Cardiovascular disease

What is Heart Failure (cardiovascular disease)?

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a general term for conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels.

It's usually associated with a build-up of fatty deposits inside the arteries (atherosclerosis) and an increased risk of blood clots. It can also be associated with damage to arteries in organs such as the brain, heart, kidneys and eyes. Cardiovascular disease is one of the main causes of death, but it can often largely be prevented by leading a healthy lifestyle.

Causes of Cardiovascular disease

The exact cause of Cardiovascular disease isn't clear, but there are lots of things that can increase your risk of getting it. These are called "risk factors". The more risk factors you have, the greater your chances of developing Cardiovascular disease. The main risk factors for Cardiovascular disease are outlined below.

High blood pressure

High blood pressure (hypertension) is one of the most important risk factors for Cardiovascular disease. If your blood pressure is too high, it can damage your blood vessels.

Read more about high blood pressure.

Smoking

Smoking and other tobacco use is also a significant risk factor for Cardiovascular disease. The harmful substances in tobacco can damage and narrow your blood vessels.

High cholesterol

Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in the blood. If you have high cholesterol, it can cause your blood vessels to narrow and increase your risk of developing a blood clot.

Read more about high cholesterol.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes your blood sugar level to become too high. High blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels, making them more likely to become narrowed. Many people with type 2 diabetes are also overweight or obese, which is also a risk factor for Cardiovascular disease.

Inactivity

If you don't exercise regularly, it's more likely that you'll have high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and be overweight. All of these are risk factors for Cardiovascular disease.

Exercising regularly will help keep your heart healthy. When combined with a healthy diet, exercise can also help you maintain a healthy weight.

Being overweight or obese

Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing diabetes and high blood pressure, both of which are risk factors for CVD.

You're at an increased risk of CVD if:

• your body mass index (BMI) is 25 or above.
• you're a man with a waist measurement of 94cm (about 37 inches) or more, or a woman with a waist measurement of 80cm (about 31.5 inches) or more

Family history of Cardiovascular disease

If you have a family history of Cardiovascular disease, your risk of developing it is also increased.

You're considered to have a family history of Cardiovascular disease if either:

• your father or brother were diagnosed with Cardiovascular disease before they were 55
• your mother or sister were diagnosed with Cardiovascular disease before they were 65

Tell your doctor or nurse if you have a family history of Cardiovascular disease. They may suggest checking your blood pressure and cholesterol level.

Ethnic background

Cardiovascular disease is more common in people of south Asian and an African or Caribbean background.

This is because people from these backgrounds are more likely to have other risk factors for Cardiovascular disease, such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes.

Other risk factors

Other factors that affect your risk of developing Cardiovascular disease include:

• age – Cardiovascular disease is most common in people over 50 and your risk of developing it increases as you get older
• gender – men are more likely to develop Cardiovascular disease at an earlier age than women
• diet – an unhealthy diet can lead to high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Do not eat too much fat and salty food.
• alcohol – excessive alcohol consumption can also increase your cholesterol and blood pressure levels, and contribute to weight gain
• Drugs

Symptoms

You will have to urinate more often at night. You will be out of breath faster if you exercise. You may feel short of breath when you lie down or exercise.

Check-up with the doctor

Part of this check involves assessing your individual Cardiovascular disease risk and advising you how to reduce it if necessary.

Source: NHSinform