Heart Disease

Running Head : HEART DISEASE

Heart Disease

Name

University

Outline

Introduction

Heart Disease

Definition

Types of Heart Disease

Risk Factors

Modifiable

high blood pressure

high cholesterol levels

smoking

lack of exercise

excessive consumption of alcohol

diet

diabetes

Non-modifiable

age

gender

race

heredity

Symptoms

Prevention

Summary /Conclusion

Heart disease affects the lives of thousands of people around the world each year . In the United States , it is the primary cause of death for both

males and females (Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] 2007 . It claims the lives of 700 ,000 Americans annually . It is the main reason for deaths of Caucasians , African Americans , Indians as well as Alaskan Natives . Heart disease is also the second leading cause of death in Asia and Pacific (CDC , 2007 . The statistics affirm how heart disease is such a crucial health concern . Therefore , people must be made aware of how to better take care of themselves to avoid being diagnosed with such condition . This research aims to discuss the important details of heart disease its kinds , risk factors , symptoms and prevention

Heart disease is not a specific illness (Silverstein , Silverstein Nunn , 2006 . The phrase `heart disease ' refers to several conditions in which the heart and blood vessels are damaged in some way and are unable to function normally , which may lead to serious health problems and even death (Silverstein , Silverstein Nunn , 2006 ,

. 9 . There are several heart conditions that fall under the category of heart disease . These include congenital heart disease , rheumatic heart disease and coronary heart disease (Mackay Mensah , 2004

Congenital heart disease is acquired at birth (Mackay Mensah , 2004 This condition can be acquired during pregnancy or could be the result of genetics . It is characterized by abnormalities in the structures of the heart , such as the valves and heart chambers . It also includes holes found on the heart . Congenital heart disease is the result of alcohol consumption during pregnancy , the usage of certain medications while expecting , as well as infections acquired by mothers , such as rubella . Meanwhile , rheumatic heart disease begins from streptococcal bacteria , which causes rheumatic fever . In turn , this kind of fever causes great harm to the valves and muscle of the heart (Mackay Mensah , 2004

Among all types of heart disease , coronary heart disease or CHD is the most typical (CDC , 2007 . It is the result of atherosclerosis , the condition wherein plaque accumulates and hardens in the arterial walls causing it to be narrow in the process (CDC , 2007 Gandelman Weinrauch , 2007 . During childhood , the arterial interior is smooth and slippery (Silverstein , Silverstein Nunn , 2006 ,

.23 . This allows for effortless blood passage . As time goes by , fatty substances will be deposited inside the arteries . These fatty substances are the plaques . Eventually the plaques will be enlarged and hardened over time the result of which is atherosclerosis (Silverstein , Silverstein Nunn , 2006

Atherosclerosis is not a sudden occurrence . It is a long term process which occurs over a several years (Gerstenblith Margolis , 2007 . The plaques start accumulating as...