Also called: Cardiac disease

If you're like most people, you think that heart disease is a problem for other folks. But heart disease is the number one killer in the U.S. It is also a major cause of disability. There are many different forms of heart disease. The most common cause of heart disease is narrowing or blockage of the coronary Arteries, the Blood vessels that supply blood to the heart itself. This is called coronary artery disease and happens slowly over time. It's the major reason people have heart attacks.

Other kinds of heart problems may happen to the valves in the heart, or the heart may not pump well and cause heart failure. Some people are born with heart disease.

You can help reduce your risk of heart disease by taking steps to control factors that put you at greater risk:

• Control your blood pressure
• Lower your Cholesterol
• Don't smoke
• Get enough Exercise

Diagnosis/Symptoms
Cardiac Catheterization (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
Cardiac CT (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
Cardiac MRI (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
Computer Imaging / Tomography (American Heart Association)
Coronary Angiogram and Angioplasty (Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player
Diagnostic Tests and Procedures (Texas Heart Institute)
Echocardiogram (Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player
Echocardiography (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
Echocardiography Stress Test (Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player
Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
Frequently Asked Questions about Transesophageal Echocardiograms (American Society of Echocardiography)
Heart Guide: What Is Nuclear Medicine? (Cleveland Clinic Foundation)
Invasive Tests (Cleveland Clinic Foundation)
Laboratory Tests (Cleveland Clinic Foundation)
Most Common Heart Ultrasound: Transthoracic Echocardiogram (American Society of Echocardiography)
Nuclear Heart Scan (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
Radiographic Tests (Cleveland Clinic Foundation)
Stress Testing (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)

Treatment
MedlinePlus: Heart Surgery (National Library of Medicine)
What Are Anticoagulants and Antiplatelet Agents? (American Heart Association) - Links to PDF

Prevention/Screening
Cardiac Risk Assessment (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
Cholesterol Test (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
hs-CRP (High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein) (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
Lipid Profile (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
MedlinePlus: Heart Diseases--Prevention (National Library of Medicine)

Rehabilitation/Recovery
Cardiac Rehabilitation (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
Cardiac Rehabilitation (Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player
Cardiac Rehabilitation: Building a Better Life After Heart Disease (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Additional Resources & Information
American Heart Association
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute