1. Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular disease – set of diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels
~ 40% deaths in U.S.
Heart muscle requires O2 rich blood to survive
Coronary arteries – branch off of the aorta and supply the heart muscle with O2
If a coronary artery becomes blocked the heart tissue without blood will quickly die
Heart attack – failure of the heart to function properly

2. Atherosclerosis Atherosclerosis – chronic cardiovascular disease
Cholesterol and other substances build up in the arteries called plaque
This build up narrows passage, decreases blood flow, increases blood pressure
Lifestyle changes – no smoking, healthy diet, increase exercise

3. Treatments for cardiovascular disease
Drugs to lower cholesterol
Angioplasty – inserting a balloon catheter to compress plaque against the vessel wall therefore opening clogged arteries
Stent – small wire mesh tubes to prop open the arteries
By-pass surgery – blood vessels removed from leg and sewn onto heart to shunt blood around a blocked artery
Heart transplant or artificial heart
These only treat symptoms not the causes…problems will return if lifestyle changes are not changed!

4. Cardiovascular Risk Factors
You can control…
Diet
High cholesterol
HDL (good)
LDL (bad)
Weight (obesity)
High blood pressure
Cigarette smoking
Physical inactivity
Stress
You cannot control…
Genetics
Male sex
Increasing age
Diabetes