Answer:
Why is cardiovascular disease common today?
Explanation:
Coronary heart disease
Coronary heart disease occurs when the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle is blocked or reduced.
This puts an increased strain on the heart, and can lead to:
angina – chest pain caused by restricted blood flow to the heart muscle
heart attacks – where the blood flow to the heart muscle is suddenly blocked
heart failure – where the heart is unable to pump blood around the body properly
Read more about coronary heart disease.
Strokes and TIAs
A stroke is where the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, which can cause brain damage and possibly death.
A transient ischaemic attack (also called a TIA or "mini-stroke") is similar, but the blood flow to the brain is only temporarily disrupted.
The main symptoms of a stroke or TIA can be remembered with the word FAST, which stands for:
Face – the face may have drooped on one side, the person may be unable to smile, or their mouth or eye may have dropped.
Arms – the person may not be able to lift both arms and keep them there because of arm weakness or numbness in one arm.
Speech – their speech may be slurred or garbled, or they may not be able to talk at all.
Time – it's time to dial 999 immediately if you see any of these signs or symptoms.
Read more about stroke and TIAs.
Peripheral arterial disease
Peripheral arterial disease occurs when there's a blockage in the arteries to the limbs, usually the legs.
This can cause:
dull or cramping leg pain, which is worse when walking and gets better with rest
hair loss on the legs and feet
numbness or weakness in the legs
persistent ulcers (open sores) on the feet and legs
Read more about peripheral arterial disease.
Aortic disease
Aortic diseases are a group of conditions affecting the aorta. This is the largest blood vessel in the body, which carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
One of most common aortic diseases is an aortic aneurysm, where the aorta becomes weakened and bulges outwards.
This doesn't usually have any symptoms, but there's a chance it could burst and cause life-threatening bleeding.
Read more about aortic aneurysm.
Causes of CVD
The exact cause of CVD isn't clear, but there are lots of things that can increase your risk of getting it. These are called "risk factors".
The more risk factors you have, the greater your chances of developing CVD.
If you're over 40, you'll be invited by your GP for an NHS Health Check every 5 years.
Part of this check involves assessing your individual CVD risk and advising you how to reduce it if necessary.
The main risk factors for CVD are outlined below.
High blood pressure
High blood pressure (hypertension) is one of the most important risk factors for CVD. If your blood pressure is too high, it can damage your blood vessels.
Read more about high blood pressure.
Smoking
Smoking and other tobacco use is also a significant risk factor for CVD. The harmful substances in tobacco can damage and narrow your blood vessels.
High cholesterol
Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in the blood. If you have high cholesterol, it can cause your blood vessels to narrow and increase your risk of developing a blood clot.
Read more about high cholesterol.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes your blood sugar level to become too high.
High blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels, making them more likely to become narrowed.
Many people with type 2 diabetes are also overweight or obese, which is also a risk factor for CVD.
Inactivity
If you don't exercise regularly, it's more likely that you'll have high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and be overweight. All of these are risk factors for CVD.
Exercising regularly will help keep your heart healthy. When combined with a healthy diet, exercise can also help you maintain a healthy weight.
Being overweight or obese
Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing diabetes and high blood pressure, both of which are risk factors for CVD.
You're at an increased risk of CVD if:
your body mass index (BMI) is 25 or above – use the BMI healthy weight calculator to work out your BMI
you're a man with a waist measurement of 94cm (about 37 inches) or more, or a woman with a waist measurement of 80cm (about 31.5 inches) or more
