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Essential cardiovascular disease information

TRANSFORMING THE WAY WE TALK ABOUT CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

Learn about cardiovascular disease

‘I realized I had to smarten up.’

Learn about cardiovascular1

Get the facts about cardiovascular disease

What is the cardiovascular system?

  • The cardiovascular system is a complex network made up of the heart and blood vessels. It transports blood around the body to deliver nutrients, oxygen and hormones to the muscles and organs, and removes waste products, such as carbon dioxide.1,2

  • Blood is carried through the body via blood vessels called veins and arteries. Veins are the vessels that transport blood from the organs to the heart, and arteries are the vessels that transport blood from the heart to the organs.1,3

  • The cardiovascular system is essential for the body’s normal functioning and without it we wouldn’t survive.1

What is the cardiovascular system

What is cardiovascular disease?

Cardiovascular disease is the term used to describe any condition that affects the heart or blood vessels. Types of cardiovascular disease include:2,4

Coronary heart disease

Coronary heart disease 

Narrowing or hardening of the arteries that supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart resulting from a build-up of cholesterol, fatty substances, waste produced by cells, excess calcium and fibrin (a protein that helps your blood to clot).4,5,6 A reduced supply of oxygen-rich blood to the heart can lead to angina, heart attacks or heart failure.2,5 

Peripheral artery disease

Peripheral artery disease 

Narrowing and hardening of the arteries supplying blood to the arms and legs.7

Carotid artery disease

Carotid artery disease 

Narrowing and hardening of the arteries that supply blood to the brain.8

Stroke

Stroke

A condition where the blood supply to the brain or part of the brain is either blocked or reduced.4,8

Myocardial infarction

Heart attack (myocardial infarction) 

A condition where a blockage prevents blood supply to the heart.4

What causes cardiovascular disease? 

The causes of cardiovascular disease depend on which type of cardiovascular disease you have but
there are certain things that increase your chances of developing cardiovascular disease, such as:

Diabetes

Diabetes

Over time, unmanaged high blood sugar can cause significant damage to the blood vessels in your heart, by reducing the elasticity of the blood vessels and causing them to narrow.4,9 

High blood pressure

High blood pressure 

If your blood pressure is too high it can cause your heart and blood vessels to work overtime, which can cause damage to the arteries such as narrowing and thickening or weakening of parts of your heart muscle.2,10

High cholesterol

High cholesterol 

Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in your blood that your body needs to build healthy cells, but too much cholesterol can cause fat to build up in your blood vessels, increasing your risk of cardiovascular complications.2,10 You can help to lower the level of cholesterol in your blood by doing regular exercise and eating a healthy diet.11 

Smoking

Smoking

Chemicals in cigarette smoke cause swelling and inflammation in the cells that line the blood vessels, causing them to narrow.12,13 By quitting smoking you can significantly reduce your risk of cardiovascular problems and can help to revert heart and blood vessel damage.12 

Not getting enough exercise

Not getting enough exercise 

Being inactive can significantly increase your chances of blockages that can lead to a heart attack or stroke.2 

Being overweight or obese

Being overweight or obese 

Not being within a healthy weight range can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, increasing your chances of developing cardiovascular disease.5,14,15

Diet high in salt, fat, or sugar

Diet high in salt, fat, or sugar 

An unhealthy diet can contribute to various risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol.2,4 

Family history

Family history

If someone in your family, such as a parent or sibling, has cardiovascular disease, you are at an increased risk of developing the condition yourself.2,4 

What are the signs and symptoms of cardiovascular disease? 

The signs and symptoms that you might experience when living with an underlying cardiovascular disease depend on which condition you have. For example, those living with high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes might show no symptoms at all to start with.4 Still, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the more common symptoms of cardiovascular disease, so that you can identify the signs of a potential problem with your heart and act accordingly.

Many of the following symptoms are linked to cardiovascular disease:¹⁶

  • Pain or pressure in the chest during exercise or physical activity (angina)

  • Pain or discomfort in the arms, left shoulder, elbows, jaw, or back

  • Feeling short of breath

  • Extreme tiredness (fatigue) 

  • Spells of feeling lightheaded or dizzy 

  • Cold sweats

following symptoms

If you or your loved one is experiencing any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor right away.

How is cardiovascular disease diagnosed? 

