Heart disease

The term “cardiovascular disease” is often used synonymously with “cardiovascular disease” – a term usually refers to conditions which are narrowed or blocked blood vessels can lead to a heart attack, chest pain (angina pectoris) or Stroke. Other heart diseases, such as infections and conditions that affect the heart muscle, valves or the rhythm and beat as forms of heart disease.

Heart disease is the No. 1 worldwide killer of men and women, including in the United States. For example, heart disease is responsible for 40 percent of all deaths in the United States, more than all forms of cancer combined. Many forms of heart disease can be prevented with healthy lifestyle and diet and exercise.

Symptoms
Heart disease symptoms vary, depending on what type of heart disease you have.

The symptoms of heart disease in your blood vessels (cardiovascular disease)
Cardiovascular disease caused by narrowed, blocked or stiff blood vessels, which should be the heart, brain or other parts of the body is not enough blood. Cardiovascular disease symptoms may include:

■ chest pain (angina pectoris)
■ Shortness of breath
■ pain, numbness, weakness, or coldness in the legs or arms when the blood vessels in parts of the body be reduced
They can not be diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, until your condition deteriorates to the point that you have a heart attack, chest pain (angina pectoris), stroke, heart failure or sudden cardiac death. It is important for cardiovascular complaints and discussions about concerns with your doctor. Cardiovascular disease can sometimes be found early, with regular visits to your doctor.

Heart disease symptoms caused by abnormal heart beats (cardiac arrhythmias)
A cardiac arrhythmia is an abnormal heartbeat. Her heart beat too fast, too slow or irregular, if you have an arrhythmia. Cardiac arrhythmias Symptoms may include:

■ A flutter in the chest
■ A racing heartbeat (tachycardia)
■ A slow heartbeat (bradycardia)
■ chest pain
■ Shortness of breath
■ Lightheadedness
■ Dizziness
■ fainting (syncope) or near fainting
Heart disease symptoms by heart defect
Severe congenital heart defect – a defect is born with – usually become evident during the first few hours, days, weeks and months of life. Heart symptoms might include:

■ Pale gray or blue skin color (cyanosis)
■ Swelling in the legs, abdomen or around the eyes
■ Shortness of breath during feedings, leading to poor weight gain
Less severe congenital heart defects are often not diagnosed until later in childhood or in adulthood. Signs and symptoms of congenital heart defects, which are usually not immediately life-threatening include:

■ Easy to short of breath during exercise or activity
■ during the exercise tiring easily or activities
■ Built-up liquid in the heart or lungs
■ Swelling in the hands, ankles or feet
Heart disease symptoms caused by thick heart muscle (cardiomyopathy)
Cardiomyopathy is the thickening and stiffening of the heart muscle. In the early stages of cardiomyopathy, you may have no symptoms. As the condition worsens, symptoms of cardiomyopathy are:

■ breathlessness with exertion or even at rest
■ Swelling of the legs, ankles and feet
■ bloating (distention) of the abdomen with fluid
■ Fatigue
■ Irregular heartbeat feel that fast, pounding or fluttering
■ dizziness, lightheadedness and fainting
Heart disease symptoms caused by heart infection
There are three types of infections Heart: pericarditis, the effects on the tissues around the heart (pericardium), myocarditis, affecting muscular middle layer of the walls of the heart (myocardium), and endocarditis, the impact on the inner membrane, the chambers and valves of the heart (endocardium). Differing slightly with each type of infection, heart infection, symptoms can include:

■ fever
■ Shortness of breath
■ weakness or tiredness
■ Swelling in the legs or abdomen
■ Changes in your heart rhythm
■ chemical or persistent cough
■ rashes or unusual places
Heart disease symptoms caused by heart valve disease
The heart has four valves – the aortic, mitral, pulmonary and tricuspid valves – the opening and closing of the direct blood flow through the heart. Valves may be damaged by a variety of conditions, the narrowing (stenosis), leaking (regurgitation or insufficiency) or improper closing (prolapse). Depending on which valve is not working properly, heart valve disease symptoms include:

■ Fatigue
■ Shortness of breath
■ irregular heartbeat or heart noise
■ Swollen feet or ankles
■ chest pain
■ fainting (syncope)
If a doctor to see
Are you looking for emergency medical care if you experience these symptoms heart disease:

■ chest pain
■ Shortness of breath
■ impotence
Heart disease is easier to treat if detected early, so talk to your doctor about any concerns you have about your heart health. If you do not have heart disease, but worried about the development of heart disease, talk to your doctor about the steps you can take to your heart disease risk. This is especially true if you have a family history of heart disease.

