Cardiovascular disease refers to 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 system, 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 Western countries face high and increasing rates of cardiovascular disease. Each year, heart disease kills more Americans than cancer. Diseases of the heart alone caused 30% of all deaths, with other diseases of the cardiovascular system causing substantial further death and disability. Up until the year 2005, it was the number 1 cause of death and disability in the United States and most European countries. A large histological study (PDAY) showed vascular injury accumulates from adolescence, making primary prevention efforts necessary from childhood.
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.
There are many risk factors which associate with (but are not all causes of) various forms of cardiovascular disease. These include the following:
* Non-modifiable Risk Factors
o Age
o Gender, men under age 64 are much more likely to die of coronary heart disease than women, although the gender difference declines with age. (The gender difference is less pronounced in blacks than in whites, but it is still significant )
o Genetic factors/Family history of cardiovascular disease
o Race (or ethnicity), Studies show that African Americans are twice as likely to develop high blood pressure as Caucasians.
o Environment, your chances can increase because of areas with a lot of smog or other form of air pollution, including passive smoking.
* Modifiable Risk Factors
o Tobacco smoking
o Insulin resistance & Diabetes mellitus
o Hypercholesterolemia (elevated cholesterol levels) and abnormal lipoprotein particle profile (cholesterol subtypes)
o Obesity, especially central or male-type obesity; apart from being linked to diabetes, this form of obesity independently increases cardiovascular risk, presumably by inducing an inflammatory and procoagulant state
o High blood pressure
o Sleep deprivation
o Elevated heart rate
o Physical inactivity/Sedentary lifestyle
o Absence of key nutritional elements, such as omega-3 fatty acids and polyphenol antioxidants
o Exposure to high levels of environmental noise
o Stress
o Rocky Relationships
o Depression
o Periodontal disease
Although men have a higher rate of cardiovascular disease than women, it is also the number one health problem for women in industrialized countries. After menopause, the risk for women approaches that of men. Hormone replacement therapy alleviates a number of post-menopausal problems, but appears to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.