CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
Cardiovascular diseases include coronary heart diseases, cerebrovascular (brain) diseases, hypertension, peripheral arterial disease, rheumatic heart diseases, congenital heart diseases, heart failure, and cardiomyopathies. The development of cardiovascular diseases is associated not only with unhealthy lifestyle behaviors such as tobacco use, physical inactivity, and unhealthy diets that may lead to obesity, but also with medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia.
In 2012, 46.2% (17.5 million) of all global deaths due to non-communicable diseases were caused by cardiovascular diseases. Of these deaths, 7.4 million were due to heart attacks (ischemic heart disease) and 6.7 million were due to stroke.
Cardiovascular diseases account for 37% of deaths under the age of 70 caused by non-communicable diseases. It is estimated that by 2030, the number of deaths due to cardiovascular diseases will rise to 22.2 million.
Among cardiovascular diseases, the most common causes of death are coronary artery disease (vessels supplying the heart), cerebrovascular disease (vessels supplying the brain), and peripheral arterial disease (vessels supplying organs outside the heart). Poor nutrition leads to plaque formation within the arteries, and these plaques progressively cause arterial obstruction. Arterial blockage slows circulation, prevents the heart from pumping adequate blood, and reduces oxygen supply to internal organs. Advanced blockage can result in life-threatening events such as heart attack and stroke.
Arteries are like a system of tubes carrying blood pumped from the heart. All organs in the body—including the brain, arms, legs, and lungs—receive oxygen and nutrients through the blood carried by these arteries. The leading cause of arterial blockage is the consumption of foods high in fats, carbohydrates, and cholesterol, which accelerate plaque formation. Additionally, smoking and alcohol use contribute to arterial occlusion. Lack of exercise, a sedentary lifestyle, genetic predisposition, and diabetes are other factors contributing to arterial blockage.
Symptoms of arterial blockage vary according to the affected vessel. Symptoms involving the coronary arteries include chest pain, numbness in the shoulder or arm, a feeling of pressure in the jaw and back, shortness of breath, and arrhythmias or palpitations. Symptoms involving the brain arteries include numbness in the face, arm, or leg, speech difficulties, visual disturbances, dizziness, headache, impaired balance, and loss of consciousness. Symptoms involving the arteries of the arms and legs include numbness, loss of sensation, coldness, pallor, redness, pain, weakness, hair loss, and delayed wound healing.
Treatment of newly developing arterial blockage first involves modifying dietary habits, starting exercise or walking programs, and losing weight in overweight patients. Patients should be encouraged to quit smoking and alcohol consumption. Medications may be used to reduce intravascular plaque formation. Medication adjustments for patients with hypertension, diabetes, or high cholesterol should be managed by a physician. In cases where diagnostic tests reveal significant arterial obstruction, surgical interventions such as bypass surgery or angioplasty may be performed.
