February is Heart Month

As February is Health Month read below to learn some important facts courtesy of the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada.

First of all, what is heart disease?

Heart disease is actually an umbrella term for a host of conditions affecting the structure and functions of the heart and has a multitude of causes. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most commons of these conditions and occurs when the blood vessels in the heart become either clogged or narrowed, preventing oxygen-rich blood from reaching the heart. It can cause the chest pain known as angina or even heart attack.

Below is comprehensive list of heart conditions:
-Angina
-Arrhythmia
-Artherosclerosis
-Cardiomyopathy
-Congenital heart disease
-Congestive heart failure
-Coronary artery disease
-Heart attack
-Heart block
-Infective (bacterial) endocarditis
-Kawasaki disease
-Long Q-T syndrome
-Marfan syndrome
-Pericarditis
-Rheumatic heart disease
-Valve disorders

Happily heart disease is typically preventable and manageable as it is strongly correlated to lifestyle factors. These include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, stress, excessive alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and being overweight.