6 Heart Conditions You Need to Know About

What is Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) and Atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD)?

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a term used for conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels.^1,2  ASCVD, or Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease, is caused by the buildup of plaque within the arteries, limiting the flow of blood to important organs.³ Let’s take a look at some of the conditions that are considered CVD or ASCVD, such as coronary heart disease, heart attack, stroke, heart failure, arrhythmia, and heart valve disease.

Coronary Heart Disease

Coronary heart disease (CHD) may sometimes be called coronary artery disease (CAD) or atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). CHD is the most common type of cardiovascular disease in the United States.⁴ If you have this type of heart disease, it means that fatty deposits called plaques have built up inside of your arteries. This build up of fatty plaques is called atherosclerosis. As the amount of plaque inside the arteries increases or a clot develops, it makes it more difficult for blood to flow from your heart to your brain and organs. If the clot grows large enough to completely block the artery, it could lead to a heart attack or stroke. 

Heart Attack

A heart attack happens when a blood clot blocks blood flow to the heart.⁵ The lack of blood flow can cause part of the heart muscle to die. The intensity of your heart’s damage determines the severity of the attack and impacts what lifestyle adjustments you need to make following the heart attack. Some people survive their first heart attack and live productive lives afterwards. Others, with more severe attacks, may have more limitations.

If you have more than one major artery blocked by plaque and a clot, there is the potential for another heart attack.

Stroke

You may be surprised to know that there are two different types of strokes: ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke.^6,7 An ischemic stroke happens when a blood clot completely blocks the blood flow to the brain. Ischemic strokes are the most common type of strokes, accounting for 87% of all strokes.⁶ 

The lasting impact of a stroke depends on which portion of the brain was affected. For example, if the cerebellum, the part of the brain that helps you move your body smoothly and keep your balance is affected, you may have trouble walking. If the speech center of the brain was affected, you may have trouble talking. 

Hemorrhagic strokes account for about 13% of all strokes. These strokes are not caused by blood clots. They happen when a weakened blood vessel bursts and bleeds into the surrounding brain tissue. Uncontrolled high blood pressure is usually what causes hemorrhagic strokes. 

Heart Failure

The name heart failure probably sounds like it means your heart is unable to beat. This is incorrect. If you’ve been diagnosed with heart failure, it means that your heart isn’t able to fully pump the amount of blood throughout your body that’s needed. Heart failure develops because the muscles in your heart have become weak and enlarged.

If heart failure is not treated, extra fluid can build up in your legs and chest making it difficult to breathe and move around. 

Heart failure affects about 6 million Americans, and it’s one of the most common reasons that people aged 65 and older go into the hospital.⁸

Heart failure is typically caused by uncontrolled high blood pressure and ASCVD.  

Arrhythmia

An arrhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm. If you’ve been diagnosed with an arrhythmia, it means that your heart is beating too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or in an irregular pattern.

A normal heart rate should be between 60 to 100 beats per minute. If your heart beats faster or slower than this pace, your heart may not be able to supply your body with the blood it needs. You can learn more about the different types of arrhythmias here. 

Heart Valve Disease

Heart valves control the flow of blood in and out of the chambers of your heart. If they don’t function normally, your heart cannot properly pump blood throughout your body. If you’ve had a heart attack, or been diagnosed with heart failure or an arrhythmia, you have an increased chance of developing a heart valve condition.⁹ 

What’s next?

Black people are even more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than other racial or ethnic groups. Learn about the impact on our communities, as well as the signs and symptoms to look out for, in our next article.