Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) refers to any disease of the cardiovascular system (heart and blood vessels). The main types of CVD are:
- Heart attack (myocardial infarction): occurs when the blood supply to the heart is blocked, causing damage
- Ischemic heart disease: decreased blood flow to the heart, usually caused by narrowing of the coronary arteries (atherosclerosis)
- Congestive heart failure: occurs when the heart is unable to maintain adequate circulation of blood in the body, resulting in fluid build-up in the body’s tissues
- Cerebrovascular disease: insufficient oxygen, bleeding in the brain or disorders of blood vessels in the brain that can cause stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA)
- Peripheral vascular disease: disease of blood vessels located outside the heart and brain. Usually refers to a blockage of the blood supply to the legs, arm, or internal organs caused by atherosclerosis (peripheral arterial disease)
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm: a blood-filled bulge or ballooning in a part of your aorta that runs through your abdomen
Starting around age 55, cardiovascular disease occurs more frequently in men than women. This gender divide continues to grow with age, which means that men are killed by cardiovascular disease at higher rates than women.
