Cardiovascular disease is a condition that affects the parts of the cardiovascular system; the heart and blood vessels. According to the American Heart Association, the major cardiovascular diseases include high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, stroke and heart failure, and are responsible for more deaths than any other condition in the United States.
Causes
Cardiovascular disease is preventable in many people with lifestyle changes. Use of tobacco, unhealthy eating and inactivity are some of the leading causes of cardiovascular disease, specifically heart attacks and strokes, notes the World Health Organization. By reversing these unhealthy habits, it's possible to reduce the risk of these dangerous conditions. One cause of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, in many cases can not be as easily controlled as other causes. Individuals with diabetes are at greater risk for diseases of the cardiovascular system but can reduce that risk by monitoring his blood sugar closely.
Symptoms
Symptoms of diseases of the cardiovascular system can range from extreme to non-existent. A heart attack will have very pronounced physical symptoms while it is occurring; shooting pains in the arm, neck, back and/or chest can be present. In other conditions classified as cardiovascular disease, such as high blood pressure, there may be no symptoms. Monitoring blood pressure is important, because high blood pressure can affect anyone.
Treatment
Lifestyle changes remain the best way to help prevent all types of cardiovascular disease. Eating foods lower in fat and sodium, increasing physical activity and reducing smoking and consumption of alcoholic beverages are typically recommended by physicians, according to MayoClinic.com.
When lifestyle changes aren't enough, beta blockers may be prescribed to help prevent high blood pressure and cardiac arrhythmias, as well as blood thinners to help prevent complete blockage of blood flow. Failure of medications can result in the need for surgery.
Complications
Since the cardiovascular system runs throughout the body, areas of the body besides the heart may be affected. When the heart is pushed to the brink by cardiovascular diseases, it can simply fail to pump blood throughout the body. This can result in death of tissues not associated with the cardiovascular system from a lack of oxygen delivery.
Future
The future of treating heart diseases and other cardiovascular issues may be in stem cells, notes Dr. Richard Schatz. The stem cells could potentially be harvested from the patient and placed right back in him. The vision is that the stem cells would then regenerate damaged blood vessels or heart tissue. While effective treatment with stem cells may still be many years away as of 2010, it is actively funded by the American Heart Association.
