What is Cardiovascular Disease?
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the general term for conditions that affect the heart or blood vessels, usually because of the build-up of fat in the arteries. It can also refer to damage to the arteries in the brain, heart, kidneys and eyes.
Types of Cardiovascular Disease
There are four main types of CVD:
- Coronary heart disease, where the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle gets blocked. This can cause angina, heart attacks and heart failure.
- Strokes, where the blood supply to the brain is cut off causing brain damage or even death, and transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs or ‘mini strokes’) where the blood flow is only temporarily disrupted.
- Peripheral arterial disease, which occurs when there’s a blockage in the arteries to the limbs.
- Aortic diseases, a group of conditions affecting the aorta, which carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
For more information about causes and prevention, visit the NHS website.