CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE (CVD)

What is CVD? CVD is a broad term that encompasses a host of abnormal conditions involving the heart and/or blood vessels; some examples include hypertension (high blood pressure), aneurysm, atherosclerosis, cardiomyopathy, and coronary artery disease etc.

Is CVD serious? Absolutely, CVD accounts for almost 50% of all United States fatalities! But as many of the scientific data and literature indicate, CVD IS preventable.

How does one get CVD? One acquires CVD through the accumulation of risk factors, some of which are modifiable and some that are not.  Risk factors are often considered to be multiplicative. For example, let’s say that three different risk factors (e.g. smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol) each, independently, double one’s risk of acquiring CVD.  If an individual has all three of these risk factors, then he/she has in effect increased his/her risk 8-fold (2 x 2 x 2 = 8).

What are the CVD risk factors? There  are two basic categories of risk factors: 1) Modifiable: those than can be modified; 2) Non-Modifiable: those that cannot be modified.

Modifiable risk factors: Sedentary lifestyle, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, diabetes, obesity, low HDL cholesterol, type-A personality, stress, tobacco, illicit drugs, and alcohol in large quantities, etc.

Non-modifiable: Age, sex, family history, and ethnicity.

What can one do to prevent CVD? Studies show that you can significantly lower your CVD risk by following a comprehensive wellness/fitness program that involves health screening, optimal nutrition and exercise, and a healthy lifestyle.

To learn more about CVD visit the American Heart Association.