Heart disease is a term often used for the more specific condition coronary heart disease (or coronary artery disease). Heart disease can have a number of serious effects on health, including pain in the chest, heart attack, stroke, heart failure or sudden cardiac (heart) death, according to the Mayo Clinic. Heart disease affects the circulatory system, which pumps blood throughout the body, in several ways.
Atherosclerosis
Heart disease is marked by a condition called atherosclerosis, a buildup of a fat and plaque in the blood vessels. This causes the blood vessels to become narrower, making them less able to carry blood; Medline Plus reports that blood flow to the heart can be affected by atherosclerosis. Many of the symptoms caused by heart disease are directly related to atherosclerosis.
Angina
Pain in the chest called angina is one of the manifestations of atherosclerosis. This condition is caused by a lack of blood flow to the heart. It is often one of the first noticed symptoms of heart disease, according to the Mayo Clinic, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that it is the most common symptoms of coronary artery disease.
Arrhythmia and Heart Failure
When the heart does not get enough blood, the CDC reports that the heart muscle may weaken through time. When the heart muscle is weakened, irregular heartbeat called arrhythmia can occur. This can also lead to heart failure because the heart cannot properly pump blood, according to the CDC.
Heart Attack
Many cases of coronary artery disease go undiagnosed until a person has a heart attack. This can occur when plaque from atherosclerosis creates a complete blockage in an artery going to the heart or if plaque breaks loose and blocks an artery, according to the CDC.
Other Symptoms
Other symptoms that may occur due to the effects of heart disease on the circulatory system include shortness of breath and pain and feelings of numbness, weakness and coldness in the extremities, according to the Mayo Clinic.
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