Cardiac Conditions

Cardiovascular disease is a problem in your heart or blood vessels. Many of these problems have similar names, like heart attack and heart failure, or cardiac arrest and sudden cardiac death. It can be hard to keep them all straight. This section will help you sort out the differences among the most common types of cardiovascular disease.

Types of Cardiovascular Disease

Condition	What happens?	What does it look like?
Problems with the Heart's Electrical System
Bradycardia	The heart beats more slowly than normal – usually less than 60 beats per minute. As a result, your heart may not pump enough blood to meet your body's needs, and you may feel tired or dizzy.
Tachycardia	The heart beats more quickly than normal – usually more than 100 beats per minute. As a result, your heart may not pump enough blood to meet your body's needs. If left untreated, some types of tachycardia can lead to sudden cardiac death (SCD).
Atrial fibrillation	The heart's upper chambers (the atria) quiver between 300 and 600 times per minute. The atria never fully contract, so some blood may stay in the atria with each heartbeat. The pooled blood could clot, increasing your risk of stroke.
Problems with the Heart's Pumping Ability
Heart failure	The heart doesn't work as well as it should, so it is unable to pump enough blood to meet your body's needs. Heart failure is a serious problem that develops gradually over time in a damaged heart—sometimes over years.
Problems with the Heart's Arteries
Coronary artery disease (CAD) or heart disease	Fatty plaque builds up in one or more coronary arteries, so less blood flows through to the heart muscle. CAD increases your risk for a heart attack.
Heart attack	A part of the heart muscle dies or is permanently damaged because it didn't get enough blood. Once your heart is damaged, you're at higher risk for heart failure and sudden cardiac death (SCD).
Problems with the Arteries Outside the Heart
Peripheral vascular disease (PVD)	Fatty plaque builds up in an artery outside your heart, so less blood flows through to your body. Depending on which artery is blocked, this can cause minor symptoms, like numbness, or a major problem, like a stroke.