Cardiovascular Diseases
Definition
Cardiovascular disease is the general term for several
chronic diseases concerning the heart and circulatory
system. The major cardiovascular diseases (CVD)
are coronary (or ischemic) heart disease (heart attack),
cerebrovascular disease (stroke), hypertension (high
blood pressure), heart failure and rheumatic heart disease.
According to the WHO, CVD made up almost 17
million (19%) of total global deaths of which around
80% occurred in low and middle-income countries. It is
expected that CVD will be the leading cause of death
in developing countries by 2010. Several risk factors
exist for CVD which can be categorized in unmodifiable
factors (e. g. male, gender and heredity) and modifiable
factors (e. g. cigarette smoking, high blood pressure,
high blood cholesterol levels, physical inactivity,
diabetes and obesity). It is estimated that more than
50% of the deaths and disabilities from heart disease
and stroke could be avoided with effective prevention
efforts targeted at reducing the modifiable risk factors.
Tags: blood cholesterol levels, cardiovascular diseases, cause of death, chronic diseases, heart attack, heredity, high blood cholesterol, leading cause of death, male gender, middle income countries, modifiable risk factors, physical inactivity, prevention efforts, rheumatic heart disease