Heart Disease

“When people talk about heart disease, they’re usually talking about coronary heart disease (CHD). It’s also sometimes called coronary artery disease (CAD)”.1

Umbrella
What may the Heart Disease Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Cardiac Diseases
  • Cardiovascular Disease (CVD
  • Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
  • Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
  • Heart Conditions
  • Heart Disease/s
  • Ischaemic/Ischemic Heart Disease

Terminology

Can heart disease mean different things to different people?

I think the term heart disease can be like the terms diet, love and menopause and mean different things, to different people, at different times, in different places.

When I use the term heart disease what I mean may be different to what someone else means or what is meant in medicaltalk.

It can therefore be important when the term heart disease is used, to be clear about what is meant, so we may work out whether we are on the same page meaning the same thing, or not.

In Keep Your Heart Healthy – The Basics: What Is Heart Disease? What Is Heart Disease? the (United States) Healthfinder.gov explain:

“When people talk about heart disease, they’re usually talking about coronary heart disease (CHD). It’s also sometimes called coronary artery disease (CAD). This is the most common type of heart disease”.2

Heart Disease

What is heart disease?

DotS the definition of heart disease may vary. The (United States) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s definition is:

“The term “heart disease” refers to several types of heart conditions. The most common type of heart disease in the United States is coronary artery disease (CAD), which affects the blood flow to the heart. Decreased blood flow can cause a heart attack”.3

Coronary Heart Disease

What is coronary heart disease (CHD)?

DotS the definition of CHD may vary. In Coronary Heart Disease the British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) definition is:

“Coronary heart disease (CHD) is when your coronary arteries become narrowed by a build-up of fatty material within their walls. These arteries supply your heart muscle with oxygen-rich blood. CHD is sometimes called ischaemic heart disease”.4

Types

What are different types of heart disease?

DotS different types of heart disease may include:

  • Aneurysm
  • Angina
  • Atherosclerosis
  • Atrial Fibrillation
  • Cardiomyopathy
  • Cerebral Vascular Disease
  • Congenital Heart Disease
  • Coronary Artery Disease
  • Coronary Heart Disease
  • Heart Attack
  • Heart Failure
  • High Blood Pressure
  • Hypertension
  • Myocardial Infarction
  • Pericardial Disease
  • Peripheral Vascular Disease
  • Rheumatic Disease
  • Sudden Death

Cause

What may cause heart disease?

In Coronary Heart Disease: Causes the (United States) National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s (NHLBI) explain:

“There are three main types of coronary heart disease: obstructive coronary artery disease, nonobstructive coronary artery disease, and coronary microvascular disease. Coronary artery disease affects the large arteries on the surface of the heart. Many people have both obstructive and nonobstructive forms of this disease. Coronary microvascular disease affects the tiny arteries in the heart muscle.

The cause depends on the type of coronary heart disease. The condition may also have more than one cause, including plaque buildup or problems that affect how the heart’s blood vessels work”.5

Menopause

Is there an association between menopause and heart disease?

Yes. In Menopause and Heart Disease the BHF note:

Heart Disease“Before the menopause, women in general have a lower risk of being affected by coronary heart disease. But after the menopause, your risk increases”.6

Number One Killer

Is heart disease the number one killer of women?

Yes. In Heart Disease the the Office on Women’s Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Womenshealth.gov explain:

“Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States. Some of the symptoms and risk factors for heart disease and heart attack are different for women than men. Your risk may also be different from other women. But every woman can take steps to prevent heart disease by knowing her risk factors and making healthy changes”.7

Know Your Numbers

What numbers do I need to know for a healthy heart?

In Know Your Numbers They Could Just Save Your Life Go Red for Women elaborate on:

“Talk to your healthcare provider today to learn about your Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, Blood Sugar and BMI (Body Mass Index). Your heart depends on it”.8

Health Care Provider

What if I think I have heart disease or I have a family history of heart disease?

