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Definition of Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular Disease is a disease of the heart (cardio) and blood vessels (vascular) often caused by a narrowing of the blood vessels, which is often due to accumulation of plaque in the lining of the blood vessels. Cardiovascular disease is a general term that includes many types of heart disease including but not limited to heart attack and stroke.
Heart disease and stroke—the principal components of cardiovascular disease—are the first and third leading causes of death in the United States, accounting for nearly 40% of all deaths.
Causes of Cardiovascular Disease
- Inflammation of any part of the heart or major artery
- Blood clots
- Tobacco Use
- Lack of Physical Activity
- Poor Nutrition
Common Symptoms of Heart Attacks
- Uncomfortable pressure
- Fullness or excruciating pain in the chest radiating to the neck, jaw, shoulders or arms.
- Lightheadedness
- Fainting
- Increased sweating
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
As with men, women's most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to have some of the other warning signs, particularly shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting and back or jaw pain.
Visit the American Heart Association website for more heart attack, stroke & cardiac arrest warning signs.
Visit the National Cholesterol Education Program website and assess your 10-year risk of having a heart attack.
The Oral Health and Heart Health Connection
Gum disease in its early stages is caused by plaque buildup and affects 75 percent of American adults, according to the Academy of General Dentistry. New studies suggest that people with gum disease are at a higher risk for heart attack. If bacteria in the infected gums dislodges, it can enter the bloodstream, attach to blood vessels and increase clot formation. Clots decrease the blood supply to the heart and can increase chances of a heart attack and raise blood pressure.
Prevent plaque buildup and reduce your chance of getting gum disease by brushing and flossing daily. Visit your dentist every six months to help identify gum disease as well as overall oral health problems in their earliest stages. For more information on Oral health and Heart Disease visit the American Heart Association and Academy of General Dentistry's websites.
Common Symptoms of Stroke
The symptoms of stroke are distinct because they happen quickly:
- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg (especially on one side of the body)
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause
Take the Healthy Heart Workout Quiz.
Cardiovascular Disease Prevention
Here are some ways to minimize risk of getting a cardiovascular disease. Although you cannot control your age, family history, and gender, here are some tips you can use to help minimize your risk.
- Get Active. Being physically active each day can greatly reduce the risk of Cardiovascular Disease. People who are sedentary have twice the risk of heart disease as those who are physically active. Visit the Physical Activity webpage to learn more.
- Eat Healthy Foods. Between 20% and 30% of the nation’s adults (some 58 million people) are obese and thus have a higher risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other chronic diseases. Visit the Nutrition webpage to learn more.
- Stop Smoking. Smokers have twice the risk of heart attack as nonsmokers. Visit the Tobacco webpage to learn more.
- Lower High Blood Pressure
- Reduce High Blood Cholesterol
- Aim for a Healthy Weight
- Manage diabetes. Visit the Diabetes webpage to learn more.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website offers heart-healthy recipes for free.
Manage Your Cardiovascular Disease
- Don’t delay getting medical attention. If you are having any cardiovascular disease symptoms call 911.
- Get regular physicals and checkups
- Keep your blood pressure in check
- Control your cholesterol
- Keep diabetes in check. Visit the Diabetes webpage to learn more.
- Manage Stress
- Visit the Medline Plus website to learn how to manage stress
- Reduce the amount of salt and sodium in your diet.
Related Links
Visit our Related Links webpage for additional cardiovascular disease information.
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