Your heart is a living pump. It works to keep your blood moving and oxygenated. A network of blood vessels called coronary arteries supply blood and nutrients to your heart to keep it functioning in this way


There are three main coronary arteries – right (RCA), left anterior descending (LAD) and left circumflex artery (CX).
Each of the coronary arteries branches into smaller arteries that reach all the areas of your heart muscle.
The heart pumps ‘used’ blood through the lung capillaries where waste gas (carbon dioxide) is expelled and fresh oxygen is taken up. This fresh oxygenated blood is bright red and is pumped through the aorta (the main artery of the heart) into the capillaries, where nutrient and oxygen exchange within cells takes place. It then returns to the heart through veins.
Heart failure, for whatever reason, can be fatal. The heart is one of the hardest working organs in the body. It contracts and expands around 100,000 times a day, it supplies 96,000 kilometres of blood vessels and pumps in excess of 10,000 litres of blood around the body each day. This constant action is stressful and makes this system particularly vulnerable to damage and disease.
Heart disease is any disorder that affects the heart's ability to function in this normal way.
Some heart diseases can be present at birth (congenital); others develop as we grow and may be dependant on factors like genetics, diet (nutrition), the environment and toxins; others may be degenerative (or medical).
Problems can arise in the heart muscle, valves, or surrounding arteries. The most common form of heart disease is a narrowing or blocking of the coronary arteries (atherosclerosis). Following are examples of terms used to describe heart disease, followed by brief explanations of the most common problems:
Cardiovascular disease involves the heart and its two networks of blood vessels, the system which circulates the blood throughout the body and the system which circulates the blood through the lungs.
Coronary artery diseases (CAD) are diseases of the arteries that supply the heart muscle with blood. CAD is one of the most common forms of heart disease and the leading cause of heart attacks. It generally comes from blood flow obstructions. The most common cause of such obstructions is a condition called atherosclerosis. Coronary artery disease can cause other heart problems, such as chest pain angina and heart attack (myocardial infarction).
Coronary heart disease is also known as ischemic heart disease and is similar to coronary artery disease but a broader term that refers to both diseases of the arteries and their resulting complications, (chest pain, heart attacks and scar tissue).
Cardiomyopathy is a condition that includes all diseases of the heart muscle. Types of cardiomyopathy include ischemic, which is caused by loss of heart muscle from a heart attack; dilated, which means the heart is enlarged; hypertrophic, which means the heart muscle is thickened; and idiopathic or dilated idopathic, which means an enlarged heart without a known cause.
To the left is a normal heart - It has a complex grouping of outer muscles that work together to pump blood through the body.
To the right is a weak, diseased heart - This is a heart with muscle disease. It looks larger than a healthy heart. A heart like this cannot pump blood properly.
Valvular heart disease is a disease of the heart valves, narrowing, leaking or improper closure.
Pericardial disease is a disease of the sac that encases the heart (pericardium). Fluid accumulation (pericardial effusion) and stiffness (constrictive pericarditis). These can occur alone or together.
Congenital heart diseases are forms of heart disease that develop before birth and affect the formation of the heart muscle or its chambers or valves. Some congenital heart defects may be apparent from the time of birth, while others may not be detected until later in life.
Heart failure is not a condition where the heart stops. It is a condition which describes the heart not being able to pump blood adequately to the body's organs and tissues. Vital organs don't get enough blood, and therefore oxygen, causing signs like shortness of breath, fluid retention and fatigue.
Blood vessels diseases
There are four types of blood vessels. They are:
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Arteries that carry blood away from your heart and out to your body, delivering oxygen and nutrients.
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Veins that carry deoxygenated blood back to your heart.
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Capillaries that connect arteries and veins.
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Lymphatics that carry this fluid back to the central circulatory system.
Types of blood vessel disorders include:
Arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis
Arteriosclerosis is a condition in which the walls of your arteries become thick and stiff. Restricting blood flow to organs and tissues.
