Cardiovascular diseases

Definition

Cardiovascular diseases are a group of diseases affecting the heart and / or blood vessels. Despite this definition, any morbid process affecting the cardiovascular system (cardiopathies + vasculopathies) falls into the category, in the common language generally refers to the various pathologies related to atherosclerosis.

The narrowing, obstruction or excessive enlargement (aneurysm) of the blood vessels that may accompany this disease are in fact responsible for widespread diseases, such as coronary heart disease (angina pectoris and infarct), cerebrovascular disease (stroke) and peripheral vascular disease (claudication intermittent).

In the family of cardiovascular diseases are also included all the congenital heart defects, rheumatic diseases with myocardial involvement, the various forms of arrhythmia, pathologies involving heart valves and heart failure.

Epidemiology

Worldwide, and particularly in countries with a typically Western lifestyle, cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death. The diseases associated with atherosclerosis previously seen contribute to this sad primacy, whose appearance is favored by a lifestyle increasingly characterized by the abuse of smoking, alcohol and drugs, a sedentary lifestyle and a diet that is not careful to satisfy, without excess, the real needs of the organism.

Insights

Considering the great vastness of the subject, for those wishing to learn more, we report below the links to the various articles of the site concerning cardiovascular diseases:

The cardiovascular system

Atherosclerosis and Arteriosclerosis

Coronary arteries and coronary artery disease

Ischemic heart disease

Heart attack

Angina pectoris

Stroke

Thrombus and thrombosis

Deep vein thrombosis

Left ventricular hypertrophy

Breath to the heart

Aortic aneurysm