Cardiovascular Disease

It may sound like a single disease, but cardiovascular disease is actually a group of over 60 disorders of the heart or blood vessel system (arteries, capillaries, and veins) within a person's entire body. High blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke are the most common forms. Depending on the specific condition, cardiovascular disease treatment may involve medication, lifestyle changes, or special procedures.

 

What Is Cardiovascular Disease?

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) refers to diseases that affect the heart or the blood vessel system within a person's entire body. It is not one single disease or condition. Rather, it is a group of over 60 different disorders.
 
Over 70 million Americans (almost one-fourth of the population) have some form of cardiovascular disease, with high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke being the most common forms. Cardiovascular disease accounts for nearly 40 percent of deaths each year. Coronary artery disease and stroke are the first and third most common causes of death in the United States, respectively.
 

The Cardiovascular System and Cardiovascular Disease

The heart is a strong, muscular pump that is slightly larger than your fist.
 It pumps blood continuously through the circulatory system, the network of elastic tubes that allows blood to flow throughout the body. This system includes the heart and also the blood vessels (arteries, capillaries, and veins). Arteries and capillaries carry oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood from the heart and lungs to all parts of the body. Veins carry blood that has been depleted of oxygen and nutrients back to the heart and lungs.
 
Heart and blood vessel problems do not happen quickly. Over time, the arteries that bring blood to the heart and brain can become blocked due to a buildup of cells, fat, and cholesterol. This buildup is called plaque. Reduced blood flow to the heart (due to blockages in the arteries) causes heart attacks. Lack of blood flow to the brain from a blood clot, or bleeding in the brain from a broken blood vessel, causes a stroke.
 

Heart Disease vs. Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease and heart disease are different. Heart disease refers only to diseases of the heart and the blood vessel system within the heart. Cardiovascular disease refers to diseases of the heart and diseases of the entire blood vessel system (arteries, capillaries, and veins) within a person's body, such as the brain, arms, legs, and lungs. "Cardio" refers to the heart, and "vascular" refers to the blood vessel system. So, heart disease is a type of cardiovascular disease.
 

Types of Cardiovascular Disease

There are over 60 types of cardiovascular disease. Some people are born with cardiovascular disease; others develop it throughout their lifetimes.
 
Some common cardiovascular diseases include:
 
(Click Cardiovascular Disease Types to learn about other types of cardiovascular disease.)
 

Causes

The causes of cardiovascular disease depend on the specific disease in question.
 
(Click Causes of Cardiovascular Disease for more information.)
 

Risk Factors

A risk factor is any behavior or condition that increases a person's risk for a disease. Because there are so many types of cardiovascular disease, it is not possible to have just one list of risk factors. Instead, the specific risk factors will vary based on the type of cardiovascular disease.
 
With that being said, a number of the more common types of cardiovascular disease do share certain risk factors. Common risk factors include:
 

Symptoms

As with the causes, specific symptoms will depend on the specific condition.
 
(Click Symptoms of Cardiovascular Disease for more information.)
 

Testing for Cardiovascular Disease

There is no single test to diagnose problems with the heart or blood vessels. Therefore, a healthcare provider will use a number of tests to look for cardiovascular disease. The healthcare provider uses information such as the physical exam results, risk factors, family history, and symptoms to decide which test or tests to order.
 
Some of these tests include:
 
  • Blood tests
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
  • Chest x-ray
  • Stress test
  • Echocardiogram
  • Nuclear scan
  • Ankle/brachial index
  • Ultrasound
  • Computed tomography (CT) scan
  • Angiography
  • Biopsy.
     
(Click Cardiovascular System Tests for more information.)
 

How Is It Treated?

Depending on the specific condition, treatment for cardiovascular disease may involve:
 
  • Lifestyle changes
  • Medication
  • Special procedures
  • Rehabilitation.
 
(Click Treatments for Cardiovascular Disease to learn about treatment options for specific conditions, such as varicose veins, spider veins, and Raynaud's phenomenon.)
 

Cardiovascular Health and Disease Prevention

When most people talk about preventing cardiovascular disease, they are usually talking about preventing coronary artery disease and stroke.
 
Preventing cardiovascular disease requires paying attention to good cardiovascular health and:
 
  • Understanding the cardiovascular system and diseases that can affect it
  • Learning your risk factors for preventable cardiovascular diseases
  • Learning the risk factors that apply to you
  • Doing something about the risks you can modify.
     
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD