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Chronic Diseases

Cardiovascular Disease

What is it?
Why is it important?
Resources

 

What Is It?

Cardiovascular diseases are a number of symptoms and diseases that affect the heart. There are multiple symptoms that signal the onset. Heart attacks are silent killers because women typically do not think they are at risk. Heart disease is the number one killer of American women in general, although many people still continue to view this as a man's disease. The risk of women dying from cardiovascular disease increases after menopause.

By definition:

  • Heart Disease: refers only to diseases of the heart and the blood vessel system within the heart.
  • Cardiovascular disease: refers to diseases of the heart and diseases of the blood vessel system within a person's entire body.

 

Different types of heart and cardiovascular disease:

•  Arteriosclerosis- Thickening or hardening of the arteries

•  Coronary heart disease (coronary artery disease) – most common form of heart disease and causes chest pain and heart attacks because it affects the blood vessels.

•  Angina- Chest pain because the heart is not getting enough blood.

•  Stroke- When a blood clot forms in the brain or when a blood vessel located in the brain breaks.

•  High Blood pressure- Also known as hypertension and can be treated with medication and the proper diet. The average blood pressure for a healthy adult is 120/80, although slightly higher or lower might not be a problem. A person's blood pressure is considered high when it is over 140/90

•  Heart failure- when the heart is unable to pump enough blood through the body, and when it is not doing this as well as it should.

Why is Cardiovascular disease important?

Often called the “silent killer” because the warning signs are easy to overlook. Heart disease can be prevented through exercise, healthy eating and identifying the symptoms early on.

 

How to prevent Cardiovascular and Heart Disease:

•  Exercise for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week

•  Eat a diet low in saturated fats, cholesterol and sodium

•  Do not smoke

•  Maintain a healthy weight

•  Have your blood pressure checked on a regular basis

Signs of a Heart Attack:According to the American Heart Association you should contact a medical professional if you have any of these signs:

•  Chest discomfort

•  Discomfort in other areas of your upper body

•  Shortness of breath

•  Nausea, breaking out in a cold sweat or lightheadedness

Signs of a Stroke: According to the American Heart Association, these are the signs that a person is having a stroke and should be taken to the nearest hospital:

•  Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or any part of the
body, especially if it is specifically on one side

•  Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding

•  Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes

•  Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

•  Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

 

 

Resources