According to the American Heart Association, one in three Americans is affected with heart disease, the nation's leading cause of death. There are many kinds of heart disease, and they can affect the heart in several ways. But the ultimate problem with all varieties of heart disease is that, in one way or another, they can disrupt the vital pumping action of the heart.

The heart is the organ that pumps blood, with its life-giving oxygen and nutrients, to all tissues of the body. If the pumping action of the heart becomes inefficient, vital organs such as the brain and kidneys suffer. If the heart stops working altogether, death occurs within minutes. Life itself is completely dependent on the efficient operation of the heart.

Common heart conditions include:

More information, including information on symptoms and prevention, can be found at The American Heart Association's website.