Heart Disease 101: Types, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options Explained

Heart disease, also known as cardiovascular disease (CVD), is a condition that can affect any part of your heart, including the blood vessels supplying the heart (coronary arteries), the heart valves, or the muscle that helps the heart contract and pump blood. 

The most common symptoms of all forms of heart disease include chest pain and shortness of breath. Sometimes, patients may also experience irregular heartbeats or palpitations. Heart disease may appear with mild or severe symptoms. If left untreated, it can progress to heart attack, stroke, heart failure, or even death. 

In the U.S., there are around 1,905 deaths from cardiovascular disease every day, and it was reported as the leading cause of death in 2022.

Heart disease can be prevented by various lifestyle and dietary modifications and by managing any preexisting conditions, like high blood pressure or diabetes. This article will discuss heart disease in detail, including its types, causes, treatment, and prevention. So, let’s get started.

What Is Heart Disease? 

Heart disease or cardiovascular disease is an umbrella term used to describe several types of heart conditions. Any condition involving your heart, cardiac muscles, electrical system, or blood vessels of the heart is termed heart disease.  

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of cardiovascular disease, which is a condition that causes blockage of the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries are the blood vessels that supply blood to your heart.

Types of Heart Disease 

The common types of heart disease include: 

Heart Valve Disease 

The heart has four valves: the tricuspid, pulmonary, mitral, and aortic valves. When the blood passes through the upper and lower chambers of the heart, these heart valves act as a door to prevent the backflow of blood during your heart contractions. 

Any leakage or damage in any of the four heart valves can cause backflow of blood. If untreated, this can lead to shortness of breath, edema, and heart failure. 

Cardiomyopathy 

Cardiomyopathy is a type of cardiovascular disease that affects the heart muscles. It is a condition in which the pumping ability of the heart muscles decreases, making it harder for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body. The walls of the heart chambers may become stiff, thick, or stretched (dilated). Cardiomyopathy may be due to genetics, coronary artery disease, medications, infections, and even excess alcohol use.

Abnormal Heart Rhythm 

Abnormal heart rhythm, also known as arrhythmia, is the dysfunction of the heart’s electrical system. When the heart’s electrical signals do not work properly, this can impact the contractile function of the heart, potentially leading to heart failure if left untreated. This dysfunction may also increase the patient’s risk of stroke.

Coronary Artery Disease 

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the narrowing or blockage of the coronary artery with fatty substances or plaque. If untreated, it can put patients at increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

Symptoms of Heart Disease 

The common symptoms of cardiovascular disease include: 

• Shortness of breath 
• Dizziness 
• Chest pain
• Fast heartbeat 
• Neck pain
• Heartburn 
• Swelling in the body
• Discomfort or pressure in the upper body, neck, or chest.
• Indigestion 
• Fatigue 

Causes of Heart Disease 

The common causes of cardiovascular disease include: 

• Uncontrolled conditions, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, kidney disease, or type 2 diabetes.
• Aging
• Sedentary lifestyle 
• Obesity 
• Unhealthy diet
• Family history of heart disease 
• Injury to any part of the heart 
• Uncontrolled stress
• Excessive smoking or alcohol consumption
• Illicit drug use

Diagnosis 

The diagnosis of heart disease first involves conducting a physical examination, analyzing the symptoms, and evaluating the medical and family history of the patient. 

Next, the doctor may perform a few diagnostic tests to internally examine and view the exact condition of the heart or the cause of heart disease.

Some of these diagnostic tests may include: 

• Cardiac electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) 
• Echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart)
• CT scan of the heart
• Cardiac MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
• Certain blood tests
• Cardiac catheterization 
• Exercise stress test

Treatment 

The treatment of cardiovascular disease depends on many factors, including: 

• Type of heart disease
• Severity of disease
• Age of the patient 
• Whether the patient has any other underlying conditions 
• Medical history 

If the disease is minor, your doctor may recommend specific lifestyle changes and medications, but in the case of severe cardiovascular disease, medication, and even surgery might be necessary. 

The treatment options, depending on the patient’s condition, may include:

Lifestyle Changes 

Lifestyle changes for managing heart disease mainly involve increasing physical activity, eating a low-sodium and low-fat diet, maintaining optimal weight, and quitting alcohol consumption and smoking.

Medications 

Medications for cardiovascular disease are given to allow proper blood flow through the heart and manage conditions that are causing the disease.

For example, if the patient has high blood pressure, different categories of antihypertensives may be given to control blood pressure, as high blood pressure increases the risks of heart attack and stroke. Similarly, if the patient has high cholesterol or diabetes, medications may be needed to lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

Anticoagulants may be given to prevent blood clot formation in the blood vessels, which restricts blood flow to the heart. Similarly, antiarrhythmic drugs may be prescribed if the patient has an irregular heartbeat.

Surgery 

Heart surgery is also performed depending on the type of heart disease. The common types of heart surgeries include: 

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) 

CABG is a surgical procedure that creates a bypass in the blocked coronary arteries to restore the blood flow from the blocked arteries to the heart and the rest of the body.

Heart Valve Surgery 

Heart valve surgery is an implantation procedure that replaces or repairs a damaged or leaky heart valve to allow blood flow in the right direction.

Pacemaker Implantation 

A pacemaker implantation is commonly done when the heartbeat is irregular, or the heart doesn’t beat properly. The procedure implants a small electronic device in the chest that helps regulate the heart’s electrical system and normalizes the heartbeat.

Heart Transplant Surgery 

Heart transplant surgery is the last treatment option for people with end-stage cardiovascular disease. It is a complex surgical procedure that replaces the patient’s diseased heart with a donor’s heart.

Prevention of Heart Disease 

The prevention of cardiovascular disease involves lifestyle changes and practicing healthy habits, such as: 

• Keeping your blood pressure, sugar, and cholesterol under control
• Quitting smoking (if you are an active smoker) as continued tobacco use can put you at high risk for heart attacks and stroke
• Increasing your physical activity by engaging in at least 30 minutes of mild to moderate exercise 5 days a week, like running, jogging, brisk walking, swimming, rope jumping, or cycling
• Regularly taking any medicines prescribed by your doctor
• Reducing alcohol consumption
• Consuming a low-sodium, low-fat, and low-sugar diet
• Maintaining a healthy weight

Increasing your intake of vegetables, whole grains, and fresh fruits