What is cardiovascular disease?
How is it different from heart disease? Cardiovascular pertains to cardio (heart) and vascular (blood vessels). Thus, cardiovascular disease (CVD) refers to dysfunctional conditions of the heart (heart disease) and vessels (particularly the arteries) that supply oxygen to organs and tissues throughout the body, including the brain, heart, and other vital organs. CVD includes arteriosclerosis, coronary artery disease, heart valve disease, arrhythmia, heart failure, hypertension, orthostatic hypotension, shock, endocarditis, diseases of the aorta and its branches, disorders of the peripheral vascular system, and congenital heart disease and stroke. Heart Disease Facts: The most common heart condition in the United States is coronary heart disease (CHD) which can lead to heart attack and other serious heart conditions). Prevalence of heart disease in the United States: • 15.8 million people have some form of coronary heart disease. • 7.9 million have myocardial infarction (MI or heart att
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is not one single disease or condition. It is a group of different disorders that affect your heart and blood vessels. You are born with some types of cardiovascular diseases, and you develop others during your lifetime. Learn more about specific cardiovascular conditions and diseases using the links below.
• Heart disease • Heart attack • Stroke • High blood pressure (hypertension) • Angina • Thrombosis (blood clots) • PAD (peripheral arterial disease) • Varicose veins • And many more… …is the predominant cause of death and disability in the United States and other industrialized nations. It accounts for more than 1-½ times the number of deaths caused by all forms of cancer together. There are four general categories of cardiovascular disease that account for 90% of all cardiac deaths; ischemic heart disease, high blood pressure, valvular problems and congenital heart disease. Ischemic heart disease is the most common of these four categories. Ischemia is defined as an imbalance between the supply and demand of the heart for oxygenated blood. As the arteries that feed a tissue become progressively more clogged with plaque, there is a reduction in the amount of blood that is able to be perfused into the area. Your heart is a muscle that never takes a break, it is going 24 hours a day,
Cardiovascular disease is actually a group of diseases that affect the heart and arteries. It is the most prevalent cause of death in the United States, claiming approximately 1 million lives each year*. The most common form of cardiovascular disease is coronary artery disease. It results from atherosclerosis, plaque deposits in the arteries that lead to a narrowing and possible occlusion of the coronary vessels. The resulting lack of blood supply to the heart can cause a heart attack. Risk factors directly attributable to coronary heart disease are elevated total cholesterol levels with increased levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDLs). Other risk factors are smoking, sedentary lifestyle, obesity and high stress levels. Drinking soymilk that contains soy protein, such as WestSoy Plus, may help reduce the risk of heart disease. * American Heart Association: http://www.americanheart.
Heart and blood vessel disease — cardiovascular disease — includes numerous problems, many of which are related to a process called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a condition that develops when a substance called plaque builds up in the walls of the arteries. This buildup narrows the arteries, making it harder for blood to flow through. If a blood clot forms, it can stop the blood flow. This can cause a heart attack or stroke. An ischemic stroke (the most common type) happens when a blood vessel that feeds the brain gets blocked, usually from a blood clot. When the blood supply to a part of the brain is shut off, brain cells will die. The result will be the inability to carry out some of the previous functions as before like walking or talking. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel within the brain bursts. The most likely cause is uncontrolled hypertension. Some effects of stroke are permanent if too many brain cells die after a stroke due to lack of blood and oxygen to
