Introduction to Cardiovascular Diseases.

About Cardiovascular Disease.

Cardiovascular diseases is the class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels (arteries and veins). While the term technically refers to any disease that affects the cardiovascular disease , it is usually used to refer to those related to atherosclerosis (arterial disease). These conditions have similar causes, mechanisms, and treatments.

In practice, cardiovascular disease is treated by cardiologists, thoracic surgeons, vascular surgeons, neurologists, and interventional radiologists, depending on the organ system that is being treated. There is considerable overlap in the specialties, and it is common for certain procedures to be performed by different types of specialists in the same hospital.

Most countries face high and increasing rates of cardiovascular disease. Each year, heart disease kills more Americans than cancer. In recent years, cardiovascular risk in women has been increasing and has killed more women than breast cancer.^[2] A large histological study (PDAY) showed vascular injury accumulates from adolescence, making primary prevention efforts necessary from childhood.^[3][4]

By the time that heart problems are detected, the underlying cause (atherosclerosis) is usually quite advanced, having progressed for decades. There is therefore increased emphasis on preventing atherosclerosis by modifying risk factors, such as healthy eating, exercise and avoidance of smoking.

Cardiovascular diseases include the following;

• Aneurysm
• Angina
• Atherosclerosis
• Cerebrovascular Accident (Stroke)
• Cerebrovascular disease
• Congestive Heart Failure
• Coronary Artery Disease
• Myocardial infarction (Heart Attack)
• Peripheral vascular disease

Unlike many other chronic medical conditions, Cardiovascular disease is treatable and reversible, even after a long history of disease. Treatment is primarily focused on diet and stress reduction.

Population based studies in the youth show that the precursors of heart disease start in adolescence. The process of atherosclerosis evolves over decades, and begins as early as childhood. The Pathobiological Determinants of Atherosclerosis in Youth Study demonstrated that intimal lesions appear in all the aortas and more than half of the right coronary arteries of youths aged 7–9 years. However, most adolescents are more concerned about other risks such as HIV, accidents, and cancer than cardiovascular disease. This is extremely important considering that 1 in 3 people will die from complications attributable to atherosclerosis. In order to stem the tide of cardiovascular disease, primary prevention is needed. Primary prevention starts with education and awareness that cardiovascular disease poses the greatest threat and measures to prevent or reverse this disease must be taken.

Statistics of Cardiovascular Disease.

Estimates for the year 2006 are that 81,100,000 people in the United States have one or more forms of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

• High blood pressure — 73,600,000.
• Coronary heart disease — 17,600,000.
  • Myocardial infarction (mi"o-KAR'de-al in-FARK'shun) (acute heart attack) — 8,500,000.
  • Angina pectoris (AN'jih-nah or an-JI'nah PEK'tor-is) (chest pain or discomfort caused by reduced blood supply to the heart muscle) — 10,200,000.
• Stroke — 6,400,000.
• Heart Failure — 5,800,000

Cardiovascular diseases

• Claimed 831,272 lives in 2006 (final mortality) (34.3 percent of all deaths or 1 of every 2.9 deaths).
• Other final 2006 mortality: total cancer 559,888; accidents 121,599; HIV (AIDS) 12,113.
• Over 151,000 Americans killed by CVD in 2006 were under age 65.
• 2006 final death rates from CVD were 306.6 for white males and 422.8 for black males; for white females 215.5 and for black females 298.2. (Death rates are per 100,000 population. The rates listed use the year 2000 standard U.S. population as the base for age adjustment.)
• From 1996 to 2006, death rates from CVD declined 29.2 percent.
• In the same 10-year period the actual number of deaths declined 12.9 percent.

Coronary heart disease
Coronary heart disease is caused by atherosclerosis (ath"er-o-skleh-RO'sis), the narrowing of the coronary arteries due to fatty build ups of plaque. It's likely to produce angina pectoris (chest pain), heart attack or both.

• Coronary heart disease caused 425,425 deaths in 2006 and is the single leading cause of death in America today.
• 17,600,000 people alive today have a history of heart attack, angina pectoris or both. This is about 9,200,000 males and 8,400,000 females.
• This year an estimated 1.26 million Americans will have a new or recurrent coronary attack.
• There are about 295,000 EMS-assessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrests annually in the United States.
• From 1996 to 2006 the death rate from coronary heart disease declined 36.4 percent.
• In 2006, coronary heart disease death rates per 100,000 people were 176.3 for white males and 206.4 for black males; and 101.5 for white females and 130.0 for black females. (Death rates are per 100,000 population. The rates use the year 2000 standard population for age adjustment.)

Mortality — The total number of deaths from a given disease in a population during a specific interval of time, usually a year.


Prevalence — The total number of cases of a given disease existing in a population at a specific point in time.