Cardiovascular Disease Essay

Cardiovascular Disease

The term "heart disease" is often used interchangeably with the term "cardiovascular disease." Cardiovascular disease generally refers to conditions that involve narrowed or blocked blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack, chest pain (angina) or stroke. Other heart conditions, such as those that affect your heart 's muscle, valves or rhythm, also are considered forms of heart disease. Many forms of heart disease can be prevented or treated with healthy lifestyle choices. Cardiovascular disease in our arteries can begin as early as our teenage years.
Often a body 's resistance to insulin, which is a natural hormone produced by the pancreas, leads to Type 2 diabetes and disease in your blood vessels.
Insulin resistance can also result in eventual cardiovascular disease significant enough to cause a heart attack or stroke. Other factors can harm your arteries as well, and most heart attacks and strokes are the end result of that damaged condition. Yet the problem develops so gradually and so silently that six of every ten Americans who have suffered a heart attack never knew they had cardiovascular disease.
Blood clots cause the majority of heart attacks and all ischemic strokes.
(An ischemic stroke happens when an artery in your brain is blocked.)
Clot formation is just the end of a long process of disease which begins as inflammation in the arteries incited by cholesterol. In response to the inflammation, plaque pushes its way under the artery lining, causing the arteries to thicken. A weakened artery will fight to hold in the unstable plaque, but the plaque can rupture without warning, breaking through the vessel wall. The body senses danger and rushes repair cells to the
scene.
What happens next could change a life forever: Those repair cells form a blood clot, which blocks the artery. A clot the size of a baby aspirin can stop a heart or trigger a stroke. Although each type of cardiovascular disease typically has different symptoms, many have similar warning signs. If you or your loved one is regularly experiencing any of the following symptoms, call your doctor.
Extreme fatigue
Constant dizziness or lightheadedness
A fast heart rate (more than 100 beats per minute)
A new, irregular heartbeat
Chest pain or discomfort during activity that goes away with rest
Difficulty breathing during regular activities and rest
A respiratory infection or cough that becomes worse
Restlessness or confusion
Changes in sleep patterns
Loss of appetite or nausea

Keeping Cardiovascular Disease Under Control
Sometimes, developing cardiovascular disease is unavoidable—your age or family history are factors out of your control. But there are plenty of factors you can control, whether you’re already living with cardiovascular disease, or taking steps to prevent it.
Reduce Your Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
Some of the best ways to prevent cardiovascular disease, or to keep your symptoms under control, are to change your lifestyle habits. Quit Smoking
A smoker’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease is two to four times greater than non-smokers. When you quit smoking, you not only improve your own health, but that of your loved ones, too, by no longer exposing them to secondhand smoke that can raise their own chances of developing cardiovascular disease.
Reduce Your Cholesterol
The higher your total cholesterol, the higher your chances of developing cardiovascular disease. Choose foods low in cholesterol and saturated fat to keep your total blood cholesterol level under 200. There are also medications that can help, if diet alone is not enough.
Control Your Blood Pressure
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is the most common risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Reducing stress, eating healthy, and exercising will help keep your blood pressure in check, but there are also medications that provide extra help if you need it.
Stay Active
It can be hard to fit exercise into your schedule, but even mild to moderate amounts of physical activity can have a big impact on your heart health. Start by making exercise a part of your daily life. Go for walk, garden, take the stairs instead of the elevator—even the smallest changes make a difference.
Change Your Diet
You don’t need to give up all the foods you love, but making healthy changes to your diet, like choosing vitamin-rich foods low in cholesterol and fat, benefits your heart and your whole body.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
Carrying excess weight puts significant strain on your heart, and can make other cardiovascular disease risk factors worse, such as diabetes. Eating right and exercising regularly can help shed extra pounds.

Manage Stress
Life is often stressful—sometimes we just can’t avoid it. But consistent stress and anger can have damaging effects that could lead to heart attack and stroke. Manage stress by learning relaxation techniques or asking for help when you’re feeling overwhelmed.
As always, it’s a good idea to talk with your doctor about what you can do to lower your risk. Together, you’ll determine the best strategy for preventing or managing cardiovascular disease.

References:
1. http://www.thedacare.org/Symptoms-and-Conditions/Cardiology/Taking-Charge-of-Your-Health/Cardiovascular-Disease-Prevention-and-Management.aspx
2.
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Caregiver/Resources/WhatisCardiovascularDisease/What-is-Cardiovascular-Disease_UCM_301852_Article.jsp
3. http://www.amgencardiovascular.com/?WT.srch=1#mission