What is Cardiovascular Disease?
Cardiovascular disease (CVD), the heart and blood vessels, are:
Related links
:: Health topic: Cardiovascular Disease
:: Avoiding heart attacks and strokes. Do not be a victim, protect yourself – in English
* Coronary heart disease – disease of blood vessels that supply the heart muscle (myocardium);
* Cerebrovascular disease – disease of blood vessels supplying the brain;
* Peripheral arterial disease – disease of blood vessels supplying the arms and legs
* Rheumatic heart disease – damage to the heart and heart valves due to rheumatic fever, a disease caused by streptococcal bacteria
* Congenital heart disease – heart defects present at birth, and
* Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism – a blood clot (thrombus) in the veins of the legs, which can break off (embolus) and lodge in the heart and lungs.
Heart attacks and strokes (CVA) are usually acute events and are mainly due to blockage that prevents blood from flowing to the heart or brain. The most common cause is the formation of fatty deposits on the walls of blood vessels supplying the heart or brain. Strokes can also be caused by bleeding from the cerebral vessels or blood clots.
Major risk factors
* The causes of CVD are well established and well known. The most important causes of heart disease and stroke are called “modifiable risk factors” unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and consumption of snuff.
* The effects of unhealthy diet and physical inactivity may appear as “intermediate risk factors”: increases in blood pressure and sugar and blood lipids, overweight and obesity.
* The major modifiable risk factors are responsible for approximately 80% of cases of coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease.
* There are also a number of underlying determinants of chronic diseases, ie “the causes of the causes”, which are a reflection of the major forces driving social, economic and cultural rights: globalization, urbanization and aging of the population. Other determinants of CVD are poverty and stress.