If you think you have heart disease or you have a family history of heart disease, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

In Coronary Heart Disease: Screening and Prevention – Screening Tests and Results the NHLBI explain:

“To screen for coronary heart disease, your doctor will:

  • Assess risk factors to help evaluate your risk of developing coronary heart disease
  • Check blood pressure readings to see whether you have high blood pressure
  • Calculate your body mass index and waist circumference to see whether you have an unhealthy weight
  • Order blood tests to see whether you have high blood cholesterol, high blood triglycerides, or diabetes

Screening usually occurs in a doctor’s office, but sometimes screenings are done at health fairs, drugstores, or other places. Blood samples might be collected at your doctor’s office, a hospital, or a laboratory.

Ask your doctor or nurse whether you need to fast (not eat or drink anything besides water) before the blood tests”.9

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics related to Heart Disease?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Heart Disease?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

  1. About Heart Disease In Women
  2. African and African Caribbean Background
  3. Alcohol
  4. American Heart Association
  5. American Heart Month 2021: Feeling the Pressure? We Can Help
  6. American Heart Month: #OurHearts #Our Hearts
  7. Answers By Heart Fact Sheets: Cardiovascular Conditions
  8. Are You At Risk of Heart Disease?
  9. Aspirin and Heart Disease
  10. Blood, Heart and Circulation [Topics]
  11. British Heart Foundation
  12. Cardiosmart.org [CardioSmart, United States]
  13. Cardiovascular Heart Disease
  14. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention
  15. Chronic Stress Can Cause Heart Trouble
  16. Coronary Heart Disease
  17. Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  18. Coronary Heart Disease: Women and Heart Disease
  19. Coronavirus: What It Means for You If You Have Heart or Circulatory Disease
  20. Diabetes and Heart Disease
  21. Diabetes and Your Heart
  22. Ethnicity
  23. Exercise To Prevent Heart Disease
  24. Facts About Heart Disease In Women
  25. Family History
  26. Family History and Other Characteristics That Increase Risk for Heart Disease
  27. For Women: The FDA Gives Tips To Prevent Heart Disease [Food and Drug Administration, United States]
  28. Goredforwomen.org [Go Red for Women, United States]
  29. Healthy Lifestyle
  30. Healthy Living
  31. Heart Conditions In Women
  32. Heart Disease
  33. Heart Disease
  34. Heart Disease In African-American Women
  35. Heart Disease In Hispanic Women
  36. Heart Disease and Women
  37. Heart Disease: Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
  38. Heart Disease: It’s Not Just for Men – Questions To Ask Your Doctor
  39. Heart Diseases
  40. Heart Diseases – Multiply Languages
  41. Heart Health Information In Your Language: Women and Heart Disease
  42. Heart Health for Women [+ Video]
  43. Heart Health for Women [Multiply Languages]
  44. Heart-Healthy Diet: 8 Steps To Prevent Heart Disease
  45. Heartfoundation.org.au [Heart Foundation, Australia]
  46. Herbal Supplements and Heart Medicines May Not Mix
  47. Here’s What Heart Patients Need To Know About COVID-19 In 2021
  48. How To Prevent Heart Disease
  49. How To Prevent Heart Disease After Menopause
  50. How Your Heart Works
  51. Infographic: Women and Heart Disease
  52. Know Your Numbers? They Could Just Save Your Life
  53. Know Your Risk
  54. Listen To Your Heart: Women and Heart Disease
  55. Lower Your Risk for the Number 1 Killer of Women
  56. Making Mayo’s Recipes: Two Days’ Worth of Heart-Healthy Menus
  57. Mayo Clinic Minute: Brush Your Way To Heart Health
  58. Mayo Clinic Minute: How Cholesterol Affects Your Heart [+ Video]
  59. Mayo Clinic Minute: Managing Atrial Fibrillation [+ Video]
  60. Mayo Clinic Minute: What Is Heart Disease? [+ Video Courtesy Mayo Clinic News Network]
  61. Mayo Clinic Q&A Podcast: An Alert for Women About Heart Disease
  62. Mayo Clinic Q&A Podcast: Don’t Miss A Beat With Preventive Heart Care [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  63. Mayo Clinic Q&A Podcast: Heart Rhythm Problems Need Attention [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  64. Mayo Clinic Q&A Podcast: Taking the Fear Out of Cardiac Testing [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  65. Mayo Mindfulness: Tackle Stress, Anxiety and Depression To Benefit Your Heart
  66. Menopause and Heart Disease
  67. Menopause and Heart Disease
  68. Menopause and Your Heart
  69. Millionhearts.hhs.org
  70. My Life Check | Life’s Simple 7
  71. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Cardiovascular Disease
  72. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Chelation for Coronary Heart Disease: What You Need To Know
  73. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Know the Science: How Medications and Supplements Can Interact
  74. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute [United States]
  75. Quit Tobacco Today [+ Video: Meet Florence – She Can Help You Quit Tobacco!]
  76. Real Women
  77. Recipes [American Heart Association]
  78. Recipes [Heart Foundation, Australia]
  79. Smokefreewomen
  80. South Asian Background
  81. Stress
  82. Stress Management
  83. The Heart Truth
  84. Today’s Prolonged Stress May Predict Tomorrow’s Heart Problems
  85. Understanding Heart Tests [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  86. Understanding Your Heart Condition
  87. Video Series-2020: What Women Need To Know About Heart Disease
  88. Video Series-2021: How Clinicians Determine Which Women May Benefit From Statin Therapy
  89. Video Series-2021: What You Need to Know About the #1 Cause of Death in Women
  90. Vitamin D Is Good for the Bones, But What About the Heart?
  91. WISEWOMAN
  92. What Is Meant By the Term Heart Age?
  93. What It Means To Go Red for Women [+ Video]
  94. What the Heart Has To Do With the Head
  95. Women With A Heart Condition
  96. Women and CVD – Facts and Tips
  97. Womenheart.org [WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women With Heart Disease]
  98. Women’s Wellness: Understand Heart Disease Symptoms and Risk Factors Unique To Women
  99. Yourethecure.org

