Heart Disease Defined

The body has a network of blood vessels including the Arteries that carry oxygen-rich blood Away from the heart and the veins that carry oxygen-poor blood to the heart. Problems with the arteries, like stiffening or plaque build-up, can lead to impaired blood flow to vital organs-including the heart itself. Heart disease refers to several types of heart conditions with the most common being coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease can cause myocardial infarction (heart attack), angina (chest pain), heart failure, and arrhythmias (disruption in the rhythm of the heart beat).