Cardiovascular diseases Chapter 23 Cardiovascular diseases

Types of Cardiovascular diseases Chronic diseases- Diseases that persist for a long period or recur throughout life. Usually caused by risk factors that are behavioral, environmental, or hereditary. Most common chronic diseases are cardiovascular diseases. A cardiovascular disease is one of the heart and blood vessels.

Cardiovascular Diseases Hypertension- A person who’s blood pressure consistently measures 140/90 or higher. Known as the “silent killer.” Over time it can lead to heart disease. Strain on heart and blood vessels. 1 out of 3 American adults has hypertension. Exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, reducing stress, and eating foods low in sodium reduce the risk of hypertension.

Atherosclerosis Disease in which fatty substances, including cholesterol build up inside artery walls. These deposits, called plaque, cause the artery walls to thicken and narrow. Narrowed vessels make it harder for blood to flow. Saturated fats can increase the risk of atherosclerosis. Can also increase your risk of developing other cardiovascular diseases.

Arteriosclerosis Hardening of the artery walls. Develops when arteries lose their elasticity and become stiff. People who suffer from atherosclerosis often have arteriosclerosis as well.

Coronary Heart Disease Occurs when atherosclerosis starts to develop in the arteries that supply blood to the heart. As the coronary arteries narrow, blood flow to the heart decreases. Chest pain occurs when an area of the heart does not get enough oxygen rich blood, which is called Angina pectoris. Coronary heart disease can lead to a heart attack.

Heart Attack Occurs when some of the tissue in the heart doesn’t receive its normal blood supply and dies. Usually caused by a blood clot that forms in the coronary artery. The more heart tissue that dies, the more severe the heart attack.

Heart Attacks About 50% of people who have a heart attack survive. Each year about 1 million people in the U.S. suffer a heart attack. Four major risk factors for heart attacks are high blood pressure, high levels of cholesterol in the blood, physical inactivity, and smoking.

Arrhythmia Irregular heartbeats. May beat too slowly, too quickly, or with an uneven rhythm. Fibrillation- a life-threatening arrhythmia in which the heart twitches rapidly in an uncoordinated fashion. Some can be controlled by medications. Others require surgery to implant an artificial pacemaker.