If you think you have heart disease on the basis of new signs or symptoms that you already have, make an appointment to see your doctor.

Causes

To understand heart disease, it is helpful to know how your heart works. Your heart is a pump. It is a muscular organ about the size of the first and there is little left of center in the chest. Your heart is in the right and left. The division protects oxygen-rich blood from mixing with oxygen-poor blood. Oxygen poor blood, “Blue Blood”, back into the heart after circulating through your body.

The right side of the heart, composed of the right atrium and ventricle, collects and pumps blood into the lungs through the pulmonary arteries. The lungs freshen the blood with a new supply of oxygen, making it red. Oxygen rich blood into the left side of the heart, from the left atrium and ventricle, and pumped through the aorta into the body to tissues throughout the body with oxygen and nutrients.

Four valves in your heart Keep your blood the right way. The tricuspid, mitral, pulmonary and aortic valves work like gates on a fence. You can open only one way, and only when pushed on. Each valve opens and closes once per heartbeat – or about once per second while you’re at rest.

A heart and relaxed. Contraction is called systole and diastole relaxation. During systole, the chambers contract, so that the blood vessels in your lungs and body – like ketchup from a forced squeeze-bottle. The right ventricle contracts a little in front of the left ventricle has. Their ventricles then relax during diastole and are filled with blood from the upper chambers, the left and right atria. The cycle begins again.

The heart also has electrical wires, which keeps it beating. Electrical impulses begin in the high right atrium and through specific pathways to the chambers, provides the signal to pump. The management system keeps your heart beat in a coordinated and regular rhythm, which in turn keeps blood circulating. The continuous exchange of oxygen-rich blood with oxygen-poor blood is what keeps you alive.

The causes of heart disease vary depending on the type of heart disease.

Causes of cardiovascular disease
Although cardiovascular disease can be many different types of heart or blood vessel problems, the term is often used, it means damage to the heart or blood vessels by atherosclerosis (ATH-ur-o-skluh-RO SIS), a compilation of fatty plaques in your arteries. This is a disease, the impact on your arteries. Arteries are blood vessels, the oxygen and nutrients from the heart for the rest of your body. Healthy arteries are flexible and strong.

Over time, however, too much pressure in your arteries, the walls thick and stiff – sometimes restricting blood flow to your organs and tissues. This process is called atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. Atherosclerosis is the most common form of this disease. Atherosclerosis is the commonest cause of cardiovascular disease, and it is characterized by an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, obesity and smoking. All these are important risk factors for the development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases.

Causes of cardiac arrhythmias
Common causes of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias), or conditions that cause heart rhythm disturbances may include:

■ heart defects are born with (congenital heart defect)
■ Coronary Heart Disease
■ High blood pressure
■ Diabetes
■ Smoking
■ Excessive use of alcohol or caffeine
■ Drug Abuse
■ Stress
■ Some OTC medications, prescription drugs, dietary supplements and herbal remedies
■ Open Heart Disease
In a healthy person with a normal, healthy heart, it is unlikely that a fatal arrhythmia to develop without some outside trigger, such as an electric shock or the use of illegal drugs. This is primarily because a healthy person, the heart is free of any abnormal conditions to be an arrhythmia, such as an area of scarred tissue.

However, in a heart that the sick or deformed, the heart of the electrical impulses can not properly start or journey through the heart, cardiac arrhythmias more likely to develop.

Causes of heart defects
Heart defects in general to develop, while a baby is still in the womb. About a month after fertilization, the heart begins to develop. It is at this point that heart failure can start to form. The researchers are not sure what exactly causes defects to begin, but they think some medical conditions, medications and genetics can play a role.

