The 5 Most Common Cardiovascular Diseases

 

The 5 Most Common Cardiovascular Diseases

INTRO

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the United States and worldwide. According to the American Heart Association, approximately 71 million people suffer from cardiovascular diseases at any given time. While cardiovascular disease is primarily caused by lifestyle issues such as smoking, poor diet, and inactivity, it can also be caused by genetic predisposition and other conditions like diabetes or high cholesterol levels. 

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, affecting more than 15% of young peoples. In the United States alone, cardiovascular disease is responsible for approximately one-third of deaths. Even though more and more research is being done on the subject, still many factors like smoking remain as the number one risk factor, along with unhealthy diet habits. Top five common cardiovascular diseases in complete detail in all their forms.

(1) Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common cardiovascular disease. It is characterized by the growth of fatty material in and around the arteries that supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. CAD can lead to strokes, heart attacks, and heart failure.

Coronary Artery Disease Risk Factors

Risk factors for developing CAD include:

High cholesterol levels

Diabetes mellitus

Family history of premature CAD

(2) Congestive Heart Failure

Congestive Heart Failure

Congestive heart failure is a condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. The person may have a heart that becomes enlarged and stiff, or one that does not beat properly. Heart failure can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing and fatigue.

This disease is usually caused by damage to the heart muscles or other parts of the circulatory system. It is more common in older people and it may be associated with other diseases, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

Congestive heart failure is the most common cause of hospitalization for heart disease. It's also the leading cause of death from cardiovascular disease.

The term "congestive" refers to fluid retention, which can develop due to high blood pressure and reduced kidney function.

CHF occurs when the heart cannot pump enough blood through the body because of damage caused by atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), hypertension, or heart muscle disease. CHF can be milder or more severe than a person's natural ability to regulate his or her body's fluid levels.

The left ventricle is affected first (the part of the heart that pumps blood out) with symptoms including shortness of breath, swelling in the feet and ankles, fatigue, dizziness, coughing up phlegm and fever. Symptoms may begin slowly over time or suddenly. This is followed by symptoms in other parts of the body such as swelling in the legs and abdomen; excess fluid build-up in tissues like lungs, brain and eyes; difficulty swallowing; weight gain; constipation; urinary incontinence; constipation.

(3) Valvular Heart Disease

Valvular heart disease is a condition in which the valve between the heart's left and right chambers does not function properly. Valves are usually made of muscle tissue and blood vessels. Each valve has two leaflets that open and close during each heartbeat to allow blood to flow from the upper chambers (atria) to the lower chambers (ventricles).

The most common type of valvular heart disease is mitral valve prolapse, which affects about 2 million people in the United States alone. Mitral valve prolapse occurs when the mitral valve doesn't close completely after each heartbeat and allows some blood back into the atria instead of being pumped out through the ventricles.

Valvular heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. As many as 600,000 to 1 million Americans have valvular heart disease, and one-fourth to one-half of all people with this condition die from it: Valvular heart disease is also known as coronary artery disease, or CVD. 

(4) Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy is the most common cause of heart failure, accounting for about 80% of cases. It is also the most common cause of sudden cardiac death. A person with cardiomyopathy has a weakened muscle wall in their heart, which means it cannot pump blood efficiently.

The most common type of cardiomyopathy is dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). In DCM, the walls of the heart are thin and stiff. This leads to an inefficient pumping motion. The resulting fluid buildup can cause fluid to leak into the lungs and body tissues, causing shortness of breath and swelling in different parts of the body.

Another type of cardiomyopathy is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). In HCM, there are too many muscle cells in your heart's wall and they make it thicker than normal. This can lead to irregular rhythms that may eventually lead to heart failure if left untreated.

(5) Cerebrovascular Accident (Stroke)

Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. It is a disorder in which blood flow to part of the brain is decreased or interrupted, causing injury and damage to brain tissue. This can be caused by one of two things: obstruction, where there is blockage in an artery that supplies blood to part of the brain; or embolism, where a blood clot travels to another part of the body and blocks an artery there as well.

Stroke is more common among individuals who have diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels. It is also more likely to occur among people who smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol excessively. A stroke occurs when a blood clot forms in a vessel that supplies blood to part of the brain, cutting off oxygen-rich blood from flowing to it. The brain becomes starved for oxygen and dies due to lack of oxygen supply. If you have had a previous stroke, chances are you will have another one.