Cardiovascular disease is the general term used to include both diseases of the heart (cardio) and the blood vessels (veins and arteries). Most cardiovascular diseases involve the heart.
Some, such as strokes and deep vein thrombosis (DVT), involve blood supply to other parts of the body, such as the legs and brain (peripheral vascular disease).
Cardiovascular disease tends to develop over time. The following is a list of more common cardiovascular diseases and conditions with a brief explanation of what they are.
Types of cardiovascular disease
| Aneurysm | An aneurysm is a widening or bulge in an artery or vein that can burst. |
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| Angina | Angina is discomfort or chest pain caused by a lack of blood flow and oxygen to the muscle of the heart. |
| Atherosclerosis | Atherosclerosis is the gradual build-up of fatty deposits, called ‘plaque’, on the inner walls of the arteries. Atherosclerosis develops over time. It causes arteries to narrow resulting in reduced blood flow to the heart and other organs. It can cause angina, heart attack, stroke and peripheral vascular disease. |
| Coronary heart disease | When atherosclerosis affects the arteries of the heart it is called coronary heart disease. |
| Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism | Some veins are close to our skin surface and called ‘superficial‘ veins. Others are deep in the body. DVT occurs when a clot forms in a vein which is deep in the body. DVT can occur without a history of cardiovascular disease. Portions of the clot can become detached, giving rise to pulmonary embolism. |
| Heart attack | A heart attack occurs when an artery to the heart becomes completely blocked and blood flow is stopped to part of the heart muscle. |
| High blood pressure (hypertension) | While blood pressure can fluctuate, having consistently high blood pressure can damage arteries, the heart and other organs. High blood pressure also adds to the risk of having a heart attack and stroke. |
| Stroke | A stroke can occur if an artery to the brain becomes blocked so the blood supply to the brain is disrupted or reduced. It can also occur if a cerebral (brain) vessel bleeds, causing cerebral haemorrhage (steady or severe loss of blood). Damage may occur to the part of the brain where the blood supply is reduced or the haemorrhage occurs, causing loss of consciousness, weakness, numbness, paralysis, dizziness, loss of balance, blurred or decreased vision, and difficulty in speaking or understanding. |
Symptoms of cardiovascular disease, heart attack or stroke
Some markers of cardiovascular disease are silent and build up over time such as high blood pressure and high total cholesterol.
Other symptoms are more noticeable and may be the signs of a heart attack or stroke, such as:
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