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| Color-enhanced angiogram of an occluded coronary artery |
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What is Heart Disease?
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States and claims more lives than the next five leading causes of death combined.16 The term "heart disease" applies to conditions that affect both the heart and the blood vessels (called coronary arteries) that supply blood (along with nutrients and oxygen) to the heart. Although the symptoms (including heart attack) may occur suddenly and without warning, heart disease does not happen overnight. Heart disease usually develops gradually and is not discovered until later in life. In many people, heart disease may go unnoticed for years, even when it reaches an advanced stage.
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Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is one of the most common forms of heart disease – it is estimated that nearly 13 million Americans have CHD.16 CHD is a narrowing of the arteries to the heart and is usually the result of atherosclerosis – a condition where cholesterol and other fatty deposits build up on the walls of the arteries.
If the coronary arteries become too narrow or are blocked entirely, the result is ischemia: a condition in which the heart muscle is not receiving enough oxygen-rich blood to enable it to work properly. Ischemia can cause:
Heart Attack: Approximately 7.6 million Americans can be expected to have a heart attack during their lifetime.16 A heart attack occurs when the blood supply to part of the heart muscle is severely reduced or stopped, causing damage to the heart muscle. A heart attack is often the result of a blocked coronary artery. For people with CHD, this is usually caused by a blood clot that forms in, or arrives at, a narrowed artery.
Chest Pain (also called angina pectoris): Over 6.5 million Americans experience angina pectoris (or simply angina),16 which is pain from a temporary decrease in the amount of blood flowing to the heart muscle. Angina pectoris often occurs during times of exertion or emotional stress; the blood flow to the heart is not sufficient enough, which causes the heart to work harder. Angina can be a warning sign that someone is at risk for a heart attack.
Silent Ischemia: Although chest pain can be a warning signal of coronary artery disease, three to four million Americans have ischemic episodes without knowing it, a condition known as silent ischemia.18 Even people who have angina may also have silent ischemia. People with silent ischemia can have a heart attack without any prior warning.
Sudden Cardiac Death: It is estimated that approximately 95% of patients who experience a sudden cardiac arrest die before they get to the hospital.18 If no CPR is provided, the victims' chance of survival decline by 7% to 10% for every minute of delay until defibrillation. If CPR is conducted immediately and defibrillation is delivered within 3 to 5 minutes, the survival rate from sudden cardiac arrest can be as high as 74%.18 If survival rates from sudden cardiac death were increased from 5% to 20%, approximately 40,000 lives could be saved annually.18 This is why the American Heart Association urges the public to be prepared for cardiac emergencies.
For more information on preparing for cardiac emergencies, visit the American Heart Association web site.
References
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