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Cardiovascular diseases are one of the leading causes of death in the world

today among men and women. They are generally diseases that affect the heart

or the blood vessels. There are several cardiovascular diseases. They are caused

when there is either a blood clot or a build-up of fatty deposits inside the arteries.

A blood clot or build-up of the fatty deposits results in reduced or limited blood

flow to the heart, brain and the entire body. When there is limited blood flow, any

of the cardiovascular diseases may occur. There are majorly four types of

cardiovascular diseases: heart attack, stroke, peripheral arterial disease and

aortic disease.

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Coronary Heart Disease occurs when blood flow in the arteries (the main blood

vessels in the body) is blocked due to build-up of fatty substances.

Stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is cut off and it might cause

brain damage or even death in some instances.

Peripheral Arterial Disease or vascular disease occurs when arteries in the limbs,

mostly feet are blocked causing pain in the legs of the victim.

Aortic disease occurs when the wall of the aorta becomes weak and bulges

outward, causing the victim a lot of pain in the chest, back or abdomen.

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Facts about cardiovascular diseases

There are several things about cardiovascular diseases that people need to know.

The following are the common facts:

#1 The risk factors can be controlled

A majority of cardiovascular diseases is apparently

caused by risk factors that can either be controlled,

treated or modified. Some of the risk factors include:

High blood pressure, cholesterol, overweight/obesity,

use of tobacco and lack of physical activity. These are

risk factors that people can control, for instance,

avoiding tobacco use, keeping weight in check by

being physically active. When such measures are taken,

it becomes easier to avoid the risk of cardiovascular

diseases.

A huge number of people get affected each year

An alarming huge number of people suffer from cardiovascular diseases – the

major culprits being stroke and heart attack. Stroke and heart attack happen to

be the leading cause of death across the world. Statistics show than 1 in every 3

deaths was caused by a cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular Diseases have several warning signs

Cardiovascular diseases have several warning signs that if detected early can

always help the situation. Knowing the signs and symptoms ensures fast action

and increases chances of surviving an attack. The major warning signs of an

attack include: chest pain or discomfort, upper body pain or discomfort in the

arms, back, neck, jaw or upper stomach, shortness of breath and nausea,

lightheadedness and/or cold sweats.

Prevention of cardiovascular diseases

Most of the cardiovascular diseases are caused by a build up of fatty deposits

within the lining arteries. This can however be reduced by taking lifestyle measures

that ensure the reduction of this build up within the arteries. For instance, not

smoking tobacco, choosing healthy foods, having a low salt intake, keeping fit,

keeping weight and waist size down and drinking enough water.

Blood pressure and cholesterol levels are also important. Ensure they stay at a

recommended level. You can only achieve this by having regular medical

checkups. That is the only way to keep cardiovascular diseases at bay.

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This information was compiled from:

www.chic.or.ke