What is the difference between heart diseases and coronary artery disease?

Heart disease is a broad term that encompasses a variety of health problems affecting the heart. These problems can be congenital (present at birth) or develop over a lifetime. Heart diseases include conditions such as heart failure, heart rhythm disorders (arrhythmias), heart valve diseases, and diseases of the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy) [1].

Coronary artery disease (also known as coronary heart disease) is the most common type of heart disease. This condition develops slowly over time when a sticky substance called plaque builds up inside the arteries that supply the heart muscle with blood. This accumulation leads to narrowing or blockage of the arteries, which reduces blood flow to the heart muscle [1]. Coronary artery disease can lead to other health problems such as angina (chest pain due to reduced blood flow), heart attacks (when part of the heart muscle dies due to loss of blood flow), heart failure, and heart rhythm disorders [1].

Understanding the Causes of Heart Disease

The causes of heart disease vary greatly and depend on the specific type of disease. Some potential causes include lifestyle factors, genetic factors, infections, the use of certain medications, and the presence of other diseases [1]. Factors that increase the risk of heart disease include advancing age, gender (some factors affect women and men differently), a family history of early-onset heart disease, and certain unhealthy lifestyle habits [1].

Main Risk Factors for Heart Disease

Modifiable risk factors include unhealthy lifestyle habits such as a diet rich in saturated fats, refined carbohydrates, and salt, insufficient physical activity, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke, and excessive stress [1]. Having other medical conditions also increases the risk of heart disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, diabetes, obesity, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, chronic kidney disease, and metabolic syndrome [1].

Symptoms of Heart Disease and When to Seek Help

Symptoms of heart disease vary depending on the type of disease. Symptoms may not appear initially, and in some cases, a person may not realize they have heart disease until a serious complication occurs, such as a heart attack [1]. Symptoms that may indicate a heart problem include chest pain, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, swelling in the legs or ankles, and dizziness or fainting. If you experience severe chest pain, severe shortness of breath, or sudden fainting, you should seek emergency care immediately.

Prevention and Treatment

The risk of developing some heart diseases can be reduced by adopting healthy lifestyle changes and managing any existing medical conditions [1]. These changes include following a heart-healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, quitting smoking, and controlling blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels [Learn about common heart diseases: understanding causes, treatment, and prevention (Arabic)]. Treatment plans depend on the type of heart disease, the severity of symptoms, and other health conditions, and may include lifestyle changes, medications, medical procedures or surgeries, or cardiac rehabilitation [1].

For example, aspirin is recommended for people with coronary artery disease or those with a history of stroke to reduce the risk of heart attack and ischemic stroke [2]. A low daily dose of aspirin (75 to 81 mg) is often the first-line choice for prevention, but a doctor should be consulted before starting daily aspirin, especially since long-term use can increase the risk of stomach bleeding [2]. Daily aspirin should not be used for prevention in healthy individuals at low risk for heart disease [2].

Medical references

• Heart Diseases
• Aspirin and heart disease