Module 2: Heart Disease
Risk Factors for Heart Disease
- Smoking
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Low physical activity
- Being overweight or obese
- Alcohol abuse
- Family history
Heart disease is often called cardiovascular disease. Either term refers to heart or blood vessel conditions that that may lead to heart attack, stroke or chest pain (angina). Heart disease can be prevented by controlling risk factors such as smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, low physical activity and being overweight or obese.
Types of Heart Conditions
- Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). CAD is the most common type of heart disease and the leading cause of death in men and women. The coronary arteries supply blood to the heart, but when plaque—a substance made of cholesterol and calcium—builds up and blocks the artery, the heart muscle goes without blood. This may lead to chest pain, heart damage and heart attack. The image shows a coronary artery blockage.
Symptoms
Video: Coronary Artery Disease (Medline Plus)
- Heart Failure. Heart failure occurs when the heart muscle becomes weak and cannot pump blood through the body efficiently. Heart failure can be caused by CAD, high blood pressure or diabetes. Treatment of heart failure can include lifestyle changes, medication or a heart transplant.
Tutorial: Congestive Heart Failure (Medline Plus)
- Heart Attack. A heart attack may occur when the blood supply to the heart muscle is cut off. Heart attacks are often due to blocked arteries. When the heart muscle goes without oxygen too long, the heart cells begin to die. The more time that passes without blood, the greater the damage to the heart. The risk of heart attack goes up if someone is a smoker or has high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Risk also goes up if someone has previously had a heart attack, stroke, or diabetes.
Are the symptoms of a heart attack different for men and women?
Videos: Heart Attack: "Act in Time" and "Know the Warning Signs" (NIH Senior Health)
List continues on next page...
The symptoms of a heart attack can be different for men and women. Women may have symptoms a month before having a heart attack.
Men |
Women |
|---|---|
|
|
Sources: Coronary Artery Disease: Symptoms (Web MD) and Women's Heart Attack Symptoms Different from Men's (About.com U.S. Government Info)
What do you think?
What percentage of heart attack victims do NOT make a full recovery?
33%
50%
66%
Source: The Burden of Chronic Diseases and Their Risk Factors: National and State Perspectives 2004 (CDC)
Feedback will appear here.
What percentage of heart attack victims will die in that same year?
32%
42%
62%
Feedback will appear here.
For women, how does heart disease rank as a cause of death?
#1
#2
#5
Source: Video: Maintain a Heart Healthy Lifestyle (NIH Senior Health)
Feedback will appear here.