A Closer Look at the Causes and Types of Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease is a classification for a group of illnesses that occur in the cardiovascular system. This can include heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, high blood pressure and coronary artery disease. This term is also sometimes referred to as heart disease because it has to do with illnesses in the arteries of the heart; just like all of the illnesses listed above. If you have been put at risk for developing cardiovascular disease or it runs in your family, it is a good idea to touch base with the details about it.

What causes cardiovascular disease?

There are all types of cardiovascular diseases that can occur within your blood vessels. All of them have something to do with damage done to your arteries. One type of disease is called atherosclerosis. This is a disease that has effects on your arteries. Your arteries, also known as blood vessels, are what allow oxygen and nutrients to flow from your heart to the rest of your body. If you have healthy blood vessels, then they are characterized as elastic, flexible and strong.

As you get older, your blood vessels’ walls become thicker and stiff. This can cause resistance in the flow of blood, which is trying to get to your organs and tissues. The hardening of your arteries usually causes atherosclerosis. Factors that play a part in the formation of this disease include unhealthy diets that consist of saturated fats, not exercising, smoking and obesity.

Other Types of Cardiovascular Disease

Not all cardiovascular diseases are caused by atherosclerosis. Others include congenital heart disease, heart valve disease and cardiomyopathy, which is a heart infection in the heart’s muscle.

Coronary artery disease is an illness that is situated in the arteries, causing difficulties of blood flow to the heart. This disease is often referred to as CAD and is the main cause for heart attacks. This results from lack of blood flow through the arteries to the muscle of the heart. What causes this to happen is atherosclerosis. This condition can also result in chest pains, also known as angina.

Another cardiovascular disease is the heart attack. This occurs when the heart’s muscle isn’t getting enough blood. You may also hear heart attacks being called myocardial infarction or MI. Blood clots are the usual culprit for this disease; blood clots block blood from flowing to the heart’s muscle and can end up destroying a part of it.

Cardiomyopathy is another form of cardiovascular disease. It also involves the heart muscle and is often times a result of genetics. Sometimes people are diagnosed with this illness for unknown reasons. A form of this disease is called ischemic, which is when you lose the heart muscles due to decreased blood flow.

An aneurysm is when your blood vessels’ walls have been weakened. Over time, this becomes more serious and can result in a rupture, which can cause bleeding and threaten your life.

Other cardiovascular diseases include:

• Peripheral Arterial Disease and Claudication
• Arrhythmias