What is cardiovascular disease

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Recovery from a heart condition becomes so much more manageable when you have the right kind of emotional support. Cardiovascular disease can refer to a number of conditions: Heart disease Heart and blood vessel disease also called heart disease includes numerous problems, many of which are related to a process called atherosclerosis. Heart attack A heart attack occurs when the blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked by a blood clot. Learn more about heart attack.

Stroke An ischemic stroke the most common type of stroke occurs when a blood vessel that feeds the brain gets blocked, usually from a blood clot.

Learn more about stroke. Learn more about heart failure. Arrhythmia Arrhythmia refers to an abnormal heart rhythm. Learn more about arrhythmia. High blood pressure hypertension is one of the most important risk factors for CVD.

If your blood pressure is too high, it can damage your blood vessels. Read more about high blood pressure. Smoking and other tobacco use is also a significant risk factor for CVD. The harmful substances in tobacco can damage and narrow your blood vessels. Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in the blood. If you have high cholesterol, it can cause your blood vessels to narrow and increase your risk of developing a blood clot.

Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes your blood sugar level to become too high. High blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels, making them more likely to become narrowed. Many people with type 2 diabetes are also overweight or obese, which is also a risk factor for CVD. If you don't exercise regularly, it's more likely that you'll have high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and be overweight.

All of these are risk factors for CVD. Exercising regularly will help keep your heart healthy. When combined with a healthy diet, exercise can also help you maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing diabetes and high blood pressure, both of which are risk factors for CVD.

Tell your doctor or nurse if you have a family history of CVD. They may suggest checking your blood pressure and cholesterol level. This is because people from these backgrounds are more likely to have other risk factors for CVD, such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes.

A healthy lifestyle can lower your risk of CVD. If you already have CVD, staying as healthy as possible can reduce the chances of it getting worse.