Overview
Heart disease refers to a group of problems involving the heart and circulation. These include blocked heart arteries, heart failure, abnormal heart rhythms, valve problems, and disease of the heart muscle. Some forms develop slowly over years, while others appear suddenly.
Key Symptoms
Symptoms depend on the type of heart disease. Common symptoms include chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, palpitations, dizziness, swelling in the legs, unusual tiredness, or reduced ability to exercise. Some people, especially those with diabetes or older adults, may have less typical symptoms such as nausea, sweating, or discomfort in the back, jaw, neck, or arm.
Causes and Risk Factors
Heart disease can be linked to plaque buildup in arteries, long-term high blood pressure, infections, inherited conditions, or damage to the heart muscle or valves. Important risk factors include smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, overweight or obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, poor sleep, and high alcohol intake. Family history, older age, chronic stress, and some pregnancy-related complications can also increase risk.
Who Is Affected
Heart disease affects people around the world and can occur in both men and women. Risk generally increases with age, but younger adults can also be affected, especially if they smoke, have diabetes, or have a strong family history. Some populations face higher risk because of unequal access to healthcare, healthy food, clean air, or safe places to be active.
Prevention
Many cases of heart disease can be partly prevented by not smoking, staying physically active, eating a balanced diet, managing stress, sleeping well, and limiting alcohol. Regular health checks can help find high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes early. Taking prescribed medicines as directed and attending follow-up visits are important parts of prevention for people at higher risk.
Diagnosis and Tests
A healthcare professional may ask about symptoms, personal and family history, and lifestyle, then examine the heart, lungs, and circulation. Common tests include blood pressure measurement, blood tests, electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiogram, stress testing, heart rhythm monitoring, and imaging of the heart or blood vessels. The specific tests depend on the suspected type of heart disease and how urgent the symptoms are.
Treatment Categories
Treatment depends on the type and severity of heart disease. It may include lifestyle changes, medicines, cardiac rehabilitation, procedures to open or bypass blocked arteries, devices to manage heart rhythm, or surgery to repair valves or other heart problems. Ongoing monitoring is often needed because heart disease can change over time.
Diet and Lifestyle
A heart-healthy lifestyle usually includes more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts, and less salt, sugar, and highly processed foods. Regular physical activity, stopping tobacco use, maintaining a healthy weight, and managing conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure can support heart health. If you already have heart disease, ask a healthcare professional which activities and diet changes fit your situation.
When It May Be an Emergency
Get emergency help right away for chest pain, pressure, or tightness that lasts more than a few minutes or comes with shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, fainting, or pain spreading to the arm, back, neck, or jaw. Sudden severe shortness of breath, collapse, new confusion, or symptoms of stroke such as face drooping, arm weakness, or speech trouble also need urgent action. Do not drive yourself if symptoms are severe; use local emergency services if available.