Cardiovascular disease
Posted on 09/21/2011
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in the United States and in the industrialized world.
Despite recent encouraging declines, an estimated 10.2 million suffer from cardiovascular disease in the U.S. and is responsible for almost one million fatalities each year and more than one half of all deaths and, is responsible for almost 5 million people hospitalized each year with a variety of heart disease related problems. The cost of this disease in terms of human suffering and of material resources is incalculable.
Heart disease is a term used to describe a wide range of diseases that afflict the heart. These various heart diseases include diseases of the blood vessels such as coronary artery disease, heart valve infections, heart defects of the newly born ( congenital heart disease), arrhythmias, arterial hypertension and structural heart disease such as cardiomyopathy. Cardiovascular disease is often used interchangeably for heart disease.
The most common form of heart disease in the adult is coronary artery disease, alone or associated with arterial hypertension. The former has two types of clinical presentation, either as chest pain induced by effort, the so called stable angina pectoris, or unstable angina; characterized by chest pain that is not effort induced and can progress to a myocardial infarction. Patients with either of these conditions are limited in their activities and need to be evaluated and treated appropriately to prevent progression of the disease to the final event, which is a myocardial infarction also called a heart attack.
Heart attacks are often thought of as a sudden, pressure-like chest pain that takes a person by complete surprise. But, is important to know that heart attacks often have early warning signs, and often results from heart disease that builds up over time. A key to preventing a heart attack is knowing the risks factors that can lead to heart disease, and a key to surviving a heart attack is knowing its early warning signs.
What causes heart attacks?
The two main causes of heart attacks are:
- Coronary artery blockage
- Coronary artery disease
What happens during a heart attack?
What is coronary artery disease?
Coronary artery disease (also known as atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries) occurs when fatty deposits build up within the artery walls. Over time, the fatty deposits harden, narrowing the passageway inside the blood vessel. The narrowed artery limits or pinches off the flow of blood to the heart muscle.
The rough, hardened surface of the artery also encourages small bloodclots to form. Most heart attacks result when a blood clot forms in a narrowed artery. The blood clot blocks the artery and prevents blood from reaching part of the heart muscle.
A network of blood vessels known as coronary arteries surround the heart muscle and supply it with blood that is rich in oxygen. The heart muscle needs this oxygen to function.
A heart attack occurs when a coronary artery becomes suddenly blocked, stopping the flow of blood to the heart muscle and damaging it. All or part of the heart muscle becomes cut off from its oxygen supply. Left without oxygen, the heart muscle is injured.
At Excel Medical Center we specialized in evaluating and treating patients with all forms of heart disease, empowered by a wide array of technological tools and trained personnel that assist us to deliver the very best of cardio-vascular care. Over the years, we have developed a system that couples a Team approach with vast experience in cardiology and surgical expertise that makes Excel Medical Center an efficient system in delivering cardio-vascular care.
