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A Visual Guide to Heart Disease

What's Heart Disease?

Mention heart disease, and most
people picture a heart attack.
But the term covers several
conditions that can hurt your
ticker and keep it from doing its
job. These include coronary
artery disease, arrhythmia,
cardiomyopathy, and heart
failure. Learn the warning signs
of each and how to react.

Clogged Arteries

A buildup of sticky plaque (fat and
cholesterol) can narrow your heart's
arteries, making it harder for blood to
pass through. Many people don't
even know there's a problem until an
artery is clogged by a blood clot and
they have a heart attack. But there
may be warning signs of coronary
artery disease, like frequent chest
pain called angina.

Inside a Heart Attack

Plaque is hard on the outside and
mushy on the inside. Sometimes that
hard outer shell cracks. When this
happens, a blood clot forms. If it
completely blocks your artery, it cuts
off the blood supply to part of your
heart. Blood carries oxygen, and a
shortage of that can quickly damage
the organ and possibly kill you. The
attack is sudden, and it's important to
get medical help right away.

What Does a Heart Attack Feel Like?

You might have:
•Pain or pressure in the chest
•Discomfort spreading to the back, jaw,
throat, or arm
•Nausea, indigestion, or heartburn
•Weakness, anxiety, or shortness of
breath
•Fast or irregular heartbeats
It's an emergency even when your
symptoms are mild.

Symptoms in Women

Women don't always feel chest
pain. Compared to men, they're
more likely to have heartburn or
heart flutters, lose their appetite,
cough, or feel tired or weak.
Don't ignore these symptoms.
The longer you wait to get
treatment, the more damage can
be done.

Act Fast

If you think you're having a heart
attack, call 108 right away, even
if you're not sure. Don't wait to
see if you feel better. And don't
drive yourself to the hospital.
The 108 team will come to you
and start work right away. A fast
response can save your life.

Irregular Heart Beat: Arrhythmia

Your heart beats because of
electrical impulses, and they can
get off rhythm. Arrhythmia's can
make your heart race, slow down,
or quiver. They're often harmless
and pass quickly, but some types
can affect your blood flow and take
a serious toll on your body. Tell
your doctor if you notice anything
unusual.

Heart Muscle Disease:

Cardiomyopathy
Abnormal heart muscle, or
cardiomyopathy, makes it hard
to pump and carry blood to the
rest of your body. Over time,
health problems such as high
blood pressure, obesity, and
diabetes can cause this serious
condition, which can lead to
heart failure.

Heart Failure

This doesn't mean your heart stops
working. It means the organ can't pump
enough blood to meet your body's needs.
So over time, it gets bigger and pumps
faster. This weakens the muscle and
lowers the amount of blood flowing out
even more, which adds to the problem.
Most cases of heart failure are the result
of coronary artery disease and heart
attacks.

Congenital Heart Defect

From birth, you can have a leaky
valve or a damaged wall separating
your heart chambers. Sometimes,
the defects aren't found until you're
an adult.
They don't all need treatment, but
some require medicine or surgery. If
you have one, you're more likely to
have arrhythmias, heart failure, and
infected valves, but there are ways to
lower these chances.

Sudden Cardiac Death

This isn't the same as a heart attack.
Sudden cardiac death happens when the
heart's electrical system goes haywire,
making it beat irregularly and dangerously
fast. Instead of pumping out blood to your
body, your chambers quiver.
A defibrillator can help bring back a regular
heart beat, but without it, the person can
die within minutes. Start CPR while waiting
for a defibrillator, and have someone call
911 immediately.

Electrocardiogram (EKG)

An EKG records your heart's
electrical activity. During this painless
test, your doctor will stick electrodes
on your skin for a few minutes. The
results tell him if you have a regular
heartbeat or not. It can confirm you're
having a heart attack, or if you've had
one in the past. Your doctor can also
compare these graphs over time to
track how your ticker is doing.

