The information below is courtesy of the Heart Foundation. Visit the Heart Foundation website for more information.
What is Heart Disease?
Heart disease generally refers to conditions that involve narrowed or blocked blood vessels, including the following:
- Arrhythmias – abnormal heart rhythm
- Coronary Heart Disease – occurs when your coronary arteries get narrower and reduce the blood flow to the heart.
- Angina – pain or discomfort that happens when your heart can’t get enough blood and oxygen.
- Heart Attack – occurs when there is a sudden complete blockage of an artery that supplies blood to an area of your heart.
- Heart Failure – when your heart muscle gets damaged, becomes weak and doesn’t pump properly. Once your heart is damaged, it can’t heal.
- Rheumatic Heart Disease– If you have acute rheumatic fever and it’s not treated, it can lead to rheumatic heart disease.
- Stroke – There are 2 types of stroke: ischaemic stroke and haemorrhagic stroke.