Overview

Last Updated: Feb 10, 2023

Heart Disease: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment And Side Effects

What is Heart Disease? What are 4 types of heart diseases? How long can you live with heart disease? Can the heart repair itself? How can I make my heart stronger? What foods are bad for your heart? What is the best exercise for the heart?

What is Heart Disease?

Heart disease refers to any disorder of the heart. Heart disease includes blood vessel diseases, such as coronary artery disease, heart rhythm problems such as arrhythmias and heart defects you're born with, among others.

Heart disease s may be caused by various factors ranging from an unhealthy diet plan to congenital heart defects. Many forms of heart disease can be prevented or treated by adopting some of the healthy lifestyle choices.

What are 4 types of heart diseases?

Heart is one of the body’s most important organs of the human body. Heart diseases are one of the leading cause of death all across the world. There are mainly four types of heart diseases which are most common around the world.

Coronary heart disease

Coronary heart disease are caused by growing plaque in the walls of the coronary arteries which, subsequently, limits the blood flow to the heart’s muscle. It can ultimately become the reason of a heart attack.

Arrhythmia

Arrhythmias can cause the heart to beat too quickly, too slowly or irregularly, that may result in a broad range of heart disease symptoms.

Heart valve disease

Heart valve disease may occur when one or more of your four heart valves doesn't work properly. The causes of heart valve disease can cause stenosis, regurgitation and atresia.

Heart failure

Generally, in the Heart Failure, the heart’s pumping capacity is not adequate to meet the demands for blood and oxygen required by the rest of the body. This may result in situations which may lead to weakening of the heart muscle.

How long can you live with heart disease?

When it comes to heart disease, life expectancy rates vary in various diseases that come under the umbrella of Heart Disease. Life expectancy depends upon the condition of disease you're suffering through.

For example in a congestive heart failure, a doctor will probably tell you that there is no one answer. While going by the recent advancements, 50% of patients will have an average life expectancy of five years. Case studies have shown that those with advanced heart failure, up to 90% will pass away within one year.

Can the heart repair itself?

As of now, there was a mistaken belief that the human heart doesn't have this capacity to heal itself. But some of the recent exciting research have shown that the heart does, indeed, have some ability to make new muscle and possibly repair itself. Though it can't fix the kind of damage caused by a heart attack as the rate of regeneration is so slow. Walking and several other physical exercise after a heart attack strengthens the remaining heart muscle.

How can I make my heart stronger?

A healthy lifestyle can improve heart function, making it strong and less susceptible to disease. Here goes a few tips to make your heart stronger to keep it healthy and efficient, dramatically improving your quality of life:

  1. Exercise regularly: In order to improve overall cardiovascular health, experts have suggested an at least 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise or 75 minutes per week of vigorous exercise or a combination of both.
  2. Maintain a healthy diet: Research have established that adopting a heart-healthy diet can actually strengthen your heart muscle. A heart-healthy diet includes a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, skinless poultry and fish and low-fat dairy products.
  3. Manage stress: Stress and anxiety can cause anything from high blood pressure to asthma to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

What foods are bad for your heart?

In order to keep your heart and cardiovascular system healthy, keep these meals and snack items away from your regular diet.

  1. Cookies and pastries
  2. Margarine
  3. Sugary cereals
  4. Candy
  5. Soft drinks and sugar-sweetened juices
  6. Meat-lovers pizza
  7. Diet soda
  8. Deep-fried foods
  9. Processed and cured meats
  10. Fast-food burgers

What is the best exercise for the heart?

Though, there are several exercises that a heart patient can do to keep his/her heart in healthy condition. Here goes some simple and common exercises that one can adopt in his daily routine.