Causes of Cardiomyopathy
The exact cause of cardiomyopathy, a thickening or enlargement of the heart muscle, is unknown. There are three types of cardiomyopathy:

■ dilated cardiomyopathy. This is the most common form of cardiomyopathy. In this disease, the heart of the main pumping chamber – the left ventricle – is expanded (dilated), its ability to pump less forcefully, and the blood does not flow so easily through the heart.
■ Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This type includes abnormal growth or thickening of the heart muscle, and in particular the muscles of the heart of the main pumping chamber. As thickening occurs, the heart tend to stiffen and the size of the pump chamber may shrink, so that the heart of the ability of blood to your body.
■ restrictive cardiomyopathy. The heart muscle in patients with restrictive cardiomyopathy will be stiff and less elastic, which means that the heart does not properly expand and fill with blood between heartbeats. It is the least common type of cardiomyopathy and can occur for no known cause.
Causes of heart infection
Cardiovascular infections, such as pericarditis, endocarditis and myocarditis, occur when an irritant, such as bacteria, viruses or chemical reaches your heart. The most common causes of cardiovascular infections include:

■ bacteria. Endocarditis can be done by a number of bacteria in your blood. The bacteria can enter your bloodstream through everyday activities such as eating or brushing teeth, especially if you have poor oral health. Myocarditis may also lead to a tick-borne bacterium responsible for Lyme borreliosis.
■ viruses. Heart infections can be caused by viruses, including some which influenza (coxsackievirus B and adenovirus), a rash called fifth disease (human parvovirus B19), gastro-intestinal infections (echo virus), mononucleosis (Epstein-Barr virus) and Measles (Rubella). Viruses associated with sexually transmitted infections can also travel to the heart muscle cells and an infection.
■ parasites. Among the parasites that can cause heart infections are Trypanosoma cruzi, Toxoplasma, and some caused by insects and can lead to a so-called Chagas’ disease.
■ drugs, can cause an allergic or toxic reaction. These include antibiotics such as penicillin and sulfonamide drugs, as well as some illegal substances such as cocaine. The needles for the administration of medication or illegal drugs may also be viruses or bacteria that can cause heart infections.
■ Other diseases. These include lupus, connective tissue disorders, inflammation of blood vessels (vasculitis), and rare inflammatory conditions such as Wegener’s granulomatosis.
Causes of heart valve disease
There are many causes of diseases of the heart valves. Four valves in your heart keep blood flowing in the right direction. They are born with heart valve disease, or the valves may be damaged by such conditions as rheumatic fever, infections (infectious endocarditis), connective tissue and bone disorders, and certain cancer drugs or radiation.

Risk Factors
Heart disease risk factors include:

■ your age. Simply getting older increases the risk of damage and narrowed arteries and weakened or thickened heart muscle leading to heart disease.
■ Your gender. Men are generally at greater risk of heart disease. However, the risk for women increases after menopause.
■ Family history. A family history of heart disease increases the risk of coronary heart disease, particularly if a parent develops at an early age (before age 55 for a male relative, like your brother or father and 65 years for a female relative, such as your mother or sister).
■ Smoking. Draws your blood vessels nicotine and carbon monoxide can damage its lining, so that they are susceptible to atherosclerosis. Heart attacks are more common in smokers than non-smokers.
■ Poor nutrition. A nutrition, high in fat, salt and cholesterol can contribute to the development of cardiovascular diseases.
■ High blood pressure. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to hardening and thickening of the arteries, narrowing of the vessels through which blood can flow.
■ High blood cholesterol levels. High concentrations of cholesterol in the blood increase the risk of the formation of plaques and atherosclerosis. Plaques may be characterized by a high degree of low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), known as “bad” cholesterol, or low levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDLs), known as “good” cholesterol.
■ diabetes. Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease. Both conditions similar risk factors such as obesity and high blood pressure.
■ obesity. Overweight typically worsens other risk factors.
■ physical inactivity. Physical inactivity is also associated with many forms of heart disease and some of his other risk factors as well.
■ high load. Unrelieved stress in your life can cause damage to your arteries, and a worsening of other risk factors for heart disease.
■ Poor hygiene. Not regularly washing your hands and other habits that can help prevent viral or bacterial infections, can be found in the risk of heart infections, especially if you already have a heart condition based. The researchers also believe poor dental health can lead to heart disease. Germs on the teeth and gums may be from your mouth to the heart, potentially worsening of coronary heart disease.

Complications
One of the most frequent complications of heart disease heart failure.

