Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular disease is a general term for disorders affecting the heart and blood vessels. These include coronary artery disease, heart attack, stroke, hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, chronic heart failure, angina pectoris and arrhythmia.
Cardiovascular diseases continue to be the most frequent cause of death in industrialized countries. Worldwide, cardiovascular disease is responsible for one in every three deaths – that’s 17 million people worldwide each year. By 2020 the WHO estimates the death toll from cardiovascular disease will have risen to nearly 25 million worldwide.
Cardiovascular disease at a glance:
- Major risk factors for cardiovascular disease include cigarette smoking, hypertension, hyperlipidemia (raised ‘bad’ LDL-cholesterol and/or triglycerides), diabetes, obesity, and physical inactivity.
- Worldwide 600 million people have hypertension, putting them at risk of myocardial infarction (MI, ‘heart attack’), stroke, and chronic heart failure in case of insufficient treatment.
- The most common cardiovascular disease complications and life-threatening conditions are:
- Coronary artery disease – narrowing of the arteries that supply the heart with blood. Atherosclerosis, where plaque builds up on the inside wall of the arteries, is the main cause. Coronary artery disease contributes to other cardiovascular diseases, including angina pectoris, heart attack, heart failure and stroke.
- Heart attack – acute interruption of blood supply to the heart muscle that occurs when one or more coronary arteries become blocked (also called myocardial infarction or MI).
- Stroke – reversible or irreversible damage to nerve cells in the brain caused by lack of oxygen. Damage can occur from lack of oxygen when vessels are clogged or from accumulation of blood from bleeding vessels
- Peripheral vascular disease – narrowing of the arteries leading away from the heart, usually in the legs, lower arms, or hands.
- Chronic heart failure – a complex clinical syndrome where the heart is unable to pump a sufficient amount of blood to the periphery.
- Angina pectoris – chest pain resulting from inadequate delivery of oxygen to the heart
- Arrhythmia – any change in the normal rhythm of the heartbeat.
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| Disclaimer |
The information contained in these pages is intended for general reference only. It should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease without the advice of a qualified medical professional, and does not replace medical advice or a medical examination. Cardio-metabolic disorders is a serious ailment that should be diagnosed by a specialist in that field. Before starting any treatment a physician needs to be consulted. US Residents should consult the EMD Serono, Inc. for information on products approved for sale in the United States of America. |
