Question

1. Briefly Explain at least 5 different types of cardiovascular disease?

2. Identify 7 of the 10 risk factors for cardiovascular disease that can be changed

Answer 1

1. Heart failure: The inability of the heart to supply sufficient oxygenated blood to tissues throughout the body can result in heart failure. This may occur due to damage to heart muscle and patients show symptoms like shortness of breath and swelling of legs.

2.Congenital heart disease: When there is an anatomical defect in heart since birth such as a small hole in one of the heart walls or defect that hinders the blood flow through the heart and lungs, they are under congenital heart disease which may lead to death in severe complications while some can be treated through surgery.

3.Stroke: This happens when the brain does not receive enough blood supply, leading to the death of brain cells. A stroke may be caused due to a blocked artery or bursting of the blood vessel.Symptoms include numbness arm, leg, headache, trouble with speech etc.

4.Ischemic heart disease: A partial blockage in a coronary artery that supplies oxygenated blood to the heart can cause ischemic heart disease. With this blood supply to the heart is reduced and patients complain of chest pain and shortness of breath. Ischemic heart disease is often caused by atherosclerosis(hardening and narrowing of coronary arteries) or fatty deposits on the artery wall.

5.Peripheral vascular disease: In this disease narrowed arteries reduce blood supply primarily in limbs. Cause of PVD includes atherosclerosis and fatty deposits on the artery wall. PVD develops in the artery that carries oxygenated blood away from the heart and can also affect arteries of arms, stomach. Symptoms include pain in legs or arms, fatigue.

Risk factors are a certain attribute that increases the likelihood of developing a disease and there are some risk factors which we can completely restrain from in order to improve the quality of life and reduce the chance of sufferings.

Age: The older you are, the higher is the chance of getting coronary heart disease.

Male: Males are diagnosed with heart disease more than female.

Family history: Family history of cardiovascular disease increases the risk.

Race: Certain ethnic background population are prone to cardiovascular disease such as African-Americans

Smoking

High cholesterol

High blood pressure

Sedentary lifestyle

Obesity

Diabetes

Occupational exposure to chemicals and toxins

Except for risk factors such as age, male, race and family background others can be controlled and avoided through precautions and better lifestyle. Smokers can quit the habit of smoking, cholesterol levels can be checked, controlling high blood pressure, diabetes, becoming active, eating right and exercising regularly and avoiding exposure to occupational exposure.