What are Cardiovascular Disease

What are Cardiovascular Disease?

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), the heart and blood vessels, are:

-Coronary heart disease - disease of the blood vessels supplying the heart muscle (myocardium);
-Cerebrovascular disease - disease of the blood vessels supplying the brain;
-Peripheral arterial disease - disease of the blood vessels supplying the upper and lower limbs;
-Rheumatic heart disease - damage to the heart muscle and heart valves from rheumatic fever, a disease caused by streptococcal bacteria
-Congenital heart defects - Heart defects present from birth; and
Deep-vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism - blood clots (thrombi) in the veins of the legs, which can break off (embolus) and lodge in the vessels of the heart and lungs.
-Heart attack and stroke (CVA) are usually acute events and are especially 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 the blood vessels that supply the heart or brain. Strokes can also be caused by bleeding in the brain vessels or blood clots.

DATA ON CVD

CVD is the leading cause of death worldwide. Every year more people die from CVDs than from any other cause.
It is estimated that in 2005 died from this cause 17.5 million people, representing 30% of all reported deaths in the world; 7.6 million of these deaths were due to coronary heart disease and 5.7 million were due to stroke.
CVD deaths equally affect both sexes, and over 80% occur in low and middle income.
It is estimated that in 2015 about 20 million die of people from CVDs, mainly from heart disease and stroke, and is expected to remain the leading cause of death.

CAUSES OF CVD

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 show up as "intermediate risk factors": increased blood pressure and sugar and blood lipids, overweight and obesity.
The major modifiable risk factors are responsible for about 80% of cases of coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease.
There are also a number of underlying determinants of chronic diseases, ie, "causes of the causes" which are a reflection of the major forces driving social, economic and cultural changes: globalization, urbanization and aging population. Other determinants of CVDs are poverty and stress.

COMMON SYMPTOMS OF CARDIOVASCULAR

The underlying disease of the blood vessels often produces no symptoms, and may be the first heart attack or stroke.
Symptoms of heart attack include pain or discomfort in the chest, arms, left shoulder, jaw, or back. There may also be difficulty breathing, nausea or vomiting, dizziness or fainting, cold sweats and pallor.
Difficulty breathing, nausea and vomiting and pain in the jaw or back are more common in women.
The most common symptom of a stroke is usually unilateral, sudden loss of muscle strength in the arms, legs or face. Other symptoms include, usually unilateral, numbness in the face, arm or leg sudden onset; confusion, trouble speaking or understanding what is said; vision problems in one or both eyes; trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination; severe headache of unknown cause, and weakness or loss of consciousness.
People experiencing these symptoms should seek medical care immediately.