease (CAD). Also known as coronary heart disease or ischemic heart disease, CAD is characterized by hardening and narrowing of the arteries, which cuts off blood flow to the heart and can cause heart attack. Other common types of heart disease include:
Angina is characterized by discomfort or pain in the chest or throat, often with accompanying shortness of breath.
Arrhythmia affects the body’s electrical system and can result in irregularities in heartbeat rhythm. Heartbeat that is too fast is called tachycardia; heartbeat that is too slow is called bradycardia. Arterial fibrillation is another type of arrhythmia.
Atherosclerosis is characterized by hardening of the arteries due to plaque buildup.
Cardiomyopathy also known as congestive heart failure occurs when blood is congested in the heart, which can lead to heart failure.
Congenital heart disease is a genetic condition that can affect any part of the heart, as well as blood vessels.
Endocarditis is an inflammation of the inner lining of the heart and valves, and pericarditis, an inflammation of the heart’s outer lining.
Heart attack , also known as myocardial infarction (MI), happens when the flow of blood and oxygen to any part of the heart is blocked.
Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle.
Stenosis happens when one of the heart’s valves narrows. There are various types of stenosis, such as aortic valve and mitral valve stenosis.