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What Is Cardiovascular Disease?

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.

The Cardiovascular System and Cardiovascular Disease


The heart is a strong, muscular pump that is slightly larger than your fist.
It pumps blood continuously through the circulatory system, the network of elastic
tubes that allows blood to flow throughout the body. This system includes the heart
and also the blood vessels (arteries, capillaries, and veins). Arteries and capillaries
carry oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood from the heart and lungs to all parts of the
body. Veins carry blood that has been depleted of oxygen and nutrients back to the
heart and lungs.

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.

Heart Disease vs. Cardiovascular Disease


Cardiovascular disease and heart disease are different. Heart disease refers only to
diseases of the heart and the blood vessel system within the heart. Cardiovascular
disease refers to diseases of the heart and diseases of the entire blood vessel system
(arteries, capillaries, and veins) within a person's body, such as the brain, arms,
legs, and lungs. "Cardio" refers to the heart, and "vascular" refers to the blood
vessel system. So, heart disease is a type of cardiovascular disease.

Types of Cardiovascular Disease


There are over 60 types of cardiovascular disease. Some people are born with
cardiovascular disease; others develop it throughout their lifetimes.

Some common cardiovascular diseases include:

• Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)


• Coronary heart disease (most people refer to it just as "heart disease")
• Angina
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• High blood pressure (also known as hypertension)
• Congestive heart failure.
Risk Factors
A risk factor is any behavior or condition that increases a person's risk for a disease.
Because there are so many types of cardiovascular disease, it is not possible to have
just one list of risk factors. Instead, the specific risk factors will vary based on the
type of cardiovascular disease.

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).

Symptoms of Cardiovascular Disease


Cardiovascular disease can cause symptoms ranging from chest pain to sudden
numbness of the face or arms. There are more than 60 forms of cardiovascular
disease, so possible signs may not be the same in all cases. In general, symptoms
occur most frequently in the heart and brain, as well as in the legs, pelvis, or arms.
An Introduction to Signs and Symptoms of Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular disease is not one condition. Rather, it is a name used to describe
conditions and diseases that affect the heart ("cardio") and blood vessels
("vascular") throughout the body. There are more than 60 types of cardiovascular
disease, ranging from the common (coronary heart disease) to the not-so-common
(tetralogy of Fallot). Some cardiovascular conditions are present at birth, while
others develop over many years. When talking about symptoms of cardiovascular
disease, it is not possible to provide a list, because each condition can have so many
different symptoms.

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.

Symptoms Affecting the Heart


There are a number of different
types of heart disease. The most common is coronary heart disease (also called
coronary artery disease). Coronary heart disease is the number one cause of death
in the United States. If the arteries that supply the heart with blood, called the
coronary arteries, are affected by coronary artery disease, you may have symptoms
that include:

• Chest pain or chest discomfort (angina)


• Pain in one or both arms, the left shoulder, neck, jaw, or back
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Faster heartbeats
• Nausea (feeling sick to your stomach)
• Abnormal heartbeats
• Feeling very tired.
Symptoms Affecting the Brain
Arteries in the brain are most affected by two types of cardiovascular disease:
buildup of plaque (atherosclerosis) and arterial embolism, which is when a blood
clot gets stuck in a small artery within the brain. If the arteries that supply your
brain are affected by either of these conditions, you may have symptoms of a stroke
or a transient ischemic attack (also referred to as a TIA or "mini-stroke").

Specific stroke and TIA symptoms can include:

• 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.

Symptoms of Cardiovascular Disease in the Legs, Pelvis, or Arms


If the arteries that supply your legs, pelvis, or arms are affected by cardiovascular
disease, you have symptoms of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). These symptoms
can include:

• Claudication, which is a pain, ache, or cramp in the muscles. It occurs during


exercise and improves with rest.
• Cold or numb feeling in the feet or toes, especially at night.
What About Other Symptoms?
With more than 60 conditions, it is not possible to list all of the symptoms of
cardiovascular disease in this article. However, if you are interested in specific
symptoms for certain conditions, you can look them up in the eMedTV archives.
Treating Cardiovascular Disease: An Overview
The term "cardiovascular disease" is used to describe over 60 conditions that affect
the heart ("cardio") or blood vessels ("vascular"). Cardiovascular disease is not one
condition, so its treatment will depend on the condition in question.

Examples of Different Treatments for Cardiovascular Disease


The following table lists different possible treatments for various forms of
cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular Disease or Condition Possible Treatments Link to More


Information
Angina
Changes to a person's lifestyle, heart medications, special procedures Angina
Treatment

Atherosclerosis
Lifestyle changes, medications, special procedures Atherosclerosis Treatment

Coronary artery disease


Lifestyle changes, heart medications, special procedures Heart Disease Treatment

Heart attack
Lifestyle changes, heart medications, special procedures Heart Attack Treatment

Stroke
Medications, surgery, rehabilitation Stroke Treatment

High blood pressure


Blood pressure medications, lifestyle changes Lowering Blood Pressure

Congestive heart failure


Lifestyle changes, congestive heart failure medications, mechanical heart pump,
heart transplant
Congestive Heart Failure 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.)

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Last updated/reviewed: March 10, 2009
Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
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Other Articles in This eMedTV Presentation


• Cardiovascular Disease
• Cardiovascular System
• Cardiovascular Disease Types
• Causes of Cardiovascular Disease
• Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease
• Symptoms of Cardiovascular Disease
• Cardiovascular System Tests
• Preventing Cardiovascular Disease
• Cardiovascular Health
• Cardiovascular Disease in Women
• Smoking and Cardiovascular Disease
• Cardiovascular Disease Research
• Cardiovascular Disease Statistics
Preventing Cardiovascular Disease

Practicing a healthy lifestyle is an important part of preventing


cardiovascular disease. This can involve exercising,
maintaining a healthy weight, and not smoking. A heart-healthy
diet that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and
contains decreased amounts of sodium, fat, and cholesterol
can also help lower your risk for the condition. For some
people, medication is another option for preventing
cardiovascular disease.
Cardiovascular disease is a name used to describe any condition that affects the
heart ("cardio") or blood vessels ("vascular"). However, when most people talk
about preventing cardiovascular disease, they are talking about preventing stroke
and coronary artery disease (what most people refer to as just heart disease). Heart
disease and stroke are the first and third most common causes of death in the
United States, respectively, accounting for about 40 percent of deaths each year.
Stroke is also the most common cause of permanent disability. Combined with the
fact that cardiovascular disease is largely a preventable disease, it is no wonder that
in the case of cardiovascular disease, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of
cure."

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.

The steps for preventing cardiovascular disease involve:

Knowing your cardiovascular disease risk factors


Monitoring your health
Knowing your family history
Making lifestyle changes
Possibly taking medication.
Common Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease
Common types of cardiovascular disease (
atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, angina, stroke, high blood
pressure, and heart failure) share a number of risk factors. These risk
factors include:

• 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).

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