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Heart Disease

Definition

Heart disease refers to a range of conditions that affect your heart. These include blood vessel diseases, such as coronary artery disease; heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias); and heart defects you're born with (congenital heart defects), among others.

Analogy

Think of the heart as a pump in a complex plumbing system. If the pipes get clogged (coronary artery disease) or if the pump starts beating irregularly (arrhythmia), then the whole system can break down.

Related terms

Coronary Artery Disease: This is a type of heart disease where plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries which supply oxygen-rich blood to your heart muscle.

Arrhythmia: This is a condition with irregular heartbeat. It means your heart may beat too fast, too slow or irregularly.

Congenital Heart Defects: These are problems with the structure of the heart that are present at birth. They can involve the walls of the heart, valves of the heart and arteries and veins near it.