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted above?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Keep Your Heart Healthy – The Basics: What Is Heart Disease? What Is Heart Disease? Content Last Updated: 08 July 2021. Healthfinder.gov https://health.gov/myhealthfinder/topics/health-conditions/heart-health/keep-your-heart-healthy#panel-2 Accessed: 14 September 2021
  2. Keep Your Heart Healthy – The Basics: What Is Heart Disease? What Is Heart Disease? Content Last Updated: 08 July 2021. Healthfinder.gov https://health.gov/myhealthfinder/topics/health-conditions/heart-health/keep-your-heart-healthy#panel-2 Accessed: 14 September 2021
  3. Heart Disease: About Heart Disease – What Is Heart Disease? Page Last Reviewed: 13 January 2021. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/about.htm Accessed: 14 September 2021
  4. Coronary Heart Disease. Page Last Reviewed: October 2019. British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/conditions/coronary-heart-disease Accessed: 14 September 2021
  5. Coronary Heart Disease: Causes. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/coronary-heart-disease Accessed: 14 September 2021
  6. Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease. British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/living-with-a-heart-condition/menopause Accessed: 14 September 2021
  7. Heart Disease. Page Last Updated: 14 March 2019. Office on Women’s Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Womenshealth.gov https://www.womenshealth.gov/heart-disease-and-stroke/heart-disease Accessed: 14 September 2021
  8. Know Your Numbers They Could Just Save Your Life – Start By Knowing Your Numbers. Go Red for Women https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/know-your-risk/know-your-numbers Accessed: 14 September 2021
  9. Coronary Heart Disease: Screening and Prevention – Screening Tests and Results. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/coronary-heart-disease Accessed: 14 September 2021

Topic Last Updated: 16 October 2021 – Topic Last Reviewed: 14 September 2021
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