The Causes of Heart Disease

Just as there are many types of heart disease, correspondingly, there are also many different causes of heart disease. They range from congenital defect (existing at birth), hereditary to various viral, fungal, bacterial or parasitic microbes' infection. The affected areas also vary. It may be the cardiac muscle, valve or the arteries.

Some disease like syphilis and rheumatic fever can do great damage to the heart. Syphilis can affect the heart and aorta. It can cause aneurysm, which is a weakened and swollen artery. Rheumatic fever is the most dangerous of childhood illness because it is easily misdiagnosed but can cause serious heart damage like leaking valve and muscular tissue scarring.

Understanding the Causes of Heart Disease

Other causes of heart disease include arteriosclerosis, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, excessive stress, obesity, menopause, and the lack of exercise. Some diseases can cause heart disease. Examples are German measles, dermatomyositis, hemochromatosis, Paget's disease, Kawasaki disease and Friedrich's axatia.

These casual factors attack the heart through cardiac tissue damage as well as coronary arteries damage. They also cause the arteries to have accumulation of plaque and be blocked by blood clot (thrombosis). Blockage and narrowing of the arteries can cause irregular heartbeat, fatigue and breathlessness.

Vitamin deficiency, chemical and hormone imbalance, certain prescription drugs and alcoholism can cause cardiomyopathy. Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the cardiac muscle, which is so weakened that it is unable to pump blood effectively.

In order to prevent heart disease, one must understand the various causes of heart disease and take positive measures to negate their effect. Not all the causes of heart disease can be avoided, aging for example, but their effect can be minimized. The basic preventive measures, which are to avoid smoking, have a balanced diet and regular exercises will also definitely improve one's health in all areas, thereby enhancing the quality of life.

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