Here Are The Specific Types Of Heart Disease:

Coronary artery disease
These are diseases of the arteries that supply the heart muscle with blood. Sometimes known as CAD, coronary artery disease is one of the most common forms of heart disease and the leading cause of heart attacks. It generally means that blood flow through the coronary arteries has become obstructed. The most common cause of such obstructions is a condition called atherosclerosis, a largely preventable type of vascular disease. Coronary artery disease can lead to other heart problems, such as chest pain (angina) and heart attack (myocardial infarction).

Coronary heart disease
Though similar sounding, this isn't quite the same thing as coronary artery disease. You can impress your cardiologist on your next visit — if not your colleagues around the water cooler — if you can explain the difference. Coronary heart disease is a broader term that refers collectively to both diseases of the coronary arteries and their resulting complications, such as chest pain, heart attacks and even scar tissue caused by the heart attack. Remember, coronary artery disease is a disease affecting only the arteries. A heart attack, in contrast, affects the heart muscle.

Cardiomyopathy
This is a condition that includes all diseases of the heart muscle. Some types of cardiomyopathy are genetic, while others occur for reasons that are less well understood. Types of cardiomyopathy include ischemic, which is caused by loss of heart muscle from a heart attack; dilated, which means the heart is enlarged; hypertrophic, which means the heart muscle is thickened; and idiopathic, which means the cause is unknown. One of the most common types of cardiomyopathy is idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy — an enlarged heart without a known cause.

Valvular heart disease
These are diseases of the heart valves. A series of valves within your heart keeps blood flowing in the right direction. Valves may be damaged by a variety of conditions leading to narrowing (stenosis), leaking (regurgitation or insufficiency) or improper closing (prolapse). You may be born with valvular disease, or the valves may be damaged by such conditions as rheumatic fever, infections (infectious endocarditis), connective tissue disorders, and certain medications or radiation treatments for cancer.

Pericardial disease
These are diseases of the sac that encases the heart (pericardium). Pericardial disorders include inflammation (pericarditis), fluid accumulation (pericardial effusion) and stiffness (constrictive pericarditis). These can occur alone or together. The causes of pericardial disease vary, as do the problems they may lead to. For instance, pericarditis can occur after a heart attack and, as a result, lead to pericardial effusion or chest pain.

Congenital heart disease
These are forms of heart disease that develop before birth (congenital). Congenital heart disease is a broad term and includes a wide range of diseases and conditions. These diseases can affect the formation of the heart muscle or its chambers or valves. They include such conditions as narrowing of a section of the aorta (coarctation) or holes in the heart (atrial or ventricular septal defect). Some congenital heart defects may be apparent right at the time of birth, while others may not be detected until later in life.

Heart failure
Heart failure, often called congestive heart failure, is a condition in which the heart can't pump enough blood to your body's organs and tissues. It doesn't mean your heart has failed and can't pump blood at all. With this less effective pumping, vital organs don't get enough blood, causing such signs and symptoms as shortness of breath, fluid retention and fatigue. Congestive heart failure is technically reserved for situations in which heart failure has led to fluid buildup in the body. Not all heart failure is congestive, but the terms are often used interchangeably. Heart failure may develop suddenly or over many years. It may occur as a result of other cardiovascular conditions that have damaged or weakened the heart, such as coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathy.