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cardiovascular, or circulatory, system supplies the body with blood. It consists
of the heart, arteries, veins, and capillaries.
CVD is
now the most common cause of death worldwide. However, there are
many ways to reduce the risk of developing these conditions. There are also
many treatment options available if do they occur.
The treatment, symptoms, and
prevention of the conditions that are part of CVD often overlap.
In this article, we look at the
different types of CVD, their symptoms and causes, and how to prevent and treat
them.
Share on
PinterestThere are many types of CVD.
CVD comprises many different
types of condition. Some of these might develop at the same time or lead to
other conditions or diseases within the group.
Diseases and conditions that
affect the heart include:
- angina, a type of
chest pain that occurs due to decreased blood flow into the heart
- arrhythmia,
or an irregular heartbeat or heart rhythm
- congenital heart
disease, in which a problem with heart function or structure is
present from birth
- coronary artery disease,
which affects the arteries that feed the heart muscle
- heart attack, or a
sudden blockage to the heart’s blood flow and oxygen supply
- heart
failure, wherein the heart cannot contract or relax normally
- dilated
cardiomyopathy, a type of heart failure, in which the heart gets larger and
cannot pump blood efficiently
- hypertrophic
cardiomyopathy, in which the heart muscle walls thicken and problems with
relaxation of the muscle, blood flow, and electrical instability develop
- mitral
regurgitation, in which blood leaks back through the mitral valve of the
heart during contractions
- mitral
valve prolapse, in which part of the mitral valve bulges into the left
atrium of the heart while it contracts, causing mitral regurgitation
- pulmonary
stenosis, in which a narrowing of the pulmonary artery reduces blood flow
from the right ventricle (pumping chamber to the lungs) to the pulmonary
artery (blood vessel that carries deoxygenated blood to the lungs)
- aortic
stenosis, a narrowing of the heart valve that can cause blockage to blood
flow leaving the heart
- atrial fibrillation,
an irregular rhythm that can increase the risk of stroke
- rheumatic heart disease,
a complication of strep
throat that causes inflammation in
the heart and which can affect the function of heart valves
- radiation
heart disease, wherein radiation to the chest can lead to damage to the
heart valves and blood vessels
Vascular diseases affect the
arteries, veins, or capillaries throughout the body and around the heart.
They include:
- peripheral
artery disease, which causes arteries to become narrow and
reduces blood flow to the limbs
- aneurysm, a bulge or
enlargement in an artery that can rupture and bleed
- atherosclerosis, in
which plaque forms along the walls of blood vessels, narrowing them and
restricting the flow of oxygen rich blood
- renal
artery disease, which affects the flow of blood to and from the kidneys
and can lead to high blood pressure
- Raynaud’s
disease, which causes arteries to spasm and temporarily
restrict blood flow
- peripheral
venous disease, or general damage in the veins that transport blood from
the feet and arms back to the heart, which causes leg swelling and varicose veins
- ischemic
stroke, in which a blood clot moves to the brain and causes damage
- venous
blood clots, which can break loose and become dangerous if they travel to
the pulmonary artery
- blood
clotting disorders, in which blood clots form too quickly or not quickly enough
and lead to excessive bleeding or clotting
- Buerger’s
disease, which leads to blood clots and inflammation, often in the legs,
and which may result in gangrene
It is possible to manage some
health conditions within CVD by making lifestyle changes, but some conditions
may be life threatening and require emergency surgery.
Symptoms will vary depending on
the specific condition. Some conditions, such as type 2 diabetes or hypertension, may
initially cause no symptoms at all.
However, typical symptoms of an
underlying cardiovascular issue include:
- pain
or pressure in the chest, which may indicate angina
- pain
or discomfort in the arms, left shoulder, elbows, jaw, or back
- shortness
of breath
- nausea
and fatigue
- lightheadedness
or dizziness
- cold
sweats
Although these are the most
common ones, CVD can cause symptoms anywhere in the body.
Share on
PinterestRegular exercise can help prevent CVD.
People can take the following
steps to prevent some of the conditions within CVD:
- Manage body weight: The National Institute
of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders advise that if a person
loses 5–10% of their body weight, they may reduce their
risk of developing CVD.
- Get regular exercise: The American Heart
Association (AHA) recommend doing 150 minutes of moderate-to-intense
physical activity every week.
- Follow a heart-healthy diet: Eating foods that
contain polyunsaturated fats and omega-3,
such as oily fish, alongside fruits and vegetables can support heart
health and reduce the risk of CVD. Reducing the intake of processed food,
salt, saturated fat, and added sugar has a similar effect.
- Quit smoking: Smoking is a key risk factor for almost
all forms of CVD. Although quitting can be difficult, taking steps to do
so can drastically reduce its damaging effects on the heart.
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The treatment option that is best
for a person will depend on their specific type of CVD.
However, some options include:
- medication,
such as to reduce low density lipoprotein cholesterol, improve
blood flow, or regulate heart rhythm
- surgery,
such as coronary artery bypass grafting or valve repair or replacement
surgery
- cardiac
rehabilitation, including exercise prescriptions and lifestyle counseling
Treatment aims to:
- relieve
symptoms
- reduce
the risk of the condition or disease recurring or getting worse
- prevent
complications, such as hospital admission, heart failure, stroke, heart
attack, or death
Depending on the condition, a
healthcare provider may also seek to stabilize heart rhythms, reduce blockages,
and relax the arteries to enable a better flow of blood.
Share on
PinterestHigh blood pressure is a risk factor for CVD.
Researchers reported in the
journal JAMA that the
lifetime risk of CVD is more than 50% for
both men and women.
Their study paper notes that even
among those with few or no cardiovascular risk factors, the risk is still
higher than 30%.
Risk factors for CVD include:
- high
blood pressure, or hypertension
- atherosclerosis
or blockages in the arteries
- radiation therapy
- smoking
- poor
sleep hygiene
- high
blood cholesterol, or hyperlipidemia
- diabetes
- a
high fat, high carbohydrate diet
- physical
inactivity
- obesity
- sleep
apnea
- excessive
alcohol consumption
- stress
- air
pollution
- chronic
obstructive pulmonary disorder or other forms of reduced lung function
People with one cardiovascular
risk factor often have more. For example, obesity is a risk factor for high blood
pressure, high blood cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes. A person may have all
four conditions at the same time.
Many types of CVD occur as
a complication of atherosclerosis.
Damage to the circulatory system
can also result from diabetes and other health conditions, such as a virus, an
inflammatory process such as myocarditis, or a structural problem present from
birth (congenital heart disease).
CVD often results from high blood
pressure, which produces no symptoms. It is therefore vital that people undergo
regular screening for high blood pressure.
Many types of CVD are
preventable. It is vital to address risk factors by taking the following steps:
- reducing
the use of alcohol and tobacco
- eating
fresh fruit and vegetables
- reducing
salt, sugar, and saturated fat intake
- avoiding
a sedentary lifestyle, particularly for children
Adopting damaging lifestyle
habits, such as eating a high sugar diet and not getting much physical
activity, may not lead to CVD while a person is still young, as the effects of
the condition are cumulative.
However, continued exposure to
these risk factors can contribute to the development of CVD later in life.
Does aspirin protect a person from CVD?
Many people will have taken
an aspirin a day as a
routine measure to protect against CVD. However, current guidelines no longer recommend this for most
people, as it can lead to bleeding. This risk outweighs any benefit it may
have.
That said, a doctor may suggest
aspirin if a person has a high risk of experiencing a cardiovascular event, such
as a heart attack or stroke, and a low risk of bleeding. Doctors may also
recommend it to those who have already had a heart attack or stroke.
Anyone taking a daily dose of
aspirin to reduce their risk of CVD should ask their doctor whether or not they
should continue.
According to the World Health
Organization (WHO), CVD is the leading cause of death worldwide.
In 2016, around 17.9 million people died from CVD, accounting for 31% of
all registered premature deaths.
Of these, 85% resulted from a
heart attack or stroke. These conditions affect equal numbers of men and women.
The WHO estimate that by
2030, 23.6 million people will die from CVD conditions annually
— mostly due to stroke and heart disease.
Although these conditions remain
prevalent in global mortality rates, people can start taking steps to prevent
them.
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