cardiovascular is a major global health threat, causing illness and death worldwide.
Cardiovascular disease, commonly known as heart disease, encompasses a range of conditions that affect the heart. These conditions include problems with the blood vessels, structural abnormalities, and the formation of blood clots.
Here are some key factors to be aware of cardiovascular disease:
1) Types of Cardiovascular Diseases:
- Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): CAD, also known as coronary artery disease, is a common form of heart disease. The accumulation of plaque (atherosclerosis) in the coronary arteries, impacts the heart muscle.
- Heart failure: The inability of the heart to pump blood effectively may be due to either weakened heart muscles or the stiffening of the heart chambers.
- Cardiac arrhythmias: These heart rhythms aren’t consistent and can affect the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively.
- Valvular Heart Disease: Blood flow within the heart can be affected by damage or defects in the heart valves.
- Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD): PAD occurs when plaque accumulates in the arteries outside the heart, usually in the limbs, and decreases in blood flow.
2) Risk factors:
- Modifiable risk factors: These factors can be controlled or changed, like having high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, not being physically active, being overweight, and having diabetes.
- Non-Modifiable Risk Factors: These factors are within our control and can be altered, such as having hypertension, elevated cholesterol levels, smoking, lack of physical activity, being overweight, and having diabetes.
3) Causes:
- Atherosclerosis, a condition characterized by the buildup of fatty deposits (plaque) on the inner walls of arteries, is commonly linked to cardiovascular diseases. This accumulation of plaque leads to the narrowing and hardening of the arteries.
- Risk factors play a significant role in the development of atherosclerosis and other health issues that may eventually lead to cardiovascular diseases.
4) Symptoms:
Cardiovascular diseases can have different symptoms depending on the specific condition. Some common symptoms may include chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, experiencing fatigue, dizziness, palpitations, and swelling in the legs or abdomen.
5) Diagnosis:
To diagnose a condition, doctors usually rely on a combination of factors such as the patient’s medical history, a physical examination, blood tests, imaging studies such as electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, and angiograms, along with other specialized tests.
