Cardiovascular disease (CVD) refers to conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels. It is an umbrella term that encompasses diseases like coronary artery disease, heart failure, arrhythmias, congenital heart defects, and more.
CVD is the leading cause of death globally. In the US alone, 1 in 4 deaths is caused by heart disease. Understanding what puts us at risk and how to prevent CVD could save millions of lives.
High blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, smoking, obesity, diabetes, poor diet, physical inactivity, excessive alcohol use all raise CVD risk significantly.
Family history and older age also contribute. Getting regular checkups helps detect issues early.
The good news? Up to 80% of premature heart disease and stroke is preventable through lifestyle changes:
Medications like statins may be needed in addition to lifestyle changes for those at high risk. Procedures like bypass/stent surgery or pacemakers can also treat CVD when medications fail.
At Second Spring Hormone Clinic, our physicians create tailored heart health plans involving nutrition planning, fitness coaching and hormone optimization to help patients prevent and manage cardiovascular disease. () to discuss your heart health goals!
I hope this gives you a helpful overview on cardiovascular disease - its common forms, risk factors, and most importantly, ways to prevent it through heart-healthy living. Please let me know if you have any other questions!