Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is an umbrella term for disorders of the heart (‘cardio’) and blood vessels (‘vascular’). Cardiovascular diseases lead to a gradual or sudden reduction of blood supply to the heart, brain, legs and other parts of the body due to:
CAD is due to a build up of atherosclerotic plaques in coronary arteries that supply the heart muscle with blood. The plaques narrow the coronary arteries reducing blood flow and therefore supply of nutrients and oxygen to the heart muscle which manifests with angina, exertional chest discomfort. Anginal pain feels like a tightness, heaviness, squeezing or constricting sensation across the chest which can radiate to the left arm, neck and jaw. It is triggered by physical exercise or mental stress and relieved with rest or medicines, such as nitrate (GTN) spray. In a heart attack, blood supply to the heart muscle is suddenly cut off by an atheroma or blood clot which blocks coronary artery and can lead to scarring of the heart.
Stroke is a serious medical emergency where blood supply to a part of brain is restricted or blocked. Like all other organs, brain also receives oxygen and nutrients from blood. If blood supply to an area of brain is cut off or an artery in the brain bursts, the brain cells get damaged which leads to a serious and usually permanent consequences. Therefore, a prompt treatment is required to restore sufficient blood flow to the brain or stop the bleeding.
There are two types of stroke:
Peripheral arterial disease or peripheral vascular disease occurs when arteries in legs are narrowed or blocked by atherosclerotic plaques. Pain in legs called intermittent claudication is the most common symptom of peripheral vascular disease. It can involve one or both legs, hips or calves. Intermittent claudications may feel like a cramp or dull ache in the legs. This cramp or heaviness in the legs comes and goes, becoming worse during activities, such as walking or climbing stairs.
Cardiovascular disease is the top cause of mortality in the UK as well as in other developed countries. CVD cause 1/3 of all deaths (about 150,000 cases annualy) in England, out of which approx. 70,000 are due to coronary artery disease and 40,000 are caused by stroke.
At present, about 5.6 million people are living with cardiovascular disease in England. Lifestyle changes and medication can prevent premature deaths caused by CVD. It has been estimated that 1/3 and 1/5 premature deaths in men and women respectively are caused by cardiovascular disease.