■ heart failure. Heart failure occurs when the heart does not pump enough blood to meet the needs of your body. Over time, the heart can no longer keep pace with the normal demands on it. The chambers can be stiff and not fill properly between beats. The heart muscle may weaken, and the ventricles stretch (expand) to the point that the heart can not pump blood efficiently throughout your body. Heart failure can result from many forms of heart disease, including heart defects, heart disease, heart valves, heart infections or cardiomyopathy.
Other complications of heart disease are:

■ heart attack. Coronary heart disease can cause a heart attack. Heart attacks occur, usually when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood through a coronary – a blood vessel feeds blood to a part of the heart muscle. Interrupted blood flow to your heart’s content to damage or destroy a part of the heart muscle.
■ Stroke. Cardiovascular disease can lead to an ischemic stroke, which occurs when the arteries to your brain is reduced or blocked and too little blood reaches your brain. A stroke is a medical emergency – the brain starts to die within a few minutes of a stroke.
■ aneurysm. Cardiovascular disease can also lead to aneurysm, a serious complication that can occur anywhere in your body. An aneurysm is a bulge in the wall of the artery. When an aneurysm bursts, you have life-threatening internal bleeding. Although this is usually a sudden, catastrophic event, a slow leak is possible. If a blood clot in an aneurysm removed, it may block an artery at another point.
■ peripheral arterial disease. The same atherosclerosis leading to coronary heart disease can also lead to peripheral arterial disease. If you develop peripheral arterial disease (PAD), your extremities – usually your legs – not enough blood flow to keep up with the demand. This leads to the symptoms, especially pain in the legs when walking (claudication).
■ Sudden cardiac arrest. Sudden cardiac arrest is the sudden, unexpected loss of heart function, respiration and consciousness. Sudden cardiac arrest usually arises from an electrical disturbance in your heart that disrupts its pumps and causes blood to stop flowing to the rest of the body. Sudden cardiac arrest occurs almost always in conjunction with other underlying heart problems, especially coronary heart disease. Sudden cardiac arrest is a medical emergency. If not treated immediately, it is fatal in the sudden cardiac death.
Preparing for your appointment
Some types of cardiovascular diseases are discovered, without an appointment – for example, if a child is born with serious heart defects, it will be soon after birth identified. In other cases, the heart disease can be diagnosed in an emergency, such as a heart attack.

If you think you have heart disease, or are worried about your cardiovascular risk, as a strong family, make an appointment with your doctor. If heart disease is found early, your treatment may be easier and more effective. Finally, you can rely on a heart specialist (cardiologist).

Because appointments can be brief, and there is often a lot of ground to cover, it is a good idea to be ready for your order. Here are some details to help you for your order, and what to expect from your doctor.

What you can do

■ Obey all restrictions on futures. At the time you order, make sure to ask if it everything you need to do in advance how your diet. For a cholesterol test, for example, you need to fast for a certain time in advance.
■ Write down any symptoms you have, including any that seem unrelated to coronary artery disease.
■ Write down key personal information, including a family of heart disease, stroke, hypertension or diabetes, and stresses, no major changes or new life.
■ Make a list of all medications and vitamins or supplements that you need.
■ Take a family member or friend, if possible. Sometimes it can be difficult to enjoy all the information you during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may remember that you missed something or have forgotten it.
■ Be ready to make your diet and physical inactivity. If you are not already on a diet or exercise routine, be prepared to talk to your doctor about all the challenges you can relax in the first steps.
■ Write down questions, contact your doctor.
Your time with your doctor is limited, so preparing a list of questions will help you make the most of your time together. Your most important questions from the least important in case time runs out. For heart disease, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

■ What is likely that my symptoms or condition?
■ What are other possible causes for my symptoms or condition?
■ What types of tests will I need?
■ What is the best measure?
■ What food should I eat or avoid?
■ What is an appropriate level of physical activity?
■ How often should I check for heart disease? For example, how often do I need a cholesterol test?
■ What are the alternatives to the primary approach that you are what?
■ I have other health conditions. How can I best work together?
■ Are there any restrictions that I need to follow?
■ Should I have a specialist? What will it cost and will my insurance seeing a specialist? (You may need to contact your insurance directly for information on the reporting.)
■ Is there an alternative to the generic drugs you prescribe to me?
■ Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home? Which websites do you recommend visiting?
■ In addition to the questions you prepared to ask your doctor, do not hesitate to ask questions during your order at any time that you do not understand something.
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor will ask, should a series of questions. As a response ready, they may be time to think about all the things you want to spend more time on. Your doctor may ask:

■ When did you first symptoms begin?
■ Let your symptoms are constant or occasional?
■ How strong are the symptoms?
■ What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
■ What, if anything, will worsen your symptoms?
What you can do in the meantime
It is never too early to make healthy lifestyle changes, such as smoking, healthy food to eat and be more physically active. These lines are the primary protection against heart disease and its complications, including heart attack and stroke.