  1. Circuit training: Circuit training is one of the best types of exercises that helps to increase your cardiovascular fitness. When you work out at a very high intensity the blood starts to pump a lot harder and that challenges the elasticity of the arterial wall.
  2. Swimming: Swimming is something which everyone would love to. It is one of the most enjoyable exercise one can adopt in his daily lifestyle especially after knowing that it helps in keeping heart in healthy condition.
  3. Running: Running intervals will surely push your cardiovascular fitness to the next level.
  4. Yoga: Yoga is an excellent way to strengthen your heart and tone your muscles.
  5. Cycling: Studies have found that regular cycling can, indeed, reduce your risk for coronary heart diseases.

Popular Questions & Answers

I am a 21 years old girl and I experience chest pain and throat pain regularly. In my cbc report my platelets are 87k which were 97k almost a week before. I have high ige levels of 1300 and high aso levels of 684. I am currently following a treatment of a doctor and my malaria, dengue test results are negative. I am seriously concerned about my health issue as why my platelets are decreasing. In my aso report it was written that my aso levels can be high because of rheumatoid arthritis. And I feel a bit pain in both of my knees often. Can I get a bit guidance of how to control the decrease in my platelets count and to control the chest pain as well? And is this chest pain throat pain anyway related to my reports of aso levels? Kindly guide me through I am very much tensed about the situation history of medical conditions: she feel chest pain commonly in the center of the chest or on left side. She has throat pain from about 2 to 3 weeks. She often feels knee pain in both knees. Previous history of current medical complaint: she has high ige levels and felt shortness of breath with high bp sometimes which comes under control by taking inderal tablet. So a Dr. said that she has asthmatic allergy and provided her with corticosteroids and naso wash. After following the treatment for 1 month she experiences throat pain. Current medication details: she is taking multivitamins including iron and a syrup to increase platelets. History of medication for the same complaint: inderal, corticosteroids etc lab tests done: aso, cp (complete blood picture), malaria, dengue, thyroid profile, vitamin d total, vitamin b12, calcium, ige, lft.

MBBS , MD GENERAL MEDICINE , DrNB / DM CARDIOLOGY
Cardiologist, Baramula
After reading you story I think there is a strong possibility of rheumatic fever with rheumatic heart disease, you need to consult a cardiologist who can guide you further, rheumatic heart disease is life threatening disease, you should not take i...

Hello sir I am getting strep throat every month from last one year. It never goes. I take azibact 500 it goes then return again url Co/1r4xv0j picture of my current throat.

BHMS
Homeopathy Doctor, Noida
1. Do saline gargles daily. 2. Whenever possible do steam inhalation also. 3. Cover your nose and mouth with hanky for at least 30 sec when you go in dusty areas also when you go in and out of ac. As our nose is the most sensitive part of our body...

Doctor I am 22 years old I recently started betablocker propranolol (inderal 40 mg) for social anxiety one tablet once a day can I join the gym and do heavy bodybuilding exercises?

M.A.(H)Psychology, PG Diploma in Child Guidance and Family Therapy
Psychologist, Noida
Do heavy breathing when ever you feel anxious. This thing has changed my life I used have ocd and other types of anxieties and I got away from them by using this technique.(*) practice small talks with random people. If you have habit of watching ...

I am suffering from high blood pressure, ihd (ischemic heart disease) blockage 30%in one nali. But at no my problem is headache, gas, constipation and yesterday when I went for treatment my blood pressure was 90/150 I am already taking tab eritel 80ch, uniaz16,cardivas 3.125, nikostar 5, deplatt a 150, rozat 10 pls help me is headache is due to high bp? I need to increase blood pressure medication? Help me for constipation cremaffin plus causing cramp and heart burn in stomach.

DM - Cardiology, MD - Internal Medicine, MBBS, Training Course In Emergency Medicine
Cardiologist, Secunderabad
Hi Gaurav your BP seems uncontrolled..you need to adjust your BP medication..I will be in position to suggest your the required change in your BP medicine after knowing the pattern of your BP check 2 times( morning and evening) for atleast 3 day.....
1 person found this helpful
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Written By
MD - Internal Medicine,MBBS,DM - Cardiology,Fellow European Society of Cardiology
Cardiology
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