Types of Heart Disease, Symptoms and Causes

Coronary heart disease is one of the highest causes of death in Indonesia. In addition, there are other kinds of heart disease that are also dangerous. Let's recognize what types of heart disease, the following symptoms and causes. The heart is a vital organ that functions to pump and drain blood throughout the body, so that the organs and tissues of the body can carry out their functions properly. However, some things can cause interference with the heart and make this organ not function normally. Now, let's consider the discussion of the following types of heart disease.

Various Types of Heart Disease

There are many types of heart disease that can afflict a person. The types of heart disease include:

1. Coronary heart disease

Coronary heart disease (CHD) occurs when the arteries that drain blood to the heart harden and narrow. This condition is triggered by cholesterol buildup and blood clots in the arteries (atherosclerosis). Narrowing of the arteries causes blood flow and oxygen to the heart to be reduced, as a result the organ cannot function normally. Symptoms that arise from this disease include chest pain, shortness of breath, cold sweat, chest palpitations, and nausea. Chest pain due to CHD can be felt spread to the neck, jaw, throat, back, and arms. If left untreated, this condition can lead to complications in the form of a heart attack.

2. Heart attack

A heart attack is an emergency condition that occurs when blood supply to the heart is totally blocked, so that the heart muscle cells are damaged. Heart attacks are usually caused by coronary heart disease. Symptoms that appear are usually in the form of chest pain, shortness of breath, and cold sweat. If not treated immediately, a heart attack can cause permanent damage to the organ. If the damage is widespread, sufferers of a heart attack can experience sudden cardiac arrest.

3. Arrhythmia

Arrhythmia is a disorder of the heart rhythm. Heart rhythm in arrhythmia sufferers can be too fast, too slow, or irregular. Arrhythmia occurs when electrical stimulation that regulates the heartbeat is disrupted, so the heart does not work properly. The disorder can be caused by coronary heart disease, heart attacks, cardiomyopathy, and electrolyte disorders, such as excess potassium in the blood (hyperkalemia) or lack of potassium (hypokalemia). This disease may not show symptoms. However, some patients with heart disease can experience complaints of fatigue, dizziness, chest pain, palpitations, and feeling like fainting.

4. Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy is a disorder of the heart muscle. This condition causes abnormalities in the shape and strength of the heart muscle (for example the heart muscle becomes larger and stiff), so it cannot pump blood throughout the body properly. This disease can be caused by genetic disorders or heredity, so that sufferers are born with this condition. Apart from genetic disorders, cardiomyopathy can also occur due to coronary heart disease, heart failure, hypertension, or aging. In the early stages, cardiomyopathy often causes no symptoms. Usually new signs and symptoms will appear when this condition has entered a severe stage or there are other diseases that accompany it. Symptoms that can appear in cardiomyopathy are swelling in the legs, chest pain, shortness of breath that is heavier after activity, easy fatigue, and coughing.

5. Heart failure

Heart failure is a condition of the heart that is too weak to pump blood throughout the body. If it lasts for a long time, heart failure can trigger serious complications such as cardiac arrest, pulmonary edema, liver failure, and kidney failure. Heart failure is a heart disease that develops gradually. This condition is usually preceded by the presence of other comorbidities, such as high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, diabetes, and congenital heart disease. The main symptoms of heart failure include shortness of breath and coughing especially when lying down, chest pain after physical activity, fatigue, and swelling in the legs and ankles.

6. Congenital heart disease

Congenital heart disease is a deformity of the heart that occurs from birth. This disorder can occur in the heart wall, heart valves, blood vessels near the heart, or a combination of all these disorders (tetralogy of Fallot). Symptoms that appear vary, depending on the type and severity. Some examples of symptoms are short and rapid breathing, chest pain, blue skin, decreased body weight, and late child development. These symptoms can be seen since the baby is born. But in some cases, the symptoms are only detected when the patient has reached adolescence or before adulthood. Congenital heart disease occurs due to interference with the process of heart development in the fetus. It is not yet known what causes the disorder, but it is thought to have something to do with heredity, alcohol consumption, use of certain drugs during pregnancy, or infection during the first trimester of pregnancy.

7. Heart valve disease

Heart valve disease occurs when the heart valve cannot open or close properly, causing dams or obstructions in the blood flow. As a result, blood flow throughout the body will be disrupted. Patients with this disease may not feel any symptoms for a long time. When symptoms appear, sufferers will experience shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue, irregular heartbeat, and swelling in certain body parts, such as legs and stomach. Heart valve disease can occur from birth due to hereditary factors or only occurs at the age of children and adults due to other diseases, such as rheumatic fever or endocarditis. Some other conditions that can cause heart valve disease are Kawasaki disease, coronary heart disease, heart attacks, and cardiomyopathy.

8. Endocarditis

Endocarditis is an infection of the connective tissue lining the walls and valves of the heart. This infection occurs when germs from other parts of the body, such as the mouth and skin, enter the heart wall through the bloodstream. Bacteria or fungi that cause endocarditis can enter through sores on the body or sores in the mouth, catheter placement, use of needles that are not sterile for tattoos or piercings, and the use of injecting drug drugs. Symptoms of endocarditis that often arises are fever and chills, shortness of breath, and chest pain when breathing in, excessive sweating at night, swelling in the legs or abdomen, as well as heart sounds or abnormal heart sounds.

9. Heart tumors

Heart tumors are abnormal tissue growths in the heart wall. Tumors can be cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (benign). These tumors can grow on the walls of the heart muscle or the heart's protective lining (pericardium). If the size gets bigger, this muscle can push against the heart wall and make it difficult for the heart to pump blood. Often heart tumors have no symptoms. Even so, some people with heart tumors can show mild to severe symptoms. Symptoms can include shortness of breath, swelling in the legs, irregular heart palpitations, fatigue, low blood pressure, dizziness, fainting, and weight loss.

Are there other things that increase the risk of heart disease?

The answer is there. Someone said to be at high risk of experiencing several types of heart disease above if you have one or several of the following conditions:

• Hypertension.
• Diabetes.
• High cholesterol.
• Family history of heart disease.
• Overweight or obese.
• Unhealthy lifestyles, such as frequent smoking, rarely exercise.
• Having a weak immune system, such as HIV infection, using immunosuppressive drugs, or undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

Most heart disease can not be cured, so sufferers need to undergo treatment for life. However, heart disease can be controlled so that it does not get worse by living a healthy lifestyle and taking drugs. If the heart disease is severe enough, then heart surgery may be needed. Therefore, do a regular heart check to the heart doctor, especially if you have risk factors for heart disease. The goal is that the doctor can detect early if there are abnormalities in your heart.