What’s the Issue?
Cardiovascular disease refers to several disorders. It is broken into two main parts:
Diseases of the heart (cardio)
Diseases of the blood vessels (vascular)
When people mention heart disease, they are usually talking about coronary artery disease. The coronary arteries carry blood to the heart and supply it with oxygen. When the blood flow through these arteries becomes blocked, coronary artery disease is the result. Blockage is usually the result of buildup of cholesterol in the arteries.
Coronary artery disease is the most common form of heart disease and the number one cause of heart attacks.
A heart attack (or myocardial infarction) results when the blood supply gets blocked and the heart muscle becomes damaged.
When the blood vessels that carry blood to the brain get blocked, the result is a stroke. A clot usually causes these blockages. The brain controls different parts of the body and when it is damaged, the part of the body it controls can be harmed. Strokes can cause walking and language problems, among many other things.
Why Should I Care?
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among women in the United States. Almost twice as many women died of heart disease and stroke than from all types of cancer combined in the year 2000.
Most women are unaware of their risk for heart disease and fear breast cancer more than any other disease. Cardiovascular disease kills roughly ten times more women each year than breast cancer. And many doctors fail to discuss heart health issues with their female patients.
Doctors can often diagnose a heart attack by looking at a patient’s symptoms, but women are more likely than men to have unusual symptoms including nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, dizziness and indigestion.
What Can I Do?
Luckily, there’s a lot you can do to prevent your chances of getting cardiovascular disease:
Be aware of your blood pressure and cholesterol level. Taking steps to lower them now can make all the difference for your future health.
Tobacco use can increase your chances for all sorts of heart problems. If you smoke, you should stop.
Regular and moderate exercise can keep your heart healthy and help lower your risk of heart disease and stroke.
Talk to your family about their history of cardiovascular disease. You should also speak with your health care provider.