To diagnose a cardiovascular condition, your doctor will most likely review your medical and family history to check for any risk factors that might indicate that you are at increased risk of developing problems with your heart and / or blood vessels.16 

Depending on which cardiovascular disease is suspected, your doctor may order one or more of the following tests to confirm a diagnosis. These may include:2,16

Blood tests

Blood tests 

Used to check for risk factors of cardiovascular disease in the blood, such as levels of cholesterol and sugar or impaired kidney function. 

An electrocardiogram or EKG/ECG

An electrocardiogram or EKG/ECG 

A painless test that records the strength and speed of electrical signals as they pass through the heart.

Stress testing

Stress testing 

Used to show how well your heart works during physical activity and identify any problems with blood flow. 

Echocardiography

Echocardiography 

Another painless test that uses sound waves used to produce a detailed moving image of your heart revealing abnormalities in size, shape, or valve function.10 

Coronary angiography and cardiac catheterization

Coronary angiography and cardiac catheterization 

A test where dye is injected into the heart and its supplying blood vessels, and a thin, flexible tube is threaded to the heart via a blood vessel. This invasive method of testing is only used when there is a clear sign of cardiovascular disease, and it is used to create a detailed picture of the heart to help detect blockages.

Chest x-ray

Chest x-ray 

This test is used to show the size and shape of the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels to check for abnormalities. 

Computed Tomography or CT

Computed Tomography or CT 

A non-invasive imaging test (similar to x-ray) that helps to identify calcium build up in the arteries that may block the blood flow to the heart and/or other organs. 

Cardiac MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

Cardiac MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) 

Radio waves, magnets and a computer are used to develop 3D moving and still images of the heart. This method helps to identify areas of low blood supply, damage to the heart muscle and current or previous infections to the heart.17

References

  1. Stefanovska A. Physics of the human cardiovascular system. Contemporary Physics. 2010;40:31–55.

  2. Olvera Lopez E, Ballard BD, Jan A. Cardiovascular Disease. [Updated 2021 Aug 11). In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, 2021 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535419/

  3. Chaudhry C, Miao JH, Rehman A. Physiology, Cardiovascular. [Updated 2020 Nov 20]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, 2021 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493197/?report=printable

  4. World Health Organization. Cardiovascular diseases. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cardiovascular diseases-(cvds) (Last accessed: October 2021).

  5. Grech ED. Pathophysiology and investigation of coronary artery disease. BMJ. 2003:326:1027-1030.

  6. Libby P. Theroux P. Pathophysiology of Coronary Artery Disease. Circulation. 2005:111:3481-3488.

  7. Emilie R. Mohler III., Peripheral Arterial Disease: Identification and Implications. Arch Intern Med. 2003:163(19):2306-2314.

  8. Sobieszczyk P. Beckman J. Cartoid Artery Disease. Circulation. 2006;114:244-247.

  9. Dokken BB. The Pathophysiology of Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes: Beyond Blood Pressure and Lipids. Diabetes Spectrum. 2008:21(3):160-165.

  10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Heart Disease. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/library/features/diabetes-and-heart.html (Last accessed: October 2021).

  11. Katcher Hl., et al. Lifestyle Approaches and Dietary Strategies to Lower LDL-Cholesterol and Triglycerides and Raise HDL-Cholesterol. Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of North America. 2009:45-78.

  12. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Smoking and Your Heart. Available at: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/smoking-and-your-heart (Last accessed: October 2021).

  13. Ambrose AA. Barua RS. The pathophysiology of cigarette smoking and cardiovascular disease: An update. Cardiology. 2004:43(10):1731-1737.

  14. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Diabetes, Heart Disease and Stroke. Available at: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/preventing problems/heart-disease-stroke (Last accessed: October 2021).

  15. Lavie CJ., et al. Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease: Risk Factor, Paradox, and Impact of Weight Loss. JACC. 2009:53(21):1925-1932.

  16. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Coronary Heart Disease. Available at: https://www.nhibi.nih.gov/health-topics/coronary heart disease (Last accessed: October 2021).

  17. American Heart Association. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Available at: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/diagnosing-a-heart-attack/magnetic-resonance-imaging-mri (Last accessed October 2021).

Job code: PC-CRP-102667

Date of preparation: November 2021