Cardiovascular diseases include both heart disease and stroke. For
both men and women, heart disease is the leading cause of death. Your blood
vessels and heart are impacted by these illnesses. An inadequate blood supply
to the brain causes a stroke. This occurs as a result of clogged or ruptured
blood vessels that supply the brain.
Heart attacks and coronary heart disease (atherosclerosis) are two other types of cardiovascular disease.
What is the difference between heart disease and stroke?
There are several similarities between heart attacks and strokes: Both of them are medical emergencies brought on by an abrupt stoppage of blood flow. Your heart's blood flow is abruptly cut off during a heart attack. An abrupt stoppage of blood flow to the brain causes a stroke. For these situations, receiving medical attention as soon as possible is essential to minimizing brain or cardiac damage.
Cardiovascular disease includes both heart disease and stroke. The heart and all of the blood veins that pump and circulate blood throughout the body make up the cardiovascular system, also known as the circulatory system.
Your lifestyle has a significant influence on the state of your
cardiovascular system. Much cardiovascular disease could be avoided if more
people ate a nutritious diet, exercised more, kept their blood pressure and
weight in check, and gave up smoking, even though age and genetics play a role.
Might I Be in Danger?
Two major risk factors for heart disease are genetics and family history. Among the other significant risk factors are:
. Elevated blood pressure.
. Elevated cholesterol.
. Diabetes.
. Being overweight or
obese.
. Unhealthy eating habits.
. Absence of exercise.
. Considerable drinking.
Signs and symptoms
There are numerous important warning signs and symptoms for heart attacks and strokes. Not everyone is aware of them all. Heart attack symptoms consist of the following:
. discomfort or pain in
the chest
. Arms, back, neck, jaw,
or upper abdomen pain or discomfort
. Breathlessness
. feeling "sick to
your stomach," or nausea
. dizziness
. sweats that are cold
A stroke's symptoms include:
. Feeling suddenly weak or
numb in your leg, arm, or face, especially on one side of your body
. Feeling disoriented all
of a sudden, having problems speaking or understanding speech
. Experiencing sudden
visual difficulties in one or both eyes
. Experiencing sudden
difficulty walking, vertigo, or loss of balance or coordination
. getting a sudden,
intense headache for no apparent reason
. If any of these apply to
you or anybody else, call your local emergency number.
Prevention as well as therapy
Heart disease is a dangerous illness. Living a healthy lifestyle
is the primary means of preventing or mitigating the effects of heart disease,
regardless of age. Here are some other strategies to lower your risk or avoid
heart disease:
. Select nutritious meals
and snacks.
. Make sure you consume a
lot of fresh produce.
. Consume a diet high in
fiber and low in cholesterol and saturated fat.
. Reduce your intake of
sodium and salt.
. Sustain a healthy
weight.
. Engage in regular
exercise.
. Avoid smoking. Don't
start if you don't smoke.
. Refrain from consuming
excessive amounts of alcohol.
Things you can do to reduce your risk of heart disease if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol.
. Get your cholesterol
evaluated. Your cholesterol levels should be checked by your healthcare
professional at least once every five years. Consult your physician about this
easy blood test.
. Keep an eye on your
blood pressure. Since high blood pressure doesn't exhibit any signs, it's
important to get examined frequently.
. Control your blood
sugar. Keep a careful eye on your blood sugar levels if you have diabetes.
Discuss your alternatives for therapy with your healthcare practitioner.
. Consume your medication.
Pay close attention to what your doctor says if you're taking medicine for
diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol. If something is unclear to
you, don't hesitate to ask questions.
. Consult your healthcare professional. Together, you and your physician can treat or avoid the illnesses that increase the risk of heart disease. Make sure you bring a list of questions to your appointments and often discuss your treatment plan.
Remember the four words “F.A.S.T” to recall the stroke warning signs.
. Face: Request a smile from the person. Does one side of the face
droop?
. ARMS: Request that the individual lift both arms. Does one arm sag to
the side?
. SPEECH: Request that the individual repeat a short sentence. Do they
have weird or slurred speech?
. TIME: Dial your local emergency number right away if you notice any of these indicators.
Facts about Heart Disease
. For both men and women,
as well as members of the majority of racial and ethnic groups, heart disease
is the leading cause of mortality in the United States.
. Every 33 seconds, a
person passes away from cardiovascular disease.
. 702,880 people lost
their lives to heart disease in 2022. That is the same as one death out of
every five.
. The estimated cost of
heart disease in 2019 and 2020 was $252.2 billion.
. This covers the price of
medications, medical services, and lost productivity as a result of mortality.
. The most prevalent kind
of heart disease is coronary heart disease. In 2022, it claimed 371,506 lives.
. Approximately 5% of
persons aged 20 and above have CAD.
. Approximately one in
five deaths in 2022 were attributable to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in
persons under the age of 65.
. Every 40 seconds,
someone in the US suffers a heart attack.
. In the US, an estimated
805,000 people suffer a heart attack annually.
Of these, 200,000 have already experienced a heart attack, and
605,000 are experiencing their first one.
. Approximately 50% of
heart attacks are quiet; the victim is unaware of the harm that has been done.
. For most racial and
ethnic groups in the US, heart disease is the primary cause of death. Among
them are white men, African Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, and
Hispanics. Heart disease is the second leading cause of death for Hispanic,
Asian American, American Indian, Alaska Native, and Pacific Islander women.