Pain is part of the body’s defense system against injury—it brings our attention to the need to protect ourselves. Chronic pain occurs when this system is working incorrectly, either by sending pain signals in the absence of damage or threat, or by exaggerating the signals it sends in the presence of an enduring or old injury. Pain takes many forms, including headaches or migraines, lower back, cancer, or arthritis pain, neurogenic pain (which results from nerve damage), or psychogenic pain (pain occurring without any visible sign of damage or past injury).

Heart Disease is the leading cause of death is the United States. The most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease (CAD), which affects the small vessels that supply blood to the heart itself, and is the major cause of heart attacks. There may be problems associated with other systems of the heart, including arrhythmias (which affect the electrical conduction system and cause the heart to beat irregularly), heart valve disease, cardiomegaly (increase in heart size that affects its ability to pump blood), and heart failure. While heart disease can be deadly, it is also preventable in most cases. For patients with a heart condition, adopting healthy habits can go a long way in preventing its progression.