Cardiovascular Diseases: Types, Symptoms, Causes, Treatments

Introduction – Cardiovascular Diseases: Types, Symptoms, Causes, Treatments

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death in the U.S., responsible for 35% of all deaths each year, and more than 170 million adults worldwide are estimated to have them. So, what are the main types of CVDs, what causes them, and how are they treated?

What are Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD)?

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are conditions that affect the blood vessels and heart. All CVDs can be linked to either atherosclerosis or hypertension. Atherosclerosis is a chronic disease that involves progressive damage to the walls of an artery; it leads to narrowing and stiffening of the arteries, eventually causing angina or heart attack if left untreated. Atherosclerosis occurs when there is a buildup of plaque inside the arteries that causes the narrowing of blood vessels and a reduction in blood flow to certain parts of the body. 

Hypertension is also known as high blood pressure; it occurs when blood pressure remains elevated despite a person’s efforts to keep their blood pressure low.

Atherosclerosis 

Atherosclerosis is the buildup of plaque inside your arteries. Plaque is a fatty substance made up of cholesterol and fibrin, which is a protein that helps your blood clot. Over time, plaque builds up inside your arteries, narrowing them. This can eventually lead to angina, heart attack, and even stroke. 

What Causes Atherosclerosis

There are many causes of atherosclerosis. For one, the buildup of atherosclerotic plaque is caused by excess cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides. Another one of these causes is smoking cigarettes. Smoking cigarettes increases cholesterol levels in the bloodstream and the build-up of plaque in the arteries. 

Additionally, atherosclerosis can be caused by high blood pressure. High blood pressure causes thickening of the arterial wall, which prevents oxygen-rich blood from flowing properly throughout the body.

Also, there are certain foods that have been proven to promote atherosclerosis. These foods include red meat, sugar, white bread, fried food, processed food, saturated fats, and trans fats.

Atherosclerosis Symptoms

Atherosclerosis can manifest in many ways. Here are the most common signs and symptoms to watch out for:

• chest pain (angina)
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Confusion
• Pain or loss of function in the area affected by the blocked blood vessel

Atherosclerosis Prevention

To prevent atherosclerosis, maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly, eat a well-balanced diet, and practice good oral hygiene. For example, avoid smoking and stay hydrated. Keep your blood pressure at a healthy level and lower if you have symptoms of hypertension. 

Atherosclerosis Treatment

If you have atherosclerosis, medications such as statins, ACE inhibitors, and angiotensin II receptor blockers can help slow down the progression of your condition.

Hypertension 

Hypertension (HTN) is a condition in which your blood pressure is higher than normal, and it’s the most common type of CVD. To be diagnosed with hypertension, your blood pressure must be above 120/80 for a number of readings over a specific period.

High blood pressure is a risk factor for heart attacks and strokes. 

What Causes Hypertension?

HTN can be caused by many factors, including excess salt in your diet (due to a poor diet or excessive salt intake), stress, and excessive alcohol intake. 

Hypertension Symptoms

Symptoms of high blood pressure include headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue, leg swelling, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

Hypertension Prevention

To prevent hypertension, you should lead an active lifestyle, reduce alcohol consumption, avoid smoking, and practice healthy eating habits.

Hypertension Treatment

High blood pressure is treated with medications. Common medications prescribed for high blood pressure include beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, diuretics, calcium channel blockers, and angiotensin receptor blockers. In addition, some studies have found that daily fish meals can lower high blood pressure. Also, lifestyle changes are highly recommended.

Ischemic Heart Disease 

Ischemic heart disease is when the oxygen supply to your heart tissue is reduced because of blockage in one or more of your coronary blood vessels. Without blood flow, the heart muscle is deprived of oxygen and may weaken, causing chest pain and shortness of breath. 

Ischemic Heart Disease Symptoms

Early signs of ischemic heart disease include mild discomforts, such as a sore throat or a dull headache. As the disease progresses, however, you may begin to notice other symptoms, including dizziness, fainting, or irregular heartbeats. 

Causes of Ischemic Heart Disease 

There are many risk factors that increase your chance of developing ischemic heart disease, such as age (over the age of 55), high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, cigarette smoking, and being overweight. Once you have developed one or more of these risk factors, your risk of developing ischemic heart disease increases significantly. 

Ischemic Heart Disease Treatment

Treatment for IHD includes lifestyle changes, medications, and surgery. Lifestyle changes involve quitting smoking, losing weight if overweight, eating a low-fat diet, exercising regularly, and controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Medications include beta-blockers, nitroglycerin, calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, statins, and aspirin. Surgery involves bypassing narrowed arteries with grafts or stents.

