Cardiovascular Disease

The abnormal conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels (arteries and veins) are considered under the umbrella of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The major types of CVD include coronary (or ischemic) heart disease, acute myocardial infarction (heart attack), cerebrovascular disease (stroke), arrhythmias, valvular heart disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), and congestive heart failure. Heart attack and stroke are responsible for most CVD deaths. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), CVD has been the leading cause of death in the United States for more than a century (except during the 1918 flu pandemic) and claims more American lives than does cancer each year. Although the death rate in the 21st century (2003) as compared to the mid-20th century (1950) has declined, CVD is still the cause of 37#x0025; of all deaths in the United States. Current statistics can be obtained from the American Heart Association.

Cardiovascular disease is also the leading cause of death in many developing and underdeveloped countries. It was responsible for 16.7 million (29.2#x0025;) of total global deaths in 2003. In industrialized countries, incident of CVD rises with age, whereas in the developing and underdeveloped countries, the trend is opposite: In those countries, more people of a younger age experience CVD. According to the CDC, the decline in CVD death rates in the United States is mainly due to improved medical care and changes in lifestyle. The average age of having a first heart attack is 65.8 for men and 70.4 for women.

Common Types of CVD

Atherosclerosis (a buildup of plaque inside the artery wall) is the primary malefactor in most of the CVDs. Atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries causes the most common type of CVD, coronary artery disease. The plaque buildup reduces blood flow in the arteries resulting in ischemia (oxygen deprivation to the heart muscle). This causes coronary heart disease leading to chest pain (angina) or a heart attack (myocardial infarction). Coronary bypass surgery is a common treatment for blocked arteries. A blood vessel is taken from a leg or the chest and grafted onto the blocked artery to bypass the blockage. Another procedure to improve blood circulation in the heart is angioplasty. This involves cardiac catheterization and flattening atherosclerotic deposits or inserting a stent to open a blocked artery. Two newer techniques are laser angioplasty and atherectomy. These are often followed by a stent procedure.

The second most common type of CVD is stroke resulting from atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis (loss of elasticity of the arteries or hardening of the arteries), which affect the arteries that deliver blood to the brain. An artery rupture or blockage of the blood supply to the brain or to part of the brain may result in oxygen deprivation. Due to lack of oxygen, nerve cells die within minutes, affecting the part of body they control. Four types of stroke are cerebral thrombosis and cerebral embolism, caused by clots or plaque blockage of an artery, and cerebral and subarachnoid hemorrhages, caused by ruptured blood vessels. A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a “warning stroke” or “mini-stroke” that produces milder and short-lived stroke-like symptoms. About 15#x0025; of all strokes are preceded by a TIA and 25#x0025; of these patients die within a year after a TIA.

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