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Types of Heart and Vascular Disease
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Diseases and Conditions

Types of Heart and Vascular Disease

As of 2007, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have ranked heart disease as the most common cause of death among Americans.

In all categories, heart disease accounts for more than 25 percent of total deaths in the United States. It is also the leading cause of death among most ethnicities in America, making it an equal-opportunity killer with a number of conditions affecting a variety of people in different ways.

The most well-known type of heart disease is a heart attack. More than one million Americans suffer heart attacks each year as a result of atherosclerosis. However, a heart attack is not the only type of heart disease. Other cardiovascular diseases include abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias), heart valve disease, heart failure, hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, aneurysms, aortic dissection and congenital heart disease.

Montefiore Einstein Center for Heart and Vascular Care is leading the fight to stem the tide of heart disease and help patients live long and fruitful lives. Montefiore's team of specialists treats patients with these common conditions:

Advanced Heart Failure

Heart failure occurs when the heart is too weak to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs and could be the result of previous cardiovascular conditions or birth defects, or a result of alcoholism or drug addiction. Advanced heart failure can worsen from other medical conditions, including diabetes and obesity. As heart failure gets worse, symptoms can include fatigue, shortness of breath, fluid retention, heart palpitations, dizziness and even depression, memory problems and weight loss. Learn more about advanced heart failure.

Arrhythmia

Arrhythmia is another term to describe an abnormal heart rhythm. This frightening heart abnormality can be caused by a number of conditions. While some situations involving an arrhythmia can be harmless and a mere annoyance to the individual experiencing it, all arrhythmias should be taken seriously and treated immediately. Learn more about arrhythmia.