What are cardiovascular diseases (CVDs)?
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are major health problems all
over the world. They are a group of diseases that involve the heart and the
blood vessels (arteries and veins).
If there is an interruption of blood supply due to diseases
of the vessels taking blood to the heart, the heart might be seriously damaged
due to lack of oxygen and nutrients to fuel its muscular contractions.
Medically this damage is referred to as a heart attack. If the same type of
situation happens in the brain, and lack of oxygen disrupts the normal function
of the brain, this is referred to as a stroke.
Heart attacks and strokes are usually acute life-threatening
events (‘acute’ means they start suddenly and
rapidly get worse). They are mainly caused by a blockage that prevents blood
from flowing to parts of
the heart or brain, which are seriously damaged by the lack of oxygen.
The most common reason for the blockage is a build-up of
fatty deposits (called plaques) on the inner walls of the blood vessels that
supply the heart or brain. Strokes can also be caused by bleeding from a blood
vessel in the brain or from blood clots blocking an artery.
About the Author
0 comments