Oxygen-poor blood from the body enters your heart through two large veins called the superior and inferior vena cava. The blood enters the heart's right atrium and is pumped to your right ventricle, which in turn pumps the blood to your lungs.
Your heartbeat is the contraction of your heart to pump blood to your lungs and the rest of your body. Your heart's electrical system determines how fast your heart beats.
Coronary heart disease is a type of heart disease that occurs when the arteries of the heart cannot deliver enough oxygen -rich blood to the heart muscle due to narrowing from the buildup of fatty deposits called plaque . It is also sometimes called coronary artery disease or ischemic heart disease.
Your risk of coronary heart disease increases based on the number of risk factors you have and how serious they are. Some risk factors — such as high blood pressure and unhealthy cholesterol levels can be adjusted through heart-healthy lifestyle changes. Other risk factors, such as your age, family history, and race and ethnicity, cannot be changed.
Overview Cardiomyopathy (kahr-dee-o-my-OP-uh-thee) is a disease of the heart muscle. It causes the heart to have a harder time pumping blood to the rest of the body, which can lead to symptoms of heart failure. Cardiomyopathy also can lead to some other serious heart conditions. There are various types of cardiomyopathy. The main types include dilated, hypertrophic and restrictive ...
A heart attack occurs when an artery that sends blood and oxygen to the heart is blocked. Fatty, cholesterol-containing deposits build up over time, forming plaques in the heart's arteries. If a plaque ruptures, a blood clot can form. The clot can block arteries, causing a heart attack. During a heart attack, a lack of blood flow causes the tissue in the heart muscle to die.
In addition to heart disease, studies have linked UPFs to weight gain, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer, and other problems. Studies show that UPFs are also linked to health disparities, as populations with low socioeconomic status tend to eat higher amounts of these foods.
Take Action Toward Better Heart Health: Eat a Heart-Healthy Diet A healthy diet that is low in sodium and saturated fat is key to heart disease prevention. Try the highly rated Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan. It recommends: Eating vegetables, fruits, and whole grains