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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) refers to diseases that affect the heart or the blood
vessel system within a person's entire body. It is not one single disease or condition.
Rather, it is a group of over 60 different disorders.
Over 70 million Americans (almost one-fourth of the population) have some form of
cardiovascular disease, with high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke being the
most common forms. Cardiovascular disease accounts for nearly 40 percent of
deaths each year. Coronary artery disease and stroke are the first and third most
common causes of death in the United States, respectively.
Heart and blood vessel problems do not happen quickly. Over time, the arteries that
bring blood to the heart and brain can become blocked due to a buildup of cells, fat,
and cholesterol. This buildup is called plaque. Reduced blood flow to the heart (due
to blockages in the arteries) causes heart attacks. Lack of blood flow to the brain
from a blood clot, or bleeding in the brain from a broken blood vessel, causes a
stroke.
With that being said, a number of the more common types of cardiovascular disease
do share certain risk factors. Common risk factors include:
• Age
• Family history of cardiovascular disease
• Ethnicity
• Gender
• High cholesterol levels, also known as hypercholesterolemia (see Effects of
High Cholesterol)
• High blood pressure, also known as hypertension (see Effects of High Blood
Pressure)
• Diabetes (see Diabetes Complications)
• Atrial fibrillation
• Being overweight or obese (see BMI Calculator to find your ideal weight)
• Lack of physical activity
• Cigarette smoking (see Smoking and Cardiovascular Disease).
That being said, while cardiovascular disease can occur anywhere in the body, it
does tend to occur more frequently in the:
• Heart
• Brain
• Legs
• Pelvis
• Arms.
• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side
of the body
• Sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden dizziness, difficulty walking, or loss of balance or coordination
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause.
Stroke is the third most common cause of death in the United States.
Atherosclerosis
Lifestyle changes, medications, special procedures Atherosclerosis Treatment
Heart attack
Lifestyle changes, heart medications, special procedures Heart Attack Treatment
Stroke
Medications, surgery, rehabilitation Stroke Treatment
Atrial fibrillation
Lifestyle changes, atrial fibrillation medications, surgery, cardioversion Atrial
Fibrillation Treatment
Varicose veins
Sclerotherapy, endovenous techniques, surgery
Varicose Vein Treatment
Deep vein thrombosis
Medications, vena cava filters, graduated compression stockings DVT
Treatments
Raynaud's phenomenon
Self-help strategies, medications Raynaud's Treatment
Spider veins
Doing nothing, sclerotherapy, laser surgery Get Rid of Spider Veins
(If you are interested in the specific treatments for certain conditions not listed
above, click Cardiovascular Disease Types, and then click the specific condition.)
The good news: Research shows that people can lower their risk for cardiovascular
disease enormously -- by as much as 82 percent -- simply by adopting sensible health
habits, regardless of their age, background, or health status. Protecting your body
from the effects of cardiovascular disease can be as simple as taking a brisk walk,
eating a heart-healthy diet, or getting the support you need to maintain a healthy
weight. In addition, it's never too late to start protecting your cardiovascular health.
A recent study shows that among people ages 70 to 90, leading a healthy lifestyle
reduces the chances of dying from cardiovascular disease by nearly two-thirds.
• Age
• Family history of cardiovascular disease
• Ethnicity
• High cholesterol levels, also known as hypercholesterolemia (see
Effects of High Cholesterol)
• High blood pressure, also known as hypertension (see Effects of
High Blood Pressure)
• Diabetes (see Diabetes Complications)
• Atrial fibrillation
• Being overweight or obese (see BMI Calculator to find your ideal
weight)
• Lack of physical activity
• Cigarette smoking (see Smoking and Cardiovascular Disease).