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Heart Disease Health Article

Say ALOHA to Heart Disease

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Nutritional Supplements: Can They Help With Heart Disease?

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Men's Hearts, Women's Hearts: How Are They Different?

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Can Cardiovascular Disease be Prevented?

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Sleep and Heart Disease: What's the Link?

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Heart Disease Facts: What Every Woman Should Know

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Diagnosing Heart Problems

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What Should Women Know About Heart Disease?

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Definition

Heart disease is any disorder that affects the heart's ability to function normally. Various forms of heart disease include:

Alternative Names

Cardiovascular disorders

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

The most common cause of heart disease is a narrowing of or blockage in the coronary arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle itself (coronary artery disease). Some heart diseases are present at birth (congenital heart disease). Other causes include:

Hypertension
Abnormal heart valve function
Abnormal heart rhythm
Weakening of the heart's pumping ability caused by infection or toxins

Reviewer Info: Glenn Gandelman, MD, MPH, Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.; ADAM Health Illustrated Encyclopedia, 11/06/2006