Heart disease is a condition when the heart is disturbed. The form of the disorder itself is various, it can be a disorder of the heart blood vessels, heart valves, or heart muscle. Heart disease can also be caused by infection or birth defects.
The heart is a muscle that is divided into four chambers. Two rooms are located at the top, namely the right and left atrium. While two more chambers are located at the bottom, namely the right and left ventricles (chambers). Between the right and left chambers, there is a muscular wall (septum) that prevents oxygen-rich blood from mixing with oxygen-poor blood.
The heart also has valves that regulate blood flow between the atria and ventricles. These valves will open and close alternately according to the heartbeat.
The main function of the heart is to flow oxygen-rich blood to all parts of the body. If all the organs of the body have used oxygen, the oxygen-poor blood will return to the heart, then return to the lungs to be filled with oxygen.
After being enriched with oxygen in the lungs, the blood will return to the heart to be circulated throughout the body. Some of the oxygen-rich blood will also flow to the heart itself through the coronary blood vessels that cover all parts of the heart. The blood circulation cycle occurs repeatedly.
The heart also has two membranes called the pericardium. Its function is to protect the heart, keep the heart in place, and prevent injury from friction when it beats.
It should be known that heart disease sufferers are a group of people who are prone to experience severe symptoms of COVID-19. If you suffer from heart disease and experience symptoms of COVID-19, it is best to see a doctor. Click the link below so that you can be directed to the nearest health facility:
- Rapid Antibody Test
- Antigen Swab (Rapid Antigen Test)
- PCR
Types of Heart Disease
The term heart disease covers a variety of heart disorders, including:
- Coronary artery disease (coronary heart disease), which is narrowing of the blood vessels of the heart
- Arrhythmias or heart rhythm disturbances
- Congenital heart disease, which is a heart abnormality from birth
- Cardiomyopathy or disorder of the heart muscle
- Heart infection, either due to bacteria, viruses, or parasites
- Heart valve disease, which is a disorder of one or all four heart valves
Symptoms of Heart Disease
Symptoms of heart disease depend on the type of heart disease experienced by the sufferer. However, the symptoms that usually appear as a result of heart disease are:
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Swelling in the legs
- Drown
- Pass out
Treatment and Prevention of Heart Disease
The treatment of heart disease depends on the type of disease suffered. The treatment method can be a change in lifestyle to become healthier, the administration of drugs, and operations, such as heart transplantation.
Heart disease can be prevented by avoiding risk factors. Some of the ways that can be done are:
- No smoking
- Exercise regularly
- Consume complete and balanced nutritious healthy food
- Check yourself with a doctor regularly , especially if you have a disease that increases your risk of heart disease, such as high blood pressure