Heart disease is the leading cause of death among adults in the United States. About 647,000 Americans die from heart disease each year, or one person every 37 seconds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
There are various types of heart disease, but the most common heart condition is coronary artery disease. This affects almost 7% of all adults in this country.
The second-most common heart condition according to the CDC is heart attack, and it is estimated that someone suffers from a heart attack every 40 seconds here in the U.S. About 20% of all heart attacks are “silent” heart attacks, which show no symptoms.
What Is Heart Disease?
Heart disease (or cardiovascular disease) is actually a group of a heart conditions. Some of the most common medical conditions affecting the heart include stroke, hardened arteries, atrial fibrillation (AFib), cardiomyopathy, and heart failure. The issue can be due to a problem with the heart muscle itself, due to the internal valves and vessels that run through the heart muscle, or due to how it beats and the regulative systems.
There are numerous factors that can affect the health and condition of your heart, including exercise, lifestyle, and diet. A sedentary lifestyle does not exercise the heart enough, and poor food choices may lead to clogging of the pulmonary arteries. Plus, too much psychological stress can cause harm to the heart.
Causes of Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary artery disease happens when the coronary (heart) arteries are blocked. This makes it difficult for the arterial vessel to supply blood to the heart. This disease usually starts with atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).
Coronary artery disease is caused by the patient’s high levels of bad cholesterol and/or low levels of good cholesterol. Some of the risk factors include obesity, smoking, and stress.
Causes of Heart Arrhythmia
Heart arrhythmia (cardiac dysrhythmia) describes an irregular heartbeat wherein the heart may beat too fast or too slow. Arrhythmia usually occurs when the electrical signals to the heart that coordinate the heartbeats are not working properly.
A number of factors can cause the heart to beat improperly. These factors can include excessive coffee consumption, hypertension, an overactive thyroid gland, and drug abuse.
Causes of Heart Failure
Heart failure occurs when the heart does not pump enough blood to meet your body’s needs. It is usually caused by high blood pressure, cardiomyopathy, or thyroid disease.
One of the most common causes of heart failure is an undiagnosed heart condition. Other contributors are an unhealthy diet and poor lifestyle choices.
Family Medical Clinic in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach
Here at Advanced Medical Clinic, we are a family-oriented primary care healthcare provider that offers patient-centered, high-quality medical care for people of all ages. With convenient locations in both Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, we are here to help you and your whole family achieve a better quality of life.
Call us today at (561) 434-1935 to schedule an appointment, or fill out our online appointment request form now. We look forward to being your trusted family doctor!
