Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men in the United States. Understanding the signs and symptoms and getting regular screenings can mean the difference between life and death. Heart Disease Explained Heart disease refers to several types of heart conditions . The most common in men are: coronary artery disease caused by plaque in the artery walls arrhythmia caused by the heart beating too slowly, too fast or irregularly heart failure, which occurs when the heart is too weak to pump enough blood to other organs Heart disease boosts your risk for heart attacks and sudden