What if you don't treat heart disease?

There is a natural progression of events that may occur if heart disease and its risk factors are left untreated.

1. Factors such as smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, if left untreated, lead to the formation of plaque in the lining of the arteries, increasing the risk of coronary artery disease, angina, heart attack, and stroke.
2. A heart that has suffered a heart attack may become weaker and may not be strong enough to pump enough oxygen-rich blood to satisfy the needs of the body. This condition is called heart failure.
3. A heart attack also increases the risk of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmia). This may reduce the ability of the heart to pump in an effective manner.

To prevent this progression of events from occurring, we need to take care of our heart disease risk factors. See "Preventing heart disease" for strategies to reduce your risk of heart disease and for ways to improve your heart health. The Heart Disease Risk Tool will help you calculate your risk for heart disease over the next 10 years. Be sure to refer to the Doctor Discussion Guide so that you are ready to discuss your particular heart health plan of action when you visit your doctor.