What is Heart Disease?

Heart disease refers to a number of afflictions that affect the heart’s ability to circulate blood around the body. It is the most common cause of death in the US as well as most of Europe, with almost half a million Americans dying of heart related illnesses each year. Heart disease also refers to conditions affecting the arteries that convey blood, as well as the heart itself.

Types of heart disease include:

• Valvular heart disease (a condition affecting one or more of the four major heart valves)
• Inflammatory heart disease (a condition affecting the actual heart muscle or the tissue that surrounds it)
• Hypertensive heart disease (a condition caused by high blood pressure)
• Ischaemic heart disease (a condition that reduces blood supply to the organs of the body)
• Cardiovascular heart disease (can be any condition affecting the actual heart or the blood vessels around it)
• Heart failure (any condition that causes the heart to break down and stop functioning)

Heart disease: The Facts

• Heart disease affects an equal amount of women as it does men
• Deaths vary according to ethnicity and geography
• 37% of Americans have two or more of the factors that contribute to heart disease (see below)
• In 2010, heart disease cost the nation over $300bn
• Every 34 seconds, an American citizen suffers a heart attack

Influencing Factors

Several lifestyle choices and medical conditions can increase the risk of heart disease, particularly in those over 35 years of age. Those who should be wary of an increased risk of heart disease include:

• Cigarette smokers
• Sufferers of obesity
• Those with diabetes
• Those with high blood pressure
• Those with high cholesterol
• Regular alcohol users
• Inactive persons
• Those who maintain a poor diet

By reversing certain lifestyle choices and carefully monitoring medical conditions, you can greatly reduce the risk of heart disease and enjoy a greater feeling of personal wellbeing. Contact your local healthcare professional for advice on further reducing the risk of heart disease.

Need Help with Health Insurance for a Pre-exisiting Condition?

Do you have trouble finding adequate insurance coverage due to a pre-existing condition such as heart disease? You can get comprehensive health insurance for pre-exisiting conditions right here from one of our professional agents working in 48 states! Apply online, compare quotes and choose a policy. Submit the online form at the top of this page and get covered today.