Lesson 21: Cardiovascular diseases

What are cardiovascular diseases (CVDs)?

Cardiovascular diseases are a group of diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels.

Which diseases are included in cardiovascular diseases?

Coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral artery disease, rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart disease, and deep vein thrombosis with pulmonary embolism.

What are The 6 risk factors?

Smoking

Poor dietary habits

Obesity

Sedentary lfestyle

Alcohol

HBP

What usually causes heart attacks and strokes?

They are usually caused by blockages that prevent blood flow to the heart or brain, mainly due to fatty deposits on blood vessel walls.

What other mechanism can cause cerebrovascular accidents?

Bleeding from brain vessels or blood clots.

Why is smoking a major cardiovascular risk factor?

Smokers have three times higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, especially coronary disease and stroke.

How does nicotine affect the cardiovascular system?

Nicotine triggers adrenaline and noradrenaline release, damages the endothelium, increases coronary spasm, causes coagulation disorders, increases LDL, and decreases HDL.

How does carbon monoxide affect the heart?

Carbon monoxide decreases oxygen supply to the myocardium and increases platelet aggregability.

How do trans fats affect cardiovascular risk?

They increase LDL, decrease HDL, and impair arterial wall function.

How do saturated fats affect cardiovascular health?

They increase LDL, decrease HDL, and contribute to cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and diabetes.

How does excessive sugar intake affect health?

It contributes to obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and some cancers.

Why is excessive salt intake harmful?

It increases the risk of high blood pressure, which raises cardiovascular disease risk.

Why is obesity a cardiovascular risk factor?

Abdominal and central obesity worsen metabolism, favor diabetes and gout, and increase the incidence of hypertension.

Why is sedentary lifestyle dangerous for cardiovascular health?

Physical inactivity increases cardiovascular mortality and the risk of arteriosclerosis.

How does excessive alcohol intake affect the cardiovascular system?

It damages the myocardium and blood vessels and can cause alcoholic cardiomyopathy.

How does hypertension damage the heart?

It increases cardiac resistance, causes left ventricular hypertrophy, promotes arteriosclerosis and thrombosis, and may lead to aneurysm or rupture.

Why is diabetes a cardiovascular risk factor?

Hyperglycemia damages blood vessels, increases arteriosclerosis, and raises the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

What is hyperlipidemia?

A group of lipid metabolism alterations characterized by increased cholesterol and triglycerides.

What roles do HDL and LDL cholesterol play?

HDL transports cholesterol to the liver, while LDL contributes to plaque formation in arteries.

What lipid levels are considered low risk for cardiovascular disease?

Total cholesterol <200 mg/dL, HDL >60 mg/dL, LDL 70–130 mg/dL, triglycerides <150 mg/dL.

Which female-specific factors influence cardiovascular risk?

Oral contraceptives, PCOS, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, and estrogen levels.

Why is endogenous estrogen protective?

It promotes arterial vasodilation, prevents hypertension, and improves lipid profile by increasing HDL.

What are common symptoms of heart attack?

Chest pain, pain in jaw or left shoulder, arms or back, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fainting, cold sweat, and paleness.

What are common symptoms of stroke?

Sudden unilateral muscle weakness, numbness, confusion, vision problems, and severe headache.

How are cardiovascular diseases treated?

Through lifestyle changes, pharmacological treatment, and medical procedures or surgery if needed.

What is primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases?

Preventing disease in healthy people by controlling risk factors through diet, physical activity, weight management, and avoiding smoking.

What is secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases?

Early diagnosis and treatment through screenings, pharmacological treatment, and control of risk factors.

What interventions may be used in secondary prevention?

Beta blockers, control of hypertension, obesity, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and sometimes surgery or medical devices.

What is tertiary prevention of cardiovascular diseases?

Physical rehabilitation and quality of life improvement, now largely included in secondary prevention.