Tests and diagnosis
The tests you have to diagnose heart disease depends on what conditions your doctor thinks you might. No matter what kind of heart disease you have, your doctor will probably be a physical examination and ask for your personal and family medical history, before all other tests. Diagnostic tests for heart disease can be:

■ blood tests. You may have your blood drawn and tested for substances in the blood that could indicate heart disease. Your doctor may be the amount of cholesterol and triglycerides, blood cells, blood or other tests that show that the damage to your heart.
■ Chest X-ray. An image is created by the X-rays on the chest and positioning a large piece of photographic film or a digital recording plate against your back. The X-ray machine produces a small burst of radiation caused by your body and creates an image on film or digital plate. A chest X-ray shows a picture of your heart, lungs and blood vessels. It can show if your heart is enlarged, a sign of some forms of heart disease.
■ Electrocardiogram (ECG). In this non-invasive test, a technician will probe on the chest, the electrical impulses that make your heart beat faster. An ECG records these electrical signals and can help your doctor irregularities in heart rhythm and structure. You can use an ECG while you are at rest or during exercise (stress electrocardiogram).
■ Holter monitoring. The Holter monitor is a portable device that you wear to a continuous ECG, usually for 24 to 72 hours. Holter monitoring is used to occasionally cardiac arrhythmias irregularities that are not found during a regular ECG investigation.
■ echocardiogram. This noninvasive test, which is also an ultrasound examination of the breast, shows detailed pictures of your heart, the structure and function. Ultrasonic waves, and their echoes are displayed with a device as a converter, which are outside your body. A computer uses the information from the converter to moving images on a monitor.

In some cases, where the images from a regular echocardiogram are unclear, your doctor may recommend transesophageal ultrasound. During this test, you swallow a flexible tube with a small sensor, about the size of the index finger, which is your throat. The sensor transmits the images of your heart to a computer monitor.

■ cardiac catheterization. In this test, a short tube (sheath) is placed in a vein or artery in the leg (bar) or arm. A hollow, flexible and longer tube (guide catheter) is then placed in the vagina. Aided by X-ray images on a monitor, your doctor threads the guide catheter through the artery to your heart. The pressure in your heart chambers can be measured, and dye can be injected. The dye can be seen on an X-ray, which helps your doctor can be found in the blood flow through the heart, blood vessels and valves to check whether abnormalities.
■ cardiac biopsy. Sometimes, a heart biopsy is part of the cardiac catheterization, especially if your doctor suspects you have heart inflammation and was not able to confirm with other tests. In a heart biopsy, a small sample of heart tissue is removed through the catheter and will be sent to a laboratory for examination.
■ Cardiac Computed Tomography (CT)-scan. This test is often used to check whether heart failure or heart arrhythmias. In a cardiac CT scan, you lie on a table in a donut-shaped machine. An X-ray tube in the machine rotates around your body, and collects images of the heart and chest. Some walk in clinics in May Advertise heart scans, which are for calcium build-up in your arteries, which allows you to risk a heart attack. However, these scans are not recommended for most people, how the information they provide is often not useful.
■ Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In a cardiac MRI, you lie on a table in a long tube machine, like a magnetic field. The magnetic field is directed atomic particles in some of the cells. When radio waves are broadcast on these particles, they signaled that, depending on the type of tissue are. Images of your heart, this signals that your doctor will help you to determine the cause of your heart condition.
Treatments and drugs
Heart disease treatments vary. You may have changes in the way of life, medication, surgery or other medical procedures as part of treatment.

Therapies for cardiovascular diseases
The goal in the treatment of diseases of the arteries (cardiovascular disease) is often to open narrowed arteries, which leads to the symptoms. Depending on how severe the blockages in your arteries are, treatment may include:

■ changes in the way of life. Whether your heart disease is mild or severe, it is likely that your doctor will recommend lifestyle changes as part of your treatment. Lifestyle changes include eating a low fat, low sodium diet, at least 30 minutes moderate exercise on most days of the week, smoking and limiting how much alcohol to drink.
■ drugs. If the lifestyle changes alone are not enough, your doctor can medications to control your heart disease. These drugs might reduce your blood pressure, such as diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitors or beta blockers, blood medications, such as daily aspirin therapy, or cholesterol-lowering drugs such as statins or fibrates.
■ Medical or surgical procedures. If medications are not sufficient, it is possible with your doctor recommend special procedures or surgery to the blockages in your heart. A common procedure is coronary angioplasty, which is done by using a catheter into an artery in your arm or bar and threading a small balloon on your blocked artery and inflating it to reopen the artery. A small coil than-metal stents is often in the artery during angioplasty. The stent keeps the artery open.

Sometimes is an invasive procedure, coronary bypass surgery is required. In this procedure, which is part of the blocked artery is removed and a vein from another part of the body – usually the leg – replaces the diseased section of artery.

Treatments for cardiac arrhythmias
Abhängig von der Schwere der Bedingung, Ihr Arzt kann nur empfehlen, Manöver oder Medikamente zu korrigieren Sie Ihre unregelmäßiger Herzschlag. Es ist auch möglich, benötigen Sie ein medizinisches Gerät oder eine Operation, wenn Ihr Zustand ist ernst.

■ Vagal Manöver. Sie können zu stoppen einige Herzen Arrhythmien durch die Verwendung bestimmter Manöver, mit denen Sie den Atem an und Anstrengung, dunking Gesicht in Eiswasser, oder Husten. Ihr Arzt kann empfehlen, andere Manöver zu langsam einen schnellen Herzschlag. Diese Manöver auf das Nervensystem, dass die Kontrollen Ihren Herzschlag (vagal Nerven), die oft durch Ihre Herzfrequenz zu verlangsamen. Versuchen Sie nicht, alle Manöver ohne Gespräch mit Ihrem Arzt.
■ Medikamente. Menschen, die einen schnellen Herzschlag können sich auch an Anti-arrhythmic Medikamente. Obwohl sie das Problem nicht heilen, sie können die Episoden der Ihr Herz schlug schneller oder langsamer das Herz, wenn eine Episode auftritt. Einige Medikamente können verlangsamen dein Herz so sehr, dass Sie benötigen einen Herzschrittmacher. Es ist wichtig, dass alle Anti-arrhythmic Medikamente genau nach Anweisung Ihres Arztes, um Komplikationen zu vermeiden.
■ Medizinische Verfahren. Zwei gemeinsame Verfahren zur Behandlung von Herzrhythmusstörungen sind Kardioversion Herzen und Herz-Ablation. In Kardioversion, einen elektrischen Schock wird verwendet, um Ihr Herz zu ihrem regelmäßigen Rhythmus. In der Regel geschieht dies mit Paddel, auf der Brust, das kann einen elektrischen Schock in einer überwachten Umgebung. Sie erhalten Medikamente zu beruhigen Sie während des Verfahrens, so gibt es keine Schmerzen beteiligt. In Herz-Ablation, eine oder mehrere Katheter sind Gewinde durch die Blutgefäße zu Ihrem inneren Kern. Sie positioniert sich auf die Bereiche Ihres Herzens, die von Ihrem Arzt, wie Sie Ihre Herzrhythmusstörungen verursachen. Elektroden auf den Katheter Tipps zerstören (ablate) ein kleiner Ort von Herzgewebe und ein Elektro-Block auf dem Weg, der zu Ihrem Arrhythmie.
■ Herzschrittmacher oder implantierbare Cardioverter-Defibrillatoren (ICDS). In einigen Fällen, Ihr Arzt kann empfehlen, mit einem Herzschrittmacher oder ICD implantiert, um Ihren Herzschlag regulieren. Herzschrittmacher elektrische Impulse aussenden, um Ihr Herz schneller, wenn es zu langsam, und ICDS korrigieren kann eine schnelle oder chaotischen Herzschlag mit einer ähnlichen Art der elektrischen Impuls, der sich mit in Kardioversion. Die Operation zur Implantation jedes Gerät ist relativ gering, und erfordert in der Regel nur ein paar Tage der Erholung.
■ Chirurgie. Für schwere Herz-Arrhythmien, oder für diejenigen mit einem zugrunde liegenden Ursachen wie ein Herzfehler, Chirurgie kann eine Option. Da die Operationen zur Korrektur Herzen Herzrhythmusstörungen sind am offenen Herzen Verfahren, die manchmal mehrere Monate für die Erholung, Operation ist oft eine Last-Resort Behandlungsmöglichkeit.
Behandlungen für Herzfehler
Einige Herzfehler sind gering und bedürfen keiner Behandlung, während andere regelmäßig Checkups, Medikamente oder auch Operationen. Je nachdem, was Sie Herzfehler haben und wie schwer es ist, Ihre Behandlung kann umfassen:

