All You Need To Know About Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease

The term "heart disease" is often used interchangeably with the term "cardiovascular disease." Cardiovascular disease (CVD) generally refers to conditions that involve narrowed or blocked blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack, chest pain (angina) or stroke. Other heart conditions, such as those that affect your heart's muscle, valves or rhythm, also are considered forms of heart disease.

Types of cardiovascular diseases

There are many different types of CVD. Few of the types are described below.

Coronary heart disease

Arteriosclerosis/Atherosclerosis

Ischemic heart disease

Hypertension

Heart failure

Hyper lipidaemia

Coronary heart disease

Coronary heart disease occurs when the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle is blocked or reduced.

This puts an increased strain on the heart, and can lead to:

·         angina – chest pain caused by restricted blood flow to the heart muscle

·         heart attacks – where the blood flow to the heart muscle is suddenly blocked

·         heart failure – where the heart is unable to pump blood around the body properly

 

Read more about coronary heart disease.

Arteriosclerosis/Atherosclerosis

Arteriosclerosis occurs when the blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients from your heart to the rest of your body (arteries) become thick and stiff — sometimes restricting blood flow to your organs and tissues. Healthy arteries are flexible and elastic, but over time, the walls in your arteries can harden, a condition commonly called hardening of the arteries.

Atherosclerosis is a specific type of arteriosclerosis, but the terms are sometimes used interchangeably. Atherosclerosis refers to the buildup of fats, cholesterol and other substances in and on your artery walls (plaque), which can restrict blood flow.

The plaque can burst, triggering a blood clot. Although atherosclerosis is often considered a heart problem, it can affect arteries anywhere in your body. Atherosclerosis may be preventable and is treatable.

Read more about Arteriosclerosis/Atherosclerosis.

Ischemic Heart Disease

Ischemic (or ischemic) heart disease is a disease characterized by reduced blood supply to the heart. It is the most common cause of death in most western countries. Ischemia means a "reduced blood supply".

The coronary arteries supply blood to the heart muscle and no alternative blood supply exists, so a blockage in the coronary arteries reduces the supply of blood to heart muscle. Most ischemic heart disease is caused by atherosclerosis, usually present even when the artery lumens appear normal by angiography.

Initially there is sudden severe narrowing or closure of either the large coronary arteries and/or of coronary artery end branches by debris showering downstream in the flowing blood. It is usually felt as angina, especially if a large area is affected. The narrowing or closure is predominantly caused by the covering of atheromatous plaques within the wall of the artery rupturing, in turn leading to a heart attack (Heart attacks caused by just artery narrowing are rare).

Read more about ischemic heart disease

Causes of CVD

The exact cause of CVD isn't clear, but there are lots of things that can increase your risk of getting it. These are called "risk factors".

The more risk factors you have, the greater your chances of developing CVD.

The main risk factors for CVD are outlined below.

High blood pressure

High blood pressure (hypertension) is one of the most important risk factors for CVD. If your blood pressure is too high, it can damage your blood vessels.

Smoking

Smoking and other tobacco use is also a significant risk factor for CVD. The harmful substances in tobacco can damage and narrow your blood vessels.

High cholesterol

Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in the blood. If you have high cholesterol, it can cause your blood vessels to narrow and increase your risk of developing a blood clot.

Read more about high cholesterol.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes your blood sugar level to become too high.

High blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels, making them more likely to become narrowed.

Many people with type 2 diabetes are also overweight or obese, which is also a risk factor for CVD.

Inactivity

If you don't exercise regularly, it's more likely that you'll have high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and be overweight. All of these are risk factors for CVD.

Exercising regularly will help keep your heart healthy. When combined with a healthy diet, exercise can also help you maintain a healthy weight.

Being overweight or obese

Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing diabetes and high blood pressure, both of which are risk factors for CVD.

You're at an increased risk of CVD if:

·         your body mass index (BMI) is 25 or above – use the BMI healthy weight calculator to work out your BMI

·         you're a man with a waist measurement of 94cm (about 37 inches) or more, or a woman with a waist measurement of 80cm (about 31.5 inches) or more

 

Family history of CVD

If you have a family history of CVD, your risk of developing it is also increased.

You're considered to have a family history of CVD if either:

·         your father or brother were diagnosed with CVD before they were 55

·         your mother or sister were diagnosed with CVD before they were 65

Tell your doctor or nurse if you have a family history of CVD. They may suggest checking your blood pressure and cholesterol level.

Ethnic background

In the UK, CVD is more common in people of south Asian and an African or Caribbean background.

This is because people from these backgrounds are more likely to have other risk factors for CVD, such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes.

Other risk factors

Other factors that affect your risk of developing CVD include:

·         age – CVD is most common in people over 50 and your risk of developing it increases as you get older

·         gender – men are more likely to develop CVD at an earlier age than women

·         diet – an unhealthy diet can lead to high cholesterol and high blood pressure

·         alcohol – excessive alcohol consumption can also increase your cholesterol and blood pressure levels, and contribute to weight gain

Preventing CVD

A healthy lifestyle can lower your risk of CVD. If you already have CVD, staying as healthy as possible can reduce the chances of it getting worse.

Ways you can reduce your CVD risk are outlined below.

Stop smoking

If you smoke, you should try to give up as soon as possible.

Your GP can also provide you with advice and support. They can also prescribe medication to help you quit.

Read more about stopping smoking 

Have a balanced diet

A healthy, balanced diet is recommended for a healthy heart.

A balanced diet includes:

·         low levels of saturated fat (found in foods such as fatty cuts of meat, lard, cream, cakes and biscuits) – try to include healthier sources of fat, such as oily fish, nuts and seeds, and olive oil

·         low levels of salt – aim for less than 6g (0.2oz or 1 teaspoon) a day

·         low levels of sugar

·         plenty of fibre and wholegrain foods

·         plenty of fruit and vegetables – eat at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day

Exercise regularly

Adults are advised to do at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, such as cycling or brisk walking.

If you find it difficult to do this, start at a level you feel comfortable with and gradually increase the duration and intensity of your activity as your fitness improves.

Visit your GP for a health check if you haven't exercised before or you're returning to exercise after a long break.

Maintain a healthy weight

If you're overweight or obese, a combination of regular exercise and a healthy diet can help you lose weight. Aim to get your BMI below 25.

If you're struggling to lose weight, your GP or practice nurse can help you come up with a weight loss plan and recommend services in your area.

Cut down on alcohol

If you drink alcohol, try not to exceed the recommended limit of 14 alcohol units a week for men and women.

If you do drink this much, you should aim to spread your drinking over 3 days or more.

A unit of alcohol is roughly equivalent to half a pint of normal-strength lager or a single measure (25ml) of spirits. A small glass of wine (125ml) is about 1.5 units.

Your GP can give you help and advice if you're finding it difficult to cut down your drinking.

Medication

If you have a particularly high risk of developing CVD, your GP may recommend taking medication to reduce your risk.

Medications that may be recommended include statins to lower blood cholesterol levels, low-dose aspirin to prevent blood clots, and tablets to reduce blood pressure.