Atherosclerosis is the most common form of arteriosclerosis, referring to hardening of the arteries caused by accumulation of fatty deposits (plaques), often calcified, develop on the inside of the arterial walls and eventually cause blockages which lead to cardiovascular disease.
When the arteries of the heart narrow, you may experience chest pain or a heart attack.
Atherosclerosis is the result of the body's attempt to ‘repair’ injuries to the inside of the arterial walls. These injuries come about because of weaknesses in the walls and their exposed stress from the constant pumping action of the heart. Stress is increased by high blood pressure (hypertension) and emotional trauma.

The prevention of heart disease, heart attacks and strokes is synonymous with the prevention of atherosclerosis.
High blood pressure
Hypertension is the excessive force of blood pumping through your blood vessels due to restrictions. It affects 1 in every 4 people.
It is important to remember that hypertension is not a condition. It is a symptom of an underlying problem...ie. narrowing arteries. In societies that do not have high cardiovascular disease rates, high-fat diets and obesity, or stressful, fast modern lives, hypertension does not occur. It is a common symptom of underlying stress or body malfunction. If this cause is pinpointed and treated, the hypertension will naturally subside to normal levels.
Common underlying causes that bring about high blood pressure including lifestyle issues such as excess alcohol, caffeine, high salt intake, hormone therapies, stress, anxiety and lack of exercise, as well as conditions like diabetes, arteriosclerosis, high cholesterol, and many of the cardiac diseases listed here.
Although potentially life-threatening, because hypertension is a symptom of a condition it is very much preventable and curable. If left untreated, the symptom will of course worsen, putting undue pressure on the heart muscle and depleting blood vessel strength. After a period of time this will lead to serious cardiac disease such as stroke and heart failure.
Stroke
A stroke is a sudden loss of brain function. It occurs when blood flowing to the brain is interrupted (ischemia) or when blood vessels in the brain rupture (haemorrhage). Stroke can cause a number of neurological complications.
Aneurysm
An aneurysm is a bulge or weakness in the wall of an artery or vein. Aneurysms usually enlarge over time, and because of this they have the potential to rupture and cause life-threatening bleeding. Aneurysms can occur in arteries in any location in your body.
Peripheral arterial disease and claudication
Claudication is when you experience pain in your arms or legs during exercise, a symptom of peripheral arterial disease. It is a disorder in which the arteries supplying blood to your limbs become clogged or partially blocked. Pain or cramping is commonly the first sign.
Vasculitis
This refers to an inflammation of the blood vessels. Vasculitis can affect the arteries, veins or capillaries. The inflammation may impair general blood flow.
Venous incompetence
This is a condition in which blood flows the wrong way through your veins. Veins have tiny valves that are designed to promote blood flow in a forward direction, i.e. back to the heart. However, if you happen to be suffering from infection, inflammation, abnormal blood clotting, or even high-back pressure in pregnancy, the valves may become damaged, allowing blood to flow backward and ‘pool’ in your legs.
Venous imcompetence can lead to the development of such complications as prominent and painful varicose veins, skin changes, ulcers and swelling in your legs.
When venous incompetence occurs in your arms, you may experience pain and swelling in your arms and prominent veins may appear.
Venous thrombosis
This is the formation of a blood clot (thrombus) in a vein that may damage the vein or it’s valves. Clots that break off and travel in the bloodstream can lodge in the lungs, (pulmonary embolism). This type of clot may cause a stroke. Deep vein thrombosis is where a similar clot develops deep within a muscle.
Varicose veins
This is a condition in which your veins become twisted and enlarged. The veins are usually located on the backs of your calves or on the inside of your legs. When valves in your veins don't function properly, blood can accumulate in your legs, causing the veins to bulge and twist.
Lymphedema
This is an obstruction of the lymphatic vessels that causes an excessive build-up of fluid, resulting in swelling and pain.