What are the main reasons for heart disease?

What are the main reasons for heart disease?

The most important cause of heart disease is narrowing of the blood vessels of heart,  known as coronary artery disease. The risk factors for coronary artery disease are classified into modifiable and non modifiable. The non modifiable ones are genetic predisposition, age and male gender. As age advances, the chance for narrowing of coronary arteries increases. The modifiable ones are smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and high blood sugar. Stress also contributes to destabilisation of a stable coronary artery disease. If a stable plaque in a coronary artery becomes unstable by fissuring or rupture, a clot forms over it, totally occluding it.

Another important cause of heart disease, especially in children is congenital or birth defects in the development of the heart. Still another disease which is becoming more common in children is Kawasaki disease, which can affect the blood vessels of the heart and cause a heart attack later.

In developing countries, rheumatic heart disease as a consequence of infection with a certain type of bacteria known as streptococci, is also common cause of valvular heart disease. Infections of the heart by viruses, bacteria and protozoa also contribute to burden of heart diseases.