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CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES (CVDs)

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CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES (CVDs)

Cardiovascular disease refers to a class of diseases that involves the heart, the blood vessels, or both.

  • The cardiovascular system is made up of the heart with its intricate conduit (arteries, veins, and capillaries) that traverse the whole human body carrying blood.
  • The blood contains nutrient, oxygen and other functional cells that help in providing nourishment, fighting diseases, stabilize temperature and pH and maintain homeostasis.
  • Blood is transported through the whole body by the blood vessels. Arteries are blood vessels that transport blood away from the heart, and veins transport blood back to the heart. Capillaries carry blood tissue to cells and are the exchange site of nutrients, wastes, gases etc.
  • Cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of death globally.
  • In 2015, an estimated 17.7 million (31%) of the global population died from cardiovascular diseases. An estimated 7.4 million out of the death was due to coronary heart disease and 6.7 million were due to stroke.
  • High blood pressure results in 13% of cardiovascular disease death, while diabetes results in 6%, lack of exercise 6%, tobacco in 9% and obesity in 5%

There are many cardiovascular diseases, the ones that affect the blood vessels are known as vascular disease and may include:

  • Coronary heart disease- disease of the blood vessels supplying blood to the heart muscle, includes heart attack and angina
  • Peripheral arterial disease- disease of the blood vessels supplying blood to the arms and legs
  • Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism – blood clots in the leg veins
  • Cerebrovascular disease- disease of the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain, includes stroke
  • Renal artery stenosis- narrowing of one of the renal arteries
  • Aortic aneurysm

There also exist many cardiovascular diseases that involve the heart, they include:

  • Heart failure- a condition where the heart is unable to supply adequate blood to the tissue to meet their metabolic requirements.
  • Cardiomyopathy – a group of disease of the heart muscle
  • Pulmonary heart disease- a failure of the ventricle at the right side of the heart
  • Cardiac arrhythmia- abnormalities of heart rhythm
  • Congenital heart disease- malformations of heart structure existing at birth
  • Rheumatic heart disease- damage to the heart muscle and valves from rheumatic fever, caused by streptococcal bacteria
  • Endocarditis- inflammation of the endocardium, the inner layer of the heart
  • Myocarditis- inflammation of the myocardium, the muscular part of the heart
  • Cardiomegaly – heart enlargement
  • Hypertensive heart disease – disease of the heart secondary to hypertension or high blood pressure.
  • Valvular heart disease – is any disease process involving one or more of the four valves of the heart

CAUSES

The cause depends on the disease. However, CVD is commonly related to atherosclerosis, a process where fatty deposits build up on the inner walls of the blood vessel that supplies blood to the heart and brain. This causes them to narrow or be blocked completely. When atherosclerosis affects the major arteries in the body it can cause a heart attack, stroke and peripheral arterial disease.

Many risk factors are linked to cardiovascular disease. They include:

  • Smoking
  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • High blood cholesterol
  • Obesity
  • Poor diet
  • Lack of exercise
  • Excessive alcohol consumption
  • Poverty
  • Gender, men are at a more greater risk. Coronary heart disease is twice more common in middle-aged men than women
  • Age is the most important risk factor. It is estimated that 82% of people that die of coronary heart disease are 65 years and older, also the risk of stroke doubles after age 55
  • The family history of cardiovascular disease
  • Undiagnosed celiac disease
  • Genetics
  • Lack of sleep

SYMPTOMS

There is numerous cardiovascular disease. Symptoms will vary, depending on the specific type of disease an individual has

Typical symptoms of an underlying CVD may include:

  • Pain or pressure in the chest
  • Discomfort in the arms, elbows, jaw, left shoulder, or back
  • Lightheadedness
  • Nausea and fatigue
  • Cold sweat
  • Shortness of breath
  • Pale

TREATMENT

Treatment may depend on the type of condition the person has. The goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms, reduce the risk of complications and the risk of reoccurrence. It may also aim to stabilize heart rhythm, widen the arteries to enable a better flow of blood and reduce blockage

Initial treatment primarily focuses on diet and lifestyle interventions. This may include weight control, exercise, and smoking cessation.

Medications

Cardiac rehabilitation including exercise and counseling

In some cases, surgery may be needed to treat CVDs. This may include coronary artery bypass, valve repair, and replacement, heart transplantations, balloon angioplasty.

Medical devices such as pacemakers, prosthetic valves, patches for a closing hole in the heart are required to treat some CVDs.