What causes heart disease?
Sep 16, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Tian Hongbo
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, the main causes of heart disease include aging, unhealthy lifestyle habits, hypertension, diabetes, and coronary atherosclerosis. If symptoms such as chest tightness, chest pain, or palpitations occur, it is recommended to seek timely medical attention and treatment at a正规 hospital. In daily life, one should maintain a regular作息 schedule and avoid excessive fatigue. Additionally, it is important to engage in regular moderate exercise to strengthen heart and lung function.
Generally, the main causes of heart disease include aging, unhealthy lifestyle habits, high blood pressure, diabetes, and coronary atherosclerosis. If symptoms such as chest tightness, chest pain, or palpitations occur, it is recommended to seek timely medical evaluation and treatment at a正规 hospital. Specific details are as follows:
1. Aging
As people age, cardiac muscle cells gradually deteriorate and lose elasticity, leading to weakened heart contraction and relaxation functions. Blood vessel walls thicken and stiffen, reducing vascular elasticity, which increases the risk of heart disease. Regular cardiac examinations—such as electrocardiograms (ECG) and echocardiography—should be performed to monitor heart health.
2. Unhealthy Lifestyle Habits
Long-term smoking damages vascular endothelial cells, causing narrowing or blockage of blood vessels. Excessive alcohol consumption increases the heart's workload and disrupts myocardial metabolism. Chronic sleep deprivation disrupts the body’s biological clock, leading to hormonal imbalances that affect normal heart rhythm. Diets high in fat and sugar can lead to obesity, increasing the heart's burden—all of which may trigger heart disease. It is essential to quit smoking, limit alcohol intake, avoid staying up late, and ensure 7–8 hours of sleep each night.
3. High Blood Pressure
Prolonged high blood pressure places excessive strain on arterial walls, causing them to thicken and harden. This often leads to left ventricular hypertrophy, impairing the heart's pumping function and potentially resulting in heart disease. Under medical supervision, medications such as amlodipine besylate tablets, valsartan capsules, and metoprolol tartrate tablets can be used to control blood pressure, reduce strain on the heart and blood vessels, and alleviate disease progression.
4. Diabetes
Poor long-term blood glucose control damages vascular endothelial cells, leading to narrowed or blocked blood vessels and impaired blood supply to the myocardium. It also harms nerve tissues, disrupting normal heart function and increasing the risk of heart disease. Under a doctor’s guidance, medications such as metformin hydrochloride tablets, glimepiride tablets, and insulin injections can help regulate blood glucose levels and reduce damage to the heart and blood vessels caused by hyperglycemia.
5. Coronary Atherosclerosis
Abnormal lipid metabolism leads to the accumulation of cholesterol and other lipids on the walls of the coronary arteries, forming atherosclerotic plaques. This narrows or blocks the arteries, causing insufficient blood supply to the myocardium and triggering conditions such as angina pectoris and myocardial infarction. In mild cases, medications such as enteric-coated aspirin tablets, rosuvastatin calcium tablets, and isosorbide nitrate tablets may be prescribed under medical supervision to inhibit platelet aggregation, lower blood lipids, and dilate the coronary arteries. In severe cases, procedures such as coronary stent implantation or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) may be required to restore adequate blood flow to the heart muscle.
In daily life, it is important to maintain a regular schedule and avoid overexertion; engage in moderate physical activity regularly to strengthen cardiovascular and pulmonary function; maintain emotional stability and avoid extreme mood fluctuations; strictly adhere to prescribed medications, attend regular follow-up appointments, and adjust treatment plans promptly to preserve heart health.
