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Heart disease

July 14, 2023

Reviewed by Mallika Marshall, MD, Contributing Editor

The human heart beats about 2.5 billion times over an average lifetime, pushing millions of gallons of blood throughout the body. This steady blood flow carries oxygen, hormones, and other compounds. It also whisks away the waste products of metabolism.

Given the heart's never-ending workload, it's a wonder it performs so well for so long. But it can also fail, brought down by poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking, infection, unfavorable genes, and more.

Heart disease and cardiovascular disease are two of the most significant heart health issues. They are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same.

Heart disease refers to diseases of the heart, such as coronary artery disease, heart failure, heart valve abnormalities, and abnormal heart rhythms.

Cardiovascular disease is a catch-all term for all heart and blood vessel diseases. It includes heart disease, and also stroke.

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