Female: Heart disease affects more than 20 million Americans and is one of the leading causes of death in this country. But what exactly does the term heart disease mean?
Male: Most people talk about heart disease, they usually mean coronary artery disease. The illness which causes both angina and heart attacks. Coronary artery disease occurs when there is a build up of fatty plaque known as atherosclerosis inside the coronary arteries. When the build up is sufficient to restrict but not stop blood flow into the heart, the result is angina, a discomfort or pain in the chest. Angina is not actually a disease, but rather, it is a symptom of coronary artery disease. When the build up of atherosclerosis is sufficient to interrupt blood flow to the heart, the result is the death of heart muscle cells, commonly known as a heart attack. So, both angina and heart attacks are really cause by the build up here in the coronary arteries.
Congestive heart failure on the other hand, occurs when the heart is pumping inefficiently and can no longer meet the body’s need for blood. And the ventricles, which are the main pumps within the heart often, are to blame for the insufficient blood flow. The congestive heart of congestive heart failure comes from the back up of blood in the veins leading into the heart.
Understanding heart disease is an important first step towards prevention. It may also be worthwhile to learn how high blood pressure and cholesterol can impact your heart health and to incorporate some of the lifestyle tips on preventing heart disease available on other videos in this library.
Female: Want to learn more? Check out other videos and sources on this site for more information.
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