Stress Test

This measures how well your
heart works when it's pushed
hard. You walk on a treadmill or
ride a stationary bike, and the
workout gets tougher.
Meanwhile, your doctor watches
your EKG, heart rate, and blood
pressure to see if the organ gets
enough blood.

Holter Monitor

This portable device records the
rhythm of your heart. If your doctor
thinks there's a problem, he might
ask you to wear the monitor for a
day or two. It tracks the electrical
activity nonstop (unlike an EKG,
which is a snapshot in time). Your
doctor will probably ask you to log
your activities and symptoms, too.

Chest X-rays

These pictures of your heart,
lungs, and chest bones are
made with a small amount of
radiation. Doctors use them to
spot signs of trouble. In this
image, the bulge on the right is
an enlarged left ventricle, the
main pumping chamber.

Echocardiogram

This test uses sound waves to
show live, moving images of
your heart. From the ultrasound,
your doctor can spot damage or
problems with your chambers,
valves, or blood flow. It helps to
diagnose disease and see how
well your treatments are
working.

Cardiac CT

Cardiac computerized
tomography takes detailed Xrays
of your heart and its blood
vessels. A computer then stacks
the images to create a 3-D
picture. Doctors use it to look for
buildups of plaque or calcium in
your coronary arteries, as well
as valve problems and other
types of heart disease.

Cardiac Catheterization

In this procedure, your doctor
guides a narrow tube, called a
catheter, through a blood vessel
in your arm or leg until it reaches
your heart. Then, he injects dye
into each coronary artery, which
makes them easy to see in an Xray.
The picture shows any
blockages and how bad they
are.

Living With Heart Disease

Most types are long-lasting. At first,
symptoms can be hard to spot and may not
disturb your daily life. But left alone and
ignored, they get worse.
If your heart starts to fail, you might be short
of breath or feel tired. Keep an eye out for
swelling in your belly, ankles, feet, or legs. In
many cases, long-term treatment can help
keep things under control. You can fight heart
failure with medication, lifestyle changes,
surgery, or a transplant.

Medicines

A number of prescription drugs
can help you. Some lower blood
pressure, heart rate, or
cholesterol levels. Others control
irregular rhythms or prevent
clots. If you already have some
damage, other medications can
help your heart pump blood.

Angioplasty

This procedure opens a blocked
artery and improves blood flow.
Your doctor guides a thin catheter
with a balloon on the end into your
artery. When the balloon reaches
the blockage, the doctor fills it with
air. This inflates your artery and
allows blood to move freely. He
may also put in a small mesh tube
called a stent to keep it open.

Bypass Surgery

Your doctor might suggest this
operation if you have one or more
arteries that are too narrow or
blocked. He first removes a blood
vessel from an area of your body,
such as your chest, belly, legs, or
arms, and then attaches it to a healthy
artery in your heart. Your blood is
guided around the problem area,
"bypassing" it.

Who Gets Heart Disease?

Men are more likely to have a
heart attack than women, and at
an earlier age. But heart disease
is still the No. 1 killer of both
sexes. People with a family
history of it also have a higher
risk.

Things You Can Control

These daily habits can lower your chances of heart disease:
•Exercise regularly (30 minutes most days).
•Stay at a healthy weight.
•Eat a balanced diet.
•Limit how much alcohol you drink (one drink a day for
women, two a day for men).
•Don't smoke.
If you have diabetes, it's important to manage your blood
sugar levels. And if you have high cholesterol and high blood
pressure, do everything you can to get them in check.

Why Smoking Hurts YourHeart

If you light up, you're two to
four times more likely to get
heart disease. Now is the
perfect time to quit. Your risk
for a heart attack starts to fall
within 24 hours.

Life With Heart Disease

Get back on track with a cardiac rehab program.
Your Doctor can give you a referral. Specialists will help you
come up with a plan that covers exercise nutrition, emotional
support and more, these program can make a difference for you.


Thank You

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