CVD and Hypertension

• CVD and Atherosclerosis

  • Group of diseases of the heart and blood vessels
  • It is the leading cause of death and disease burden around the world today
  • CVD usually caused by Atherosclerosis, which is characterised by the accumulation of lipids and other materials along the inner walls of the arteries 
  • CVD kills one Australian every 12 minutes and affects one in six Australians
• Atherosclerosis- the hardening of the arteries

  • Atherosclerosis is a precursor to hypertension and cardiovascular disease
  • Deposition of plaque along arteries anywhere around the body, especially branch points. 
  • Arteries are the blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood from the heart to the body and to the heart itself from the lungs. 
  • Normally arteries are lined by the endothelium which keeps the inside of the arteries smooth, allowing for easy passage of blood. However, a build-up of plaque narrows and hardens the arteries.
• Atherosclerosis- the hardening of the arteries

  The endothelium lining can become damaged by certain dietary and/ or lifestyle factors, including high LDL cholesterol, hypertension or cigarette smoking 
• Stages of Atherosclerosis

  • Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL) deposit on artery walls, initiating an inflammatory response within the immune system.
  • Monocytes, a type of white blood cell, migrate to the site of LDL deposition to clean up the cholesterol.
• Stages of Atherosclerosis

  • Upon entering the endothelial cells, monocytes differentiate into macrophages.
  • Macrophages engulf (eat) the entrapped LDL, transforming into foam cells due to the accumulation of large quantities of LDL cholesterol.
  • The foam cells, clustering together, give rise to the early stage of atherosclerosis characterized by "fatty streaks.”
• Stages of Atherosclerosis

  • LDL embedding in artery walls leads to the accumulation of foam cells, forming plaque or atheroma.
  • Smooth muscle cells in artery walls stretch to accommodate plaque growth, preventing protrusion into the artery lumen.
  • A fibrous capsule forms between LDL deposits and artery lumen, stabilising the plaque.
• Stages of Atherosclerosis

  • Over time, plaque buildup narrows arteries, obstructing blood flow.
  • Calcium deposits can calcify (harden) and stiffens plaques, reducing artery flexibility and rupture risk.
  • Plaque growth may thin the fibrous capsule, increasing vulnerability to rupture and blood clot formation.
• WHAT IS CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE (CVD)?

  • Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a collective term for diseases of the heart and blood vessels. 
  • Found in the later stages of atherosclerosis and occurs when a vulnerable plaque ruptures causing a blood clot. 
  • Can result in an aneurysm (abnormal swelling or bulge in the wall of a blood vessel) which can result in malfunctioning and death of the region (nutrients, oxygen and waste cannot be transported)
• Different Types of CVD

  Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD)

  • PVD involves the arteries other than those supplying the brain and heart. It mainly affects blood vessels to the legs (causing gangrene) and kidneys (resulting in chronic kidney disease, CKD)

  Stroke

  • There are many types of strokes; the main type connected to atherosclerosis is called a thrombotic (or ischaemic) stroke. It involves a blockage of the blood supply to the brain, often leading to brain damage
• Different types of CVD

  • Atherosclerosis can develop in any artery around the body and therefore can result in lots of different diseases that are categorised dependent on the region of the body affected.
• Different types of CVD

  Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)

  • CHD involves the blood vessels supplying blood to the heart; the coronary arteries. The two major forms of CHD are heart attack and angina. A heart attack occurs when blood supply to the heart along a branch of the coronary artery is blocked, damaging part of the heart muscle and its ability to function. Angina is caused by a temporary shortage of blood supply to the heart.
• Symptoms - Atherosclerosis

  • Atherosclerosis doesn’t have any symptoms for many years because the arteries will stretch when plaque deposits occur to ensure there is blood flow around the body.
  • Symptoms typically do not begin until 40 years for men and 50 years for women
• Symptoms - Stroke

  • Drooping and numbing in the face
  • Loss of vision/blurred vision
  • Slurred speak
  • Sudden severe headache
  • Poor mobility or weakness of arms
• SYMPTOMS – CHD

  Coronary heart disease (CHD)

  • Angina (temporary shortage)/ heart attack (blockage)
  • Chest pain
  • Feeling faint and short of breath
  • Feeling nauseous 
  • Cold sweats
• Symptoms - PVD

  Peripheral vascular disease (PVD)  

  *dependent on the region of the body affected. 

  • Kidney disease if renal arteries are blocked
  • Changes in urination frequency or pain/ blood in urination
  • Swollen ankles
  • Back pain 
  • Tissue death/ gangrene:
  • Pins and needles/ numbness
  • Intermitted pain called claudication (cramp like pain/ heaviness in the limbs that is more noticeable during exercise 
  • Poor wound healing of the affected region
• Risk factors for CV disease

  • Elevated blood cholesterol (diet and lifestyle)
  • Atherosclerosis (diet)
  • Hypertension (diet and lifestyle)
  • Cigarette smoking (lifestyle)
  • Elevated triglyceride levels (diet)
  • Genetics (lifestyle)
  • Physical activity (lifestyle)
  • Excess weight (diet and lifestyle)
  • Stress (lifestyle)