heart disease

Disease of the heart and the associated blood vessels; a major cause of death in all countries, though the pattern of individual disorders varies in different parts of the world and in different age groups. For example, coronary heart disease is common in the UK, the USA, and the West as a whole, but less common in Japan or Hong Kong. Rheumatic heart disease is now rare in the UK, but common in many parts of the world, notably India and the Middle East. As the heart is essentially a pump, interference with its function whatever the cause gives rise to the cardinal symptoms of shortness of breath and fluid retention (oedema), which may be accompanied by palpitations, chest pain, and fainting.

The most common heart diseases are:

Coronary heart disease, a disease of the heart itself caused by the accumulation of atheromatous plaques within the walls of the arteries that supply the myocardium Ischaemic heart disease, another disease of the heart itself, characterized by reduced blood supply to the organ. Cardiovascular disease, a sub-umbrella term for a number of diseases that that affect the heart itself and/or the blood vessel system, especially the veins and arteries leading to and from the heart. Hereditary heart disease, heart disease caused by unavoidable genetic factors Hypertensive heart disease, heart disease caused by high blood pressure, especially localised high blood pressure Inflammatory heart disease, heart disease that involves inflammation of the heart muscle and/or the tissue surrounding it. Valvular heart disease, heart disease that affects the valves of the heart.