Heart disease is the number one killer of Americans. The term heart disease includes a number of conditions that are disorders of the cardiovascular system (Cardio = heart and vascular = veins and arteries). That's why you might hear the term cardiovascular disease used interchangeably.
Your heart and your circulatory system work together to ensure that all the cells and organs of your body have the nutrients and oxygen they need to survive. The body is amazingly designed to protect this system through numerous checks and balances. Sometimes there is nothing you can do about your heart disease - you may have been born with it. But many Americans have heart conditions due to years of neglecting their health through lack of exercise, smoking, and eating fatty foods.
Heart disease is not one single condition but rather an umbrella term used to describe a variety of conditions associated with the heart. These include myocardial infarction (also called a heart attack), coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, and angina. Some common terms are heart attack, hardening of the arteries, high blood pressure, and chest pain.
To understand heart disease, it's important to first understand the various terms used by doctors. Knowing what the terms mean will go a long way toward helping you ask the right questions and understand the answers.