Heart disease is a serious condition which can often be prevented or treated with healthy lifestyle choices. MayoClinic.com reports that heart disease is a broad term which is used to describe a range of diseases that affect your heart. The various diseases which fall under the category of heart disease include diseases of your blood vessels, such as coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, heart infections, and congenital heart defects.
The term "heart disease" is generally used interchangeably with "cardiovascular disease." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that in the United States the most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease (CAD), which can lead to a heart attack. The CDC also reports that heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women.
Charles Fiegl has reported for American Medical News "Medicare now covers heart disease screening." The Medicare program now has expanded its coverage to include visits to physicians that screen for hypertension and prevent cardiovascular disease. Now visits with primary care physicians to discuss how to prevent heart disease is covered by the Medicare program at no additional out-of-pocket costs. This new service is aimed at preventing hypertension, coronary heart disease, heart failure and stroke.
The Medicare agency has outlined three basic elements for intensive behavioral therapy for cardiovascular risk. These elements include the encouragement of aspirin use for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease when the benefits are seen to outweigh the risks for men between 45 and 79 years old and for women between 55 and 79 years old, screening for high blood pressure in adults over 18 years old, and counseling aimed at promoting a healthy diet for adults with hyperlipidemia, hypertension, advanced age, and other known risk factors for cardiovascular and diet-related chronic disease.
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