What is Cardiovascular Disease?
Cardiovascular disease (CVD), also known as heart disease, is a broad term for conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels. It's a major global health concern, responsible for a staggering number of deaths each year.
What are the key components of the cardiovascular system?
The cardiovascular system is your body's complex highway system. It's made up of:
- Your heart: The powerful pump that circulates blood throughout your body.
- Your blood vessels: A network of arteries, veins, and capillaries that transport blood, carrying vital oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and removing waste products.
What causes cardiovascular disease?
Many factors contribute to CVD. It's often a slow process, not a sudden event. Some key culprits include:
- High blood pressure (hypertension): This puts extra strain on your arteries.
- High cholesterol: Too much cholesterol (especially LDL, or "bad" cholesterol) can build up in your arteries, forming plaque and narrowing the passageways. This is called atherosclerosis.
- Diabetes: High blood sugar levels damage blood vessels, increasing the risk of CVD.
- Smoking: Nicotine constricts blood vessels and damages their lining, fueling the buildup of plaque.
- Obesity: Excess weight strains your heart and contributes to high blood pressure and cholesterol.
- Lack of physical activity: Regular exercise keeps your heart strong and helps maintain healthy blood pressure and cholesterol.
- Unhealthy diet: A diet high in saturated and trans fats, salt, and sugar raises cholesterol and blood pressure.
- Genetics: Family history of CVD significantly increases your risk.
- Stress: Chronic stress can raise blood pressure and contribute to unhealthy lifestyle choices.
What are the different types of cardiovascular disease?
CVD is an umbrella term covering a range of problems, including:
- Coronary artery disease (CAD): Narrowing of the arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle, often leading to angina (chest pain) or a heart attack.
- Heart failure: The heart can't pump enough blood to meet the body's needs.
- Stroke: Blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted, causing brain damage.
- Peripheral artery disease (PAD): Narrowing of the arteries in the limbs.
- Congenital heart defects: Heart problems present from birth.
- Rheumatic heart disease: Damage to the heart valves caused by rheumatic fever.
What can I do to protect myself from cardiovascular disease?
Making healthy lifestyle choices can go a long way towards preventing or delaying the onset of CVD. Here's what you can do: