What is cardiovascular disease?
Cardiovascular disease is a broad term that refers to diseases of the heart and blood vessels, including those that supply blood to the brain.
Cardiovascular disease is Australia's biggest health problem and the leading cause of sudden death.1
Listed below are a few different consequences of cardiovascular disease;
- Heart attack - occurs when blood flow to the heart is interrupted or blocked
- Stroke - occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted or blocked
- Angina (chest pain) - occurs when blood vessels to the heart muscle are narrowed and the heart receives less oxygen than it needs
- Atherosclerosis - occurs when plaque containing cholesterol and other fats builds up inside the wall of an artery (a type of blood vessel)
These are just a few of the different consequences of cardiovascular disease. For more information, contact your doctor.
References
1 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Heart, stroke and vascular diseases. Australian facts 2004. CVD Series No.22, May 2004.