CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE - CVD
What is cardiovascular disease (CVD)?
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a general term that describes a disease of the heart or blood
vessels. It's usually associated with a build-up of fatty deposits inside the arteries and an
increased risk of blood clots.
What is happening in the body with the early stages of CVD?
As heart muscle thickens, it can limit blood flow, so you end up short on oxygen. That can cause
problems like dizziness, fainting, and shortness of breath. Your heart's rhythm also might get
thrown off, and your heart might flutter, pound, or start racing.
How does later stages of CVD affect different organs/structures?
The brain - Cardiovascular disease is thought to affect the brain in multiple ways, experts say. It
could impact small blood vessels, disrupting the flow of oxygen to parts of the brain. CVD can
lead to a loss of cognitive functions within the brain including memory loss.
The heart - This puts an increased strain on the heart and can lead to angina – chest pain
caused by restricted blood flow to the heart muscle, heart attacks – where the blood flow to
the heart muscle is suddenly blocked and heart failure – where the heart is unable to pump
blood around the body properly.
The legs - When your heart can't move blood through your body, it can build up in certain body
parts. That can lead to swollen feet, ankles, legs, or a swollen belly. You might also gain weight
from fluid in these areas. Advanced heart disease makes swollen body parts and weight gain
more likely.
What factors increase the risk of CVD?
Having a poor diet – for example, by eating too much saturates fat or too much salt.
Take too little exercise
Smoking – for example, carbon monoxide causes an increase in blood pressure.
Having a high blood pressure – this can damage your blood vessels.
What is cardiovascular disease (CVD)?
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a general term that describes a disease of the heart or blood
vessels. It's usually associated with a build-up of fatty deposits inside the arteries and an
increased risk of blood clots.
What is happening in the body with the early stages of CVD?
As heart muscle thickens, it can limit blood flow, so you end up short on oxygen. That can cause
problems like dizziness, fainting, and shortness of breath. Your heart's rhythm also might get
thrown off, and your heart might flutter, pound, or start racing.
How does later stages of CVD affect different organs/structures?
The brain - Cardiovascular disease is thought to affect the brain in multiple ways, experts say. It
could impact small blood vessels, disrupting the flow of oxygen to parts of the brain. CVD can
lead to a loss of cognitive functions within the brain including memory loss.
The heart - This puts an increased strain on the heart and can lead to angina – chest pain
caused by restricted blood flow to the heart muscle, heart attacks – where the blood flow to
the heart muscle is suddenly blocked and heart failure – where the heart is unable to pump
blood around the body properly.
The legs - When your heart can't move blood through your body, it can build up in certain body
parts. That can lead to swollen feet, ankles, legs, or a swollen belly. You might also gain weight
from fluid in these areas. Advanced heart disease makes swollen body parts and weight gain
more likely.
What factors increase the risk of CVD?
Having a poor diet – for example, by eating too much saturates fat or too much salt.
Take too little exercise
Smoking – for example, carbon monoxide causes an increase in blood pressure.
Having a high blood pressure – this can damage your blood vessels.
