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2. Congenital Heart disease 

It is a type of in born heart disease that means disease caused by the defect in heart present at birth but may be detected later. Serious defect slows down the growth of child, also reduces its energy.  

Congenital heart disease may be due to following congenial defects:-  

• Ventricular Septal defect – A hole in the wall between the right ventricle and the left  ventricle (ventricular septum)
• Artial Septal defect
• Abnormalities in the muscle of heart
• Abnormalities in size, structure and abnormal functioning of the valves of the heart. 

3. Diseases of the valves of heart 

Due to rheumatic fever or congenital heart defects or some other unknown reason valves of heart do not work properly. Generally conditions like Stenosis and insufficiency are developed in the malfunctioning valve. Stenosis is a condition when calcium and other materials normally present in the blood accumulate on the doors (leaflets) of the valve.  

Due to Stenosis the hole through which the blood has to flow when the leaflets open becomes smaller or narrower and as the heart has to apply extra force to pump the same amount of blood through that small opening which leads to exertion on the heart.   Continue Reading »

Heart is a vital and one of the most important organs of our body. People should know about the diseases of the heart and should take care of the heart. There are various types of heart diseases and are caused due to many reasons. 

1. Coronary Artery Disease
2. Congenital Heart Disease
3. Diseases of Valves of Heart
4. Cardiac Arrhythmia
5. Rheumatic Heart Disease
6. Carditis
7. Coarctation

1. Coronary Artery Disease:- 

(i) Angina Pectoris: - It is a type of coronary artery disease caused by narrowing of coronary arteries or clogging in them. Coronary artery supplies oxygen and nutrients to the heart. When inadequate blood reaches the heart due to any obstruction or clogging in coronary arteries then pain in chest or discomfort in heart is felt. 

Coronary artery become narrowed or clogged by deposits of cholesterol in inner layer of it. 

Cholesterol – It is a fat like substance and is produced mainly in liver. Within limit cholesterol is good but if somebody has too much cholesterol in the blood stream then excess cholesterol is deposited in the inner layer of arteries including coronary arteries. 

Cholesterol and fats travel in the blood stream in the form of Lipoproteins – mainly low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL). LDL cholesterol is regarded as bad cholesterol where as HDL cholesterol is good cholesterol. 

(ii) Myocardial Infraction (Heart Attack) – Heart attack is caused due to blockage of coronary artery and blockage of coronary artery occurs due the formation of blood clot. 

Atherosclerosis is considered as the most common cause of heart attack. In Atherosclerosis arteries become clogged due to plaques or fatty deposits (cholesterol) in their inner layer.

Angina and Heart attack are not the same. Though the nature of chest pain has got similarity in both the cases yet there is a lot of difference between them. In Angina, heart receives inadequate blood from narrowed artery and artery is not completely blocked but oxygen demand of heart muscle is not fulfilled.

In Angina the pain is not severe and does not last for more than ten minutes and attack of angina may occur due to

• Physical exertion like climbing up stairs, walking up hills, jogging
• Smoking.
• Taking heavy meal
• Excitement. 

Permanent damage to the heart muscle is done by a heart attack, In heart attack tissue of heart muscle dies as it does not get oxygen. If large area of tissue is affected then the attack may be fatal.  Continue Reading »

Although women are less prone to heart disease as compared with men, it must be known that heart disease is the leading cause of death for women today. The risk is in fact higher for women for certain profile of the population. For example, women smokers are several times more prone to heart disease than male smokers.

Heart diseases are caused by many different factors. For example old age, obesity, smoking, high blood pressure, diabetic and a sedentary lifestyle can cause heart disease to develop. In addition, menopause in women can also causes heart disease.

Understanding the causes of heart disease is the important first step toward prevention of the disease. Prevention of the disease after all is much better than cure. In this regard, people at risk of heart disease should have regular check-ups and also stick to the instructions by their doctors. Continue Reading »