OVERVIEW:
Heart, or cardiovascular or cardiac, disease refers to any type of ailment in the human heart; cardiovascular applies to both heart and blood vessels. While there are several types of heart disease, coronary heart disease (CHD)—also called coronary artery disease (CAD)—is the most common. CHD occurs when coronary arteries build up plaque, causing bloodflow to the heart muscle to be diminished or blocked—and often resulting in heart attacks. Symptoms of heart disease typically do not show until late into the disease when a heart attack occurs. Other types of heart disease include:

• Angina: chest pain that occurs when the heart isn’t getting enough blood
• Aortic aneurysm and dissection: a condition in which the heart’s aorta enlargens and ruptures
• Arrhythmia: an abnormally fast or slow heartbeat
• Cardiomyopathy: refers to all diseases of the heart muscle
• Congenital heart disease: refers to a wide range of heart diseases and conditions that occur in pregnancy or at birth
• Heart failure: when the heart can no longer supply adequate blood to organs and tissues
• Peripheral arterial disease (PAD): when artherosclerosis, or a build-up plaque in arteries throughout the body
• Rheumatic heart disease: occurs when inflammation and damage to heart valves and other structures is caused by rheumatic fever

Heart disease is the number-one killer of Americans, taking the lives of almost 700,000 people each year, according to the CDC; they also state that nearly seven million people worldwide die because of coronary heart disease annually. Yet is doesn’t need to be. There is much you can do take control of poor dietary habits and in eliminating or reducing risk factors, such as: obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, use of tobacco and alcohol, and a lack of exercise. Although there may not be much you can do about hereditary conditions, you can be much more conscious of your lifestyle.

HOW TO GET INSURANCE:

Life insurance: Insurance options can be limited for those afflicted with heart disease. According to the AHA, it’s best to apply for life insurance as a young adult—though it may still be more expensive for a normally healthy young adult. If you apply for a policy that does require medical information, ensure that all your health records are up to date as they will be used to determine your premium. Some firms, though, provide guaranteed coverage and allow you to apply for a policy without a medical exam or health questions. A no-hassle policy may be your best bet.

Health insurance: As with other chronic diseases, it is important to hold onto you health insurance policy so that you can afford consistent medical care and treatment. If your policy lapses, you may find it difficult to get health coverage, or that you are subject to pre-existing condition waiting periods, which can last as long as a year. Also, insurance companies will consider you a high-risk patient and either charge you very high premiums or not offer you coverage at all. If you already have health insurance coverage, you may want to seek supplemental coverage to offset your treatment costs. You will also want to ensure that your plan lets you see cardiologists.


Learn more:
American Heart Association (AHA): Insurance, Legal Issues, and Advance Directives
americanheart.org

NUTRITION, EXERCISE, AND WELL-BEING:
Heart disease is the biggest killer of women and men in America today (more than 25% of all deaths); women are especially at risk. Yet being proactive about your diet can go a long way in preventing heart disease—and sets a positive example to your children and loved ones. Focus on choosing foods that contain less fat and less sodium—such as deep-fried and processed foods—and have fewer calories. Many people at risk for heart disease need to greatly increase their daily servings of fruits and vegetables, and consume more omega-3 (in fish, vegetable oils, and supplements). Eating more fiber-rich foods will also help helps weight loss and maintenance; being overweight can lead to heart disease. You’ll want to do all you can now to prevent high cholesterol (which can lead to artery blockage) and high blood pressure (which strains the heart). And as with any healthy lifestyle, regular exercise is very important. Studies show that physical activity is effective at helping to prevent heart disease.

Learn more:
The Healthy Fridge: What Should I Eat?
healthyfridge.org
Heart Health: Cause and Prevention
health-heart.org
Women’s Heart Disease (plenty of info on nutrition, wellness, and exercise)
womensheartfoundation.org
US Department of Health and Human Services: Women’s Health: Heart Healthy Eating FAQ
womenshealth.gov/faq
USDA: Diet and Disease: Heart Health
fnic.nal.usda.gov
USFDA: Eating for a Healthy Heart
fda.gov


PATIENT RESOURCES:
American Heart Association (AHA)
americanheart.org
AHA: Heart Attack, Stroke and Cardiac Arrest Warning Signs
americanheart.org
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Chronic Disease Prevention
cdc.gov
CDC: Heart Disease
cdc.gov
CDC: Heart Disease and Stroke Maps
apps.nccd.cdc.gov
MedlinePlus: Heart Diseases
nlm.nih.gov
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: Heart and Vascular Disease Information
nhlbi.nih.gov