According to MayoClinic.com, cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of men and women worldwide and is responsible for 40 percent of deaths in the United States. Cardiovascular disease describes numerous conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels. Diseases that affect the blood vessels, disrupt normal heart rhythm and produce heart defects are all considered types of cardiovascular disease. Fortunately, many types of cardiovascular disease can be prevented or treated through lifestyle modification.
Hypertension
According to a May 15, 2009, article on the information website Medical News Today, hypertension or high blood pressure is a cardiovascular system condition in which the blood pressure exerted on the walls of the arteries is chronically elevated. Blood pressure is a measure of the amount of force that blood exerts against the blood vessel's walls. As the heart beats, it pumps blood through the blood vessels--beginning with the arteries--to the body's tissues and cells. The blood pressure should be higher in the arteries than the veins, but if the arterial blood pressure it abnormally high when measured over time, it may mean that a person has hypertension. Because high blood pressure is associated with an increased heart effort, it can lead to organ damage and other health problems, such as heart attack, stroke and heart failure. According to the American Heart Association, normal blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg or less.
Atherosclerosis
The American Heart Association states that atherosclerosis is "the name of the process in which deposits of fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium and other substances build up in the inner lining of an artery." The resulting buildup is called plaque, which typically targets large and medium-sized arteries. The AHA notes that, although most people experience some arterial hardening as they age, some individuals--due to diet, lifestyle and possibly genetic factors--may develop plaques large enough to impair blood flow through an artery. While the atherosclerosis-induced circulation decrease is problematic, plaques cause maximum damage when they become fragile and rupture. Ruptured plaques may cause the formation of blood clots that can block blood flow or travel to another part of the body. If blood vessels to the heart become blocked, the person will suffer a heart attack. If blood vessels to the brain become blocked, the person will suffer a stroke. If blood supply to the extremities is disrupted, a person may have difficulty walking or develop gangrene.
Coronary Artery Disease
According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, a division of the National Institutes of Health, coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease and is the leading cause of death among American men and women. Coronary artery disease is a condition in which plaque accumulates inside the coronary arteries--the arteries that supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart. Narrowing of the coronary arteries reduces the amount of oxygenated blood that reaches the heart, which can cause angina or chest pain or a heart attack. Over time, coronary artery disease causes the heart to weaken, and it can lead to heart failure and potentially life-threatening arrhythmias. During heart failure, the heart is unable to pump a sufficient amount of blood throughout the body. Arrhythmias are disruptions in the speed and rhythm of the heartbeat. According to MayoClinic.com, because coronary artery disease may develop over decades, it can go unnoticed until the onset of a cardiac event, such as a heart attack.
