Cardiovascular Malfunctions - Causes and Effects on the Individual

Cardiovascular Malfunctions - Causes and Effects on the Individual

Cardiovascular Malfunctions: Causes and Effects

Coronary Heart Disease

• Coronary heart disease develops when the blood supply to the heart’s muscles is blocked or interrupted by a build-up of fatty substances in the coronary arteries.
• Factors contributing to coronary heart disease include smoking,** high blood cholesterol, **high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity, excessive alcohol consumption, and family history.
• Effects can range from chest pain (angina) to heart attacks and can lead to heart failure if not treated promptly.

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

• High blood pressure, or hypertension, develops when the force of blood pushing against the walls of blood vessels constantly remains too high.
• Primary causes include lifestyle factors like excessive salt in the diet, lack of physical activity, overweight or obesity, tobacco use, and alcohol abuse. Genetics and family history also play a role.
• High blood pressure can cause damage to the blood vessels and heart, increasing the risk of stroke, heart attack, heart failure, and kidney disease.

Stroke

• A stroke happens when there’s an interruption in the blood supply to the brain. Causes include a blockage in a blood vessel leading to the brain (ischemic stroke) or bleeding within the brain (haemorrhagic stroke).
• Major risk factors include high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, and excessive alcohol intake.
• Effects of a stroke can be severe and long term. They may include physical impairment, mental health impacts such as depression, and even death.

Peripheral Artery Disease

• Peripheral artery disease develops when blood vessels outside the heart, typically those supplying blood to the legs, are clogged with fatty deposits.
• Causes largely overlap with those of coronary heart disease and include smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle.
• Peripheral artery disease can lead to pain and fatigue, particularly during exercise, hair loss in the affected areas, slow healing of wounds, and if unchecked, gangrene which might require amputation.

Knowing the causes of these cardiovascular malfunctions can help guide lifestyle choices to prevent these conditions. Understanding their effects emphasises the importance of maintaining cardiovascular health and getting regular check-ups, particularly if you have risk factors. Remember, prevention is always better than cure!