cardiovascular disease

• cardiovascular disease refers to any disease related to the heart or blood vessels
• the most common type is coronary heart disease - arteries which supply the blood with blood full of oxygen, are narrowed, because they are filled with fatty deposits
• coronary heart disease can lead to angina, heart attacks and strokes
• causes of coronary heart disease:

  • eating lots of saturated fats
  • being physically inactive - because exercise keeps the heart and the cardiovascular system healthy
  • smoking - damages the lining of arteries and reduces the oxygen in the blood
  • high blood pressure which puts strain on blood vessels and organs, increasing the risk of strokes
• health problems associated with coronary heart disease:

  • blood cannot pass through your blood vessels efficiently, which can cause a squeezing pain in your chest (angina)
  • blood clots can form and block blood flow
  • strokes occur when blood flow to the brain is blocked and heart attacks occur when blood flow to the heart is blocked (both can be fatal)