Types of Heart Diseases

March 21, 2023

3 min read

Heart disease is an umbrella term for a group of conditions that affect the heart. Heart disease is technically a type of cardiovascular disease, which is a group of diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels.

Heart disease is very common - more than 30 million adults in the United States have been diagnosed with the condition. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 2020, heart disease claimed the lives of about 670,000 Americans - that works out to about one death every 34 seconds.

The 7 Common Types of Heart Disease

1. Coronary artery disease

Coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease. About 18.2 million Americans have CAD.

The coronary arteries are the blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood to the heart. Coronary artery disease (CAD) happens when these arteries cannot carry deliver enough blood to keep the heart functioning well. Blockages in the coronary arteries can decrease blood flow to your heart muscle. Hardening of the arteries, a condition known as atherosclerosis, may also inhibit blood flow to your heart muscle.

Reduced blood flow to your heart muscle can cause chest pain, also known as angina, and shortness of breath. Complete blockage of blood flow to your heart can cause a heart attack.

2. Arrhythmias

For maximum efficiency, your heart beats with a regular rhythm. Irregular heart rhythms, known as arrhythmias, can cause the heart muscle to quiver rather than to beat strongly.

3. Heart failure

Heart failure is a condition in which your heart muscle does not pump blood well enough to meet your body’s needs. Coronary artery disease is the most common cause of heart failure.

4. Heart valve disease

Each beat of your heart pushes blood through the four chambers of your heart and through your blood vessels. In between heartbeats, though, your blood can flow backwards - doctors refer to this as reflux. One-way valves in your blood vessels and heart chambers prevent reflux: these valves open when your heart beats and closes when your heart rests, trapping blood in the chambers in between heartbeats.

Heart valve disease happens when one or more valves in your heart do not open and close well, and allow blood to leak back into the heart’s chambers. This can lead to heart failure, sudden cardiac arrest, and death.

Diseases of the heart valve include:

Endocarditis - caused by an infection (usually bacterial) of the blood

Rheumatic heart disease - rheumatic fever, which is linked to scarlet fever and strep throat, can damage the heart muscle and valves

About 2.5 percent of Americans have heart valve disease, also known as valvular heart disease. Heart valve disease is more common among older adults.

5. Pericardial disease

The pericardium is a sac that surrounds the heart. Pericardial disease is a group of conditions that affect the pericardium. Pericardial disease most often develops several weeks or months after heart surgery, heart attack, or other serious trauma to the heart.

Swelling and irritation of the pericardium, known as pericarditis, is one of the most common types of pericardial diseases. The inflammation can cause layers of the pericardium to swell up and rub against each other as the heart muscle contracts and relaxes.

6. Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy causes the heart muscle to stretch, thicken or stiffen. The condition can cause the heart to become too weak to pump well. Genetic heart conditions, reactions to certain medications or toxins, and infections are possible causes. Chemotherapy can also cause cardiomyopathy. In many cases, doctors cannot determine the underlying cause.

7. Congenital heart disease

Congenital conditions develop in the womb. Some congenital heart diseases cause problems immediately after birth, while others do not cause issues until the person is an adult.

Holes in wall the separate the left and right sides of the heart, known as septal abnormalities, are the most common type of congenital heart diseases. A surgeon can patch the hole.

Heart disease is a serious condition that requires the attention and care of a doctor. For more information on the various types of heart disease, consult with a physician.