Ischemic Heart Disease Prevention 

Ischemic heart disease can be prevented by:

• Controlling your blood pressure
• Being physically active
• Smoking cessation
• Eating a healthy, balanced diet
• Avoiding obesity and being overweight
• Reducing your alcohol consumption

Congestive Heart Failure 

Congestive heart failure is a condition in which your heart muscle is unable to pump enough blood to your body. 

Congestive Heart Failure Symptoms

You may notice symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness, and fainting. 

Causes of Congestive Heart Failure 

There are many risk factors that increase your chance of developing congestive heart failure, such as age, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and being overweight. Once you have one or more of these risk factors, your risk of developing heart failure increases significantly. 

Congestive Heart Failure Treatment

As with other forms of CVD, there are medications that can help relieve your symptoms. Diuretics are often prescribed, as well as blood pressure medication.

Congestive Heart Failure Prevention

Here are some ways you can prevent CHF:

• Practice eating healthily
• Quit smoking
• Avoid excess body weight
• Become physically active
• Managing stress and other medical conditions

Stroke 

A stroke is caused by a blockage in one of your arteries that prevents blood from getting to the brain. When your brain doesn’t get enough blood flow, it can suffer from permanent damage. 

Causes of Strokes 

Strokes can be sudden, or they can begin with a small abnormality, such as a blood clot in an artery. Strokes often occur when you’re sleeping or doing something that requires little mental effort. There are many risk factors that increase your chance of developing stroke, such as age, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and being overweight. Once you have one or more of these risk factors, your risk of having a stroke increases significantly. 

Stroke Symptoms

The symptoms of a stroke depend on what part of the brain was affected. If the occipital lobe (the back portion of the brain) is damaged, then the patient may experience vision problems, including blurred vision, blind spots, double vision, and loss of peripheral vision. 

Other possible symptoms include dizziness, nausea, headache, speech difficulty, weakness or numbness in the face, arm, or leg, and confusion. Other symptoms may occur depending on where in the body the blood clot formed.

Stroke Treatment

In most cases of stroke, medications can help reduce the damage caused by the stroke. Some people are helped by medication that increases blood flow to the brain or by medication that prevents clotting.

Stroke Prevention

Preventing a stroke is similar to preventing other cardiovascular conditions.

Rheumatic Heart Diseases 

Rheumatic heart diseases refer to conditions caused by rheumatic fever and/or rheumatic valvular heart disease. The most common rheumatic heart diseases are rheumatic heart valve stenosis and rheumatic heart disease. Rheumatic valve stenosis occurs when heart valves become narrow and unable to open properly. This condition causes heart failure. 

Causes of Rheumatic Heart Diseases

Rheumatic fever is an infection that causes inflammation in your heart valves. Heart valves are tough, muscular structures that control the flow of blood in the heart, and when they’re damaged, blood pressure is often too high, causing heart failure. 

Rheumatic Heart Diseases Symptoms

If you have RHD, you may experience: 

• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Heart murmur and chest pain
• Swelling in the stomach, hands, or feet.

Rheumatic Heart Diseases Treatment

To treat these diseases, your doctor may recommend medications to improve blood flow, anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce the damage done by the inflammation, and/or surgery to repair damage to your valve.

Rheumatic Heart Diseases Prevention

You can prevent rheumatic heart disease by taking antibiotics at the first signs of a streptococcal infection.

Final Thoughts

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are conditions that affect the blood vessels and heart, and they are all basically caused by unhealthy lifestyle habits. The best preventative approach to CVD is to maintain a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and keep your weight in check. You can also take medications to prevent and treat the risk factors associated with CVD. Finally, remember that it’s important to see your doctor regularly. 

Featured Image Credit: FreeImages

References 

1. Martel, J. (2021, October 22). Atherosclerosis. Healthline; Healthline Media; https://www.healthline.com/health/atherosclerosis#symptoms
2. Center. (2021). High Blood Pressure–Understanding the Silent Killer. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/special-features/high-blood-pressure-understanding-silent-killer
3. ‌NHS Choices. (2022). Prevention – Coronary heart disease. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronary-heart-disease/prevention/
4. Heart failure – Symptoms and causes. (2021). Mayo Clinic; https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-failure/symptoms-causes/syc-20373142
5. ‌Rheumatic Heart Disease: Definition, Causes, Prevention & Treatment. (2021). Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21485-rheumatic-heart-disease#prevention