■ Medikamente. Some mild congenital heart defects, especially those found later in childhood or adulthood, can be treated with medications that help the heart work more efficiently.
■Special procedures using catheters. Some people now have their congenital heart defects repaired using catheterization techniques, which allow the repair to be done without surgically opening the chest and heart. In procedures that can be done using catheterization, the doctor inserts a thin tube (catheter) into a leg vein and guides it to the heart with the help of X-ray images. Once the catheter is positioned at the site of the defect, tiny tools are threaded through the catheter to the heart to repair the defect.
■Open-heart surgery. In some cases, your doctor may perform open-heart surgery to try to repair your heart defect. These surgeries are major medical procedures and sometimes require a long recovery time. It’s possible you’ll need multiple surgeries over several years to correct the defect.
■Heart transplant. If a serious heart defect can’t be repaired, a heart transplant may be an option.
Treatments for cardiomyopathy
Treatment for cardiomyopathy varies, depending on what type of cardiomyopathy you have and how serious it is. Treatments can include:

■Medications. Your doctor may prescribe medications that can improve your heart’s pumping ability, such as ACE inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers. Beta blockers, which make your heart beat more slowly and less forcefully, help reduce the strain on it.
■Medical devices. If you have dilated cardiomyopathy, treatment may include a special pacemaker that coordinates the contractions between the left and right ventricles of your heart, improving the heart’s pumping ability. If you’re at risk of serious arrhythmias, an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) may be an option. ICDs are small devices implanted in your chest to continuously monitor your heart rhythm and deliver electrical shocks when needed to control abnormal, rapid heartbeats. The devices can also work as pacemakers.
■Heart transplant. If you have severe cardiomyopathy and medications can’t control your symptoms, a heart transplant may be necessary.
Treatments for heart infections
The first treatment for heart infections such as pericarditis, endocarditis or myocarditis is often medications, which may include:

■Antibiotics. If your condition is caused by a bacteria, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics. Antibiotics are given by an intravenous (IV) line for two to six weeks, depending on how severe the infection is.
■Medications to regulate your heartbeat. If the infection has affected your heartbeat, your doctor may prescribe medications such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or beta blockers to help normalize your heartbeat.
If your heart infection is severe and damages your heart, you may need surgery to repair the damaged portion of your heart.

Treatments for valvular heart disease
Although treatments for valvular heart disease can vary depending on what valve is affected and how severe your condition is, treatment options generally include:

■Medications. It’s possible your valvular heart disease, if mild, can be managed with only medications. Commonly prescribed medications for valvular heart disease include medications to open your blood vessels (vasodilators), medications to lower your cholesterol (statins), medications that reduce water retention (diuretics), and blood-thinning medications (anticoagulants).
■Balloon valvuloplasty. This procedure is sometimes used as a treatment for valve stenosis. During this procedure, your doctor threads a small tube through a vein in your leg and up to your heart. An uninflated balloon is placed through the opening of the narrowed pulmonary valve. Your doctor then inflates the balloon, opening up the narrowed pulmonary valve and increasing the area available for blood flow.
■Valve repair or replacement. If your condition is severe, you may need surgery to correct your condition. Your doctor may be able to repair the valve. If the valve can’t be repaired, it may be replaced with a replacement valve that’s made of synthetic materials.
Lifestyle and home activities
Heart disease can be improved — or even prevented — by making certain lifestyle changes. The following changes can help anyone who wants to improve their heart health:

