- "Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is any disease involving the heart or blood vessels."
Identification and analysis of the different factors that may increase the likelihood of suffering from cardiovascular diseases, including lifestyle habits such as smoking, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and genetics.
Hypertension (High Blood Pressure): Hypertension is a chronic condition that can damage blood vessels and increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. It can be caused by genetics, unhealthy lifestyle choices, or underlying health conditions.
Hyperlipidemia (High Cholesterol): Hyperlipidemia is a condition where there are high levels of fats (lipids) in the blood, especially cholesterol. This can lead to the formation of plaque in the arteries, causing the narrowing of blood vessels, and increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Diabetes: Diabetes is a chronic medical condition where the body cannot regulate blood sugar levels, which can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Smoking: Smoking is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases as it damages the lining of blood vessels, narrows blood vessels, and can increase blood pressure.
Family History: Family history can play a role in the development of cardiovascular diseases. If your family members have a history of heart disease or stroke, you may be at increased risk.
Age: As we age, our risk of developing cardiovascular diseases increases. It’s important to maintain a healthy lifestyle as we get older to reduce the risk.
Physical Inactivity: People who are physically inactive have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
Overweight and Obesity: Being overweight or obese can increase the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
Stress: Chronic stress can increase the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, as it can increase blood pressure and cause inflammation.
Sleep Apnea: Sleep apnea is a condition where a person’s breathing stops for a brief time while sleeping, which can increase the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.
Unhealthy Diet: An unhealthy diet high in saturated fat, salt, and sugar can increase the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
Alcohol Consumption: Excessive alcohol consumption can increase the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
Gender: Men have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases than women, although women are more likely to die from heart attacks.
Race and Ethnicity: Certain races and ethnicities have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, including African Americans, Mexican Americans, and Native Americans.
High Stress Environments: High stress environments can lead to cardiovascular diseases.
Pollution: Air pollution can increase the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
Certain Medications: Certain medications, including birth control pills, can increase the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
Chronic Kidney Disease: Chronic kidney disease can increase the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
Age: The risk of developing cardiovascular disease increases with age.
Gender: Men have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease than women.
Family history: A family history of cardiovascular disease increases the risk of developing the condition.
Smoking: Smoking damages the arteries, increases blood pressure, and raises the risk of blood clots.
High blood pressure: High blood pressure puts a strain on the heart and damages the arteries.
High cholesterol: High cholesterol levels increase the risk of developing fatty deposits in the arteries.
Diabetes: Diabetes increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
Obesity: Being overweight or obese increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
Lack of physical activity: Physical inactivity increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
Poor diet: A diet high in saturated fats and processed foods can increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
Stress: Chronic stress can increase blood pressure and damage the arteries, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Sleep apnea: Sleep apnea is a condition where breathing is interrupted during sleep and can affect blood pressure, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Clotting disorders: Increased clotting can increase the risk of stroke and other cardiovascular diseases.
Chronic kidney disease: Kidney disease can damage the arteries, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Alcohol consumption: Heavy alcohol consumption can increase blood pressure and may lead to abnormal heart rhythms, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Inflammatory diseases: Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus can increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
Irregular heartbeat: Arrhythmias can increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy for cancer treatment can increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
- "CVDs constitute a class of diseases that includes: coronary artery diseases (e.g. angina, heart attack), stroke, heart failure, hypertensive heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, cardiomyopathy, abnormal heart rhythms, congenital heart disease, valvular heart disease, carditis, aortic aneurysms, peripheral artery disease, thromboembolic disease, and venous thrombosis."
- "This may be caused by high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes mellitus, lack of exercise, obesity, high blood cholesterol, poor diet, excessive alcohol consumption, and poor sleep, among other things."
- "It is estimated that dietary risk factors are associated with 53% of CVD deaths."
- "Coronary artery disease and stroke account for 80% of CVD deaths in males and 75% of CVD deaths in females."
- "High blood pressure is estimated to account for approximately 13% of CVD deaths."
- "In the United States, 11% of people between 20 and 40 have CVD, while 37% between 40 and 60, 71% of people between 60 and 80, and 85% of people over 80 have CVD."
- "The average age of death from coronary artery disease in the developed world is around 80."
- "Deaths, at a given age, from CVD are more common and have been increasing in much of the developing world, while rates have declined in most of the developed world since the 1970s."
- "It is estimated that up to 90% of CVD may be preventable."
- "Prevention of CVD involves improving risk factors through: healthy eating, exercise, avoidance of tobacco smoke, and limiting alcohol intake."
- "Treating risk factors, such as high blood pressure, blood lipids, and diabetes, is also beneficial."
- "Rheumatic heart disease may follow untreated strep throat."
- "The use of aspirin in people who are otherwise healthy is of unclear benefit."
- "Together CVD resulted in 17.9 million deaths (32.1%) in 2015, up from 12.3 million (25.8%) in 1990."
- "Tobacco accounts for 9% of CVD deaths."
- "Most cardiovascular disease affects older adults."
- "Lack of exercise accounts for 6% of CVD deaths."
- "Coronary artery disease, stroke, and peripheral artery disease involve atherosclerosis."
- "Diabetes accounts for 6% of CVD deaths."