Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular Disease
Charlena Adams
University of Phoenix

Cardiovascular Disease

The leading cause of death in the United States is a heart and blood vessel disease
called Cardiovascular Disease. This type of heart disease occurs when a substance
called plaque builds up in the arteries that supply blood to the heart (CAD). This
presents of plaque is made up of the excess cholesterol that embeds itself into the inner
walls of the hearts coronary arteries. When this occurs it causes a condition called
atherosclerosis, the gradual build up of plaque in the blood vessels that feed your
heart (HealthiNation), preventing these arteries to properly expand and provide the flow
of blood needed to keep the heart operating properly. This narrowing and hardening of
the artery walls can lead to a heart attack, chest pain (angina) or stroke (Staff) that
have killed half a million Americans a year. Contributed to risk factors that an individual
cannot change and to a lack of symptoms that arise until it is too late, CVDs symptoms
can disrupt the regular motions of the heart. However, the results that do arise from
these unchangeable factors can bring about a conscious effort to prolong their life by
managing the way they live. The severity of an individuals reaction to CVD is mainly
attributed to the makeup of their DNA.
Developing CVD is sometimes unavoidable because an individuals age, gender, and
heredity can increase an individuals chances for complications from heart disease. Age,
contrary to popular belief, influence of these factors have been found to develop earlier

Cardiovascular Disease

as a result of our pitifully degraded, artificial, and overly processed food supply, the
early stages of heart disease have now been found to actually begin in childhood
(Integrated). Opposed to the middle age demographic that has been widely accepted.
However, elder men and women are higher risk for CVD because over a life span of
obtained habits the arteries are in a state of advanced atherosclerosis and are already
constricting the heart of oxygen rich blood. At the age of 45 mens prospects for heart
disease climbs and women are more apt to get heart disease at 55, after the onset of
menopause. The addition of an individuals family history, such as first degree (parents,
siblings) and to a lesser second degree (aunts,uncles), of heart disease can double the
risks for an individual to obtain CVD because their DNA has been coded for these
curtain conditions that cause these complications. However, the importance to make life
changes can reduce the risks of this fatal disease. Nonetheless heart disease affects all
ages whether young or old and the results of the heart can be life altering.
The heart is the most important muscle in the body because it allows all major and
minor body organs to function properly and the progression of CVD can advance the
risks for extensive damage to this and other organs. Composed of four chamber walls,
the hearts coronary arteries, before becoming deprived of oxygen rich blood from
reaching the heart, can send warning signals to an individual months before any major

Cardiovascular Disease

incidents occur. The symptoms that appear from CVD are shortness of breath,
palpitations (irregular heartbeats, or a "flip-flop" feeling in your chest), a faster heartbeat,
weakness or dizziness, nausea, and sweating (WebMD) because
of the harding and narrowing from the arteries. These symptoms are attributed to
coronary artery disease, arrhythmia, heart failure, and many other heart related
diseases, that can cause heart attacks, angina, and strokes. These indications of
irregular motor functions can affect the structure and functions of the heart and other
organs.
While the results of a heart attack, the main reaction to CVD, is experiencing
discomfort, pressure, heaviness, or pain in the chest, arm, or below the breastbone
(WebMD) and results in the heart becoming damaged when a chamber experiences
cellular death. Even though the warning signs are present many brush them off as
common occurrences of simple indigestion or fatigue, but these syndromes can be felt
throughout the body in odd locations such as the jaw, neck, and throat. Despite these
warnings acute attacks can present itself out of nowhere. Without quick treatment, a
heart attack can lead to serious health problems or death (WebMD). Even though this
is unchangeable and serious to an individuals heath there is a single way to prevent the
progression of plaque buildup from forming and that is to start making healthy

Cardiovascular Disease

decisions.
Despite the effects that CVD causes the heart, there is a solution to help prevent,
reduce, and manage the advancement of atherosclerosis that causes this type of
disease. By making a conscious effort to prevent cardiovascular disease, or to keep
your symptoms under control, are to change your lifestyle habits (Cardiovascular). The
primary way to improve the hearts condition is to limit fast food and unhealthy cooking,
high saturated fats, high trans fats, and high cholesterol. While adopting portion control,
fruits and vegetables, and whole grains it can add vitamins, minerals, and fiber to
greatly reduce the risk for CVD. Lowering the intake of cholesterol, fat, and sodium in to
the body.
Further preventative measures are to stay active even if it is just taking the stares
because any form of physical activity that keeps the body in motion encourages a
stronger heart. Maintaining stress and anger levels, so blood pressure levels can stay
low, helps prolong the effects that can lead to a heart attack or stroke,. As well as
quitting smoking can lower the fact that smokers are two to four times greater
(developing CVD) than non-smokers (Cardiovascular). It also has the added benefit to
improve not only your heath but the heath of others around the second hand smoke. It is
not a cure but it is a cautionary measure to live a long and healthy life.

Cardiovascular Disease

In conclusion, the leading cause of death is attributed to Cardiovascular Disease that is

caused by atherosclerosis. When plaque builds up in the arteries that supply blood to
the heart (CAD) causes a blockage of the flow of oxygen rich blood to reach the heart,
it can result in major malfunctions that lead to heart attack, chest pain (angina) or
stroke (Staff). The risk factors that can contribute to individuals health problems, age,
gender, and heredity, are sometime unavoidable because they are already made up in
the genetic code of their DNA. Young, old, male or female, no one is exempt and with a
family history the chances of developing CVD is doubled. However, before any major
incidents occur the body does send warning signals months in advance to prevent any
actual attacks. However, at the same time acute attacks can come out of nowhere and
without quick treatment major health problems or death can occur. The only way to
prevent CVD is to make life style changes by eating more fruits and vegetables, walking
more, and cutting back on learned behavior that has become habits. With the leading
cause of death of over half a million Americans, Cardiovascular Disease is unavoidable
but with the right precautionary measures it is manageable to live a longer life than what
was expected if they continued down the path of unhealthy habits.

Works Cited

Cardiovascular Disease

"Cardiovascular Disease Prevention & Management." Heart and Vascular Disease

Prevention & Management. N.p., 2013. Web. 07 Dec. 2013.
"Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, 07 Dec. 2009. Web. 05 Dec. 2013.
HealthiNation. "What Is Heart Disease? (Part 1 of 3) | HealthiNation." YouTube.
YouTube, 20 Jan. 2012. Web. 07 Dec. 2013.
"Heart Disease Symptoms & Signs of Heart Problems - WebMD." WebMD. WebMD,
2013. Web. 08 Dec. 2013.
"Integrated Supplements Blog." Integrated Supplements Blog. Integrated Supplements,
5 July 2007. Web. 07 Dec. 2013.
Staff, Mayo Clinic. "Definition." Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education
and Research, 16 Jan. 2013. Web. 05 Dec. 2013.