■Stop smoking. Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease, especially atherosclerosis. Nicotine constricts blood vessels and forces your heart to work harder, and carbon monoxide reduces oxygen in your blood and damages the lining of your blood vessels. If you smoke, quitting is the best way to reduce your risk of heart disease and its complications.
■Control your blood pressure. Ask your doctor for a blood pressure measurement at least every two years. He or she may recommend more frequent measurements if your blood pressure is higher than normal or you have a history of heart disease. Optimal blood pressure is below 120 systolic and 80 diastolic, as measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).
■Check your cholesterol. Ask your doctor for a baseline cholesterol test when you’re in your 20s and then at least every five years. If your test results aren’t within desirable ranges, your doctor may recommend more frequent measurements. Most people should aim for an LDL level below 130 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), or 3.4 millimoles per liter (mmol/L). If you have other risk factors for heart disease, your target LDL may be below 100 mg/dL (2.6 mmol/L). If you’re at very high risk of heart disease — if you’ve already had a heart attack or have diabetes, for example — your target LDL level is below 70 mg/dL (1.8 mmol/L).
■Keep diabetes under control. If you have diabetes, tight blood sugar control can help reduce the risk of heart disease.
■Get moving. If you have heart disease, exercise helps you achieve and maintain a healthy weight and control diabetes, elevated cholesterol and high blood pressure — all risk factors for heart disease. If you have a heart arrhythmia or heart defect, there may be some restrictions on the activities you can do, so be sure to talk to your doctor first. With your doctor’s OK, aim for 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity most days of the week. Even if you can’t make time for one 30- to 60-minute exercise session, you can still benefit from breaking up your activity into several 10-minute sessions.
■Eat healthy foods. A heart-healthy diet based on fruits, vegetables and whole grains — and low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium — can help you control your weight, blood pressure and cholesterol. Eating one or two servings of fish a week also is beneficial.
■Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight increases your risk of heart disease. Weight loss is especially important for people who have large waist measurements – more than 40 inches (101.6 centimeters, or cm) for men and more than 35 inches (88.9 cm) for women — because people with this body shape are more likely to develop diabetes and heart disease.
■Manage stress. Reduce stress as much as possible. Practice healthy techniques for managing stress, such as muscle relaxation and deep breathing.
■Practice good hygiene habits. Staying away from other people when they are sick and regularly washing your hands can not only prevent heart infections but also can help prevent viral or bacterial infections that can put stress on your heart if you already have heart disease. Also, brushing and flossing your teeth regularly can prevent germs in your mouth from making their way to plaques in your heart, which could worsen cardiovascular disease.
■Get a flu shot. If you have cardiovascular disease, you’re at a greater risk of having a heart attack should you catch the flu. Getting a flu shot decreases this risk.
In addition to healthy lifestyle changes, remember the importance of regular medical checkups. Early detection and treatment can set the stage for a lifetime of better heart health.

Alternative Medicine
There are several alternative medicines that may be effective in lowering cholesterol and preventing some types of heart disease, including:

■Blond psyllium
■Coenzyme Q-10
■Flaxseed
■Oats and oat bran
■Omega-3 fatty acids
■Plant stanols and sterols, such as beta-sitosterol and sitostanol
As with any alternative medicine, talk to your doctor before adding any new supplements to your treatment regimen. Even natural medicines and herbal supplements can interact with medications you’re taking.

Coping and support
You may feel frustrated, upset or overwhelmed upon learning you or your loved one has heart disease. Fortunately, there are ways to help cope with heart disease or improve your condition. These include:

■Cardiac rehabilitation. For people who have cardiovascular disease that’s caused a heart attack or has required surgery to correct, cardiac rehabilitation is often recommended as a way to improve treatment and speed recovery. Cardiac rehabilitation is a program often divided into phases that involve various levels of monitored exercise, nutritional counseling, emotional support, and support and education about lifestyle changes to reduce your risks of heart problems.
■Support groups. Finding out that you or a loved one has heart disease can be unnerving. Turning to friends and family for support is essential, but if you find you need more help, talk to your doctor about joining a support group. You may find that talking about your concerns with others who are experiencing the same difficulties can help.
■Continued medical checkups. If you have a recurring or chronic heart condition, it’s a good idea to regularly check in with your doctor to make sure you’re properly managing your heart condition. Regular checkups can help your doctor decide if you need to change your treatment, and may help catch new problems early, if they occur. If you’re the parent of a child with heart disease, it’s a good idea to encourage your child to regularly visit his or her doctor to monitor a heart condition in adulthood.
Prevention
Certain types of heart disease, such as heart defects, can’t be prevented. However, you can help prevent many other types of heart disease by making the same lifestyle changes that can improve your heart disease, such as by:

■Not smoking
■Controlling conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes
■Staying physically active
■Eating healthy foods
■Maintaining a healthy weight
■Reducing and managing stress
■Practicing good hygiene