Although the terms are often used interchangeably, cardiovascular disease and heart disease are not the same thing. Cardiovascular disease is an umbrella term for all diseases affecting the circulatory system, including the heart and blood vessels throughout the whole body. Heart disease is specific to conditions affecting the structure or functionality of the heart. Therefore, all heart diseases are cardiovascular diseases, but there are some cardiovascular diseases that are not heart diseases.
Types Of Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) refers to all diseases of the heart and vascular system. Examples include coronary heart disease, heart attack, heart failure, congenital heart disease, abnormal heart rhythms, peripheral artery disease, venous disease, blood clots and lymphedema. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), more than 800,000 people in the United States die of cardiovascular disease every year.
Types Of Heart Disease
Heart disease pertains only to diseases affecting the heart. This includes structural conditions (such as congenital heart disease), blockages within the arteries of the heart, heart rhythm problems and conditions affecting the heart valves. More than 1 in 9 people in the United States have been diagnosed with heart disease, according to the NHLBI. It causes almost 650,000 deaths each year.
Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease. It occurs when the arteries of the heart become damaged or blocked (usually from a buildup of plaque). As a result, the blood supply to the heart becomes partially or completely blocked over time, which can cause angina (chest pain), heart attack and stroke. The risk of developing coronary heart disease is greater in patients with high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes. According to the NHLBI, more than half of all deaths from heart disease are due to coronary heart disease.
Preventing Cardiovascular Disease
Although there are some risk factors that you can’t control (such as age and family history), most of the risk factors for heart disease can be minimized or prevented with healthy lifestyle choices.
- Eat a heart-healthy diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole-grains. Limit sugar, salt and fat.
- Be physically active.
- Reach or maintain a healthy weight.
- Don’t smoke, or quit if you do smoke.
- Limit alcohol consumption.
- Manage stress levels.
- Undertake regular heart-health checks from your doctor.
- Ensure that health conditions (such as diabetes or high blood pressure) are under control.
The team at Advanced Cardiovascular Specialists consists of North Louisiana’s leading experts in cardiovascular care. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call our office at (318) 798-9400.