What are the types of heart diseases?

Understanding the types of heart disease could help you, or a loved one get correct treatment for it. Read on to learn about the types of heart diseases.

Heart diseases can exact a toll on every aspect of the sufferer’s life. In fact, heart diseases are the leading cause of death among young and middle-aged populations today. Many people suffer from heart conditions such as high blood pressure or cholesterol and other symptoms of heart disease, but they often think it can be managed by medications. However, in some cases the heart condition may be a bit more severe than that, and would require crucial treatment. 

It is important to know of the various types of heart diseases, in order to get proper treatment for it.

ThoughtCo

High blood pressure

High blood pressure or hypertension is a very common condition today, that has now come to be known is one of the most common lifestyle diseases. It is a condition caused by excessive force of blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels. Hypertension is now easily addressed through medications alone, however, most people are required to take these medication for a prolonged period of time, or even for the rest of their lives.

Coronary heart disease

Coronary heart disease is a condition that results from a buildup of plaque on the inside of the arteries, that reduces blood flow to the heart, and consequently increases the risk of a heart attack and other heart complications.

Angina

Angina is caused by atherosclerosis, that is the narrowing and / or blockage of the blood vessels that supply the heart. The typical pain of angina is in the chest but it can often radiate to the left arm, shoulder or jaw. If you have angina you will have noticed that the pain is related to exertion and is relieved by rest.

Congenital heart disease

Congenital heart disease is when you are born with malformations of the heart’s structures. Congenital heart disease is a broad term and examples are holes in the heart, abnormal valves, and abnormal heart chambers. The most common heart defect seen in children is ventricular septal defect (33%), followed by atrial septal defect (19%) and tetralogy of Fallot (16%). The majority of CHD cases (58%) diagnosed were between 0 and 5 years of age. In fact, treatment for congenital heart diseases is often a part of premature baby treatment and newborn baby care, as it is a common complication of preterm babies. University Health News

Heart valve problems

A variety of conditions can lead to valvular damage such as - valves may get narrowed, leak or not close properly. While a heart valve problem may be genetic, it could also be caused by other conditions like rheumatic fever, infections, connective tissue disorders, and certain medications or radiation treatments for cancer.

Aortic aneurysm

It is an abnormal bulging of the aorta, a blood vessel that carries blood to the heart. The weakening of bulging of the aorta can cause a tear, which results in blood leaking into the body. There are two types of aortic aneurysms - a thoracic aneurysm, which occurs in the chest cavity, and an abdominal aortic aneurysm, which happens in the aorta that passes through the abdomen. The biggest risk is of the aneurysm bursting, which can cause death. In such a situation, the sufferer would require emergency medical attention. Some of the risk factors that cause this disease include, genetics, tobacco consumption or smoking, old age, high blood pressure, or atherosclerosis. 

Cardiomyopathy

Dr. Mark K.

Cardiomyopathy refers to diseases of the heart muscle. One of the most common types of cardiomyopathy is idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, where the heart is enlarged. Other types include ischemic, loss of heart muscle; dilated, heart enlarged; hypertrophic, heart muscle is thickened.

Heart failure

Heart failure is a chronic condition that happens when the heart’s muscle becomes too damaged to adequately pump the blood around your body. If you have heart failure your heart still works but because it is less effective, your organs do not get enough blood and oxygen. 

The cost of treating heart disease

While the good news is that there are several treatments available for sufferers of heart disease, the bad news is that majority of the Indian population lacks the economic strength to afford these treatments. For a thorough diagnosis, the cardiologist would ask the patient to take certain tests - ultrasounds, CT scans, MRIs etc. These tests itself would run into several thousands of rupees. Such heavy expense of diagnostic procedures of heart disease may discourage people to continue treatment if they find the cost is too high for them. 

Treatment for heart diseases may include the following:

1. Medications

2. Percutaneous coronary intervention

3. Coronary artery bypass grafting

4. Cardiac rehabilitation

5. Heart transplant
   Cosmic Series
   In addition to getting quality treatment for heart disease, certain lifestyle changes are a must too, to reduce the risk of developing a heart condition:

6. Conduct routine medical tests to keep a check on your heart health

7. Avoid smoking and drinking excessively

8. Getting sufficient antioxidants

9. Physical exercise

10. Eating a diet rich in whole foods, and limiting processed and packaged foods

11. Find ways to manage stress levels by pursuing a hobby, reading, listening to music or meditating.

Crowdfunding for treatment of heart disease

Most of us would know someone suffering from a heart condition, and you’d also be aware of how expensive it is to seek medical help. Many individuals are turning to fundraising for medical expenses, and heart crowdfunding is among the leading causes. Medical crowdfunding is a great way for patients to meet expenses like doctor’s fees, tests, medications, and sometimes surgery.

The process is quite simple - you start an online medical crowdfunding campaign on the Impact Guru website, write an appeal explaining your financial predicament, and share your campaign with friends, family, and even strangers, through Facebook, Whatsapp, Email, Twitter, and so on. Reach out to as many people as possible, from India and across the world. You’ll be surprised to see how many well-wishers are out there, who’re happy to come forward a make a donation towards a cause that matters.

If you, or anyone you know is affected by a heart disease and needs treatment, help them raise funds for it, by starting a crowdfunding campaign on Impact Guru today. Your crowdfunding efforts can directly help patients cope with heart disease, as well as help those who are at risk of getting it.

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