This article will help you understand the various terms listed
above, as well as, how they interact to affect your health and how you can best control your risk.

First, let’s consider cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease is a broad, all encompassing term. It refers to any disorder of the cardiovascular system, which is made
up of your heart and the blood vessels throughout your body. So cardiovascular disease has two main components:
• Diseases of the heart (cardio) and
• Diseases of the blood vessels (vascular)
Diseases of the heart
The heart consists of: (1) a muscle (myocardium) that pumps blood, (2) arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle and (3) valves to ensure that the blood is pumped in the
right direction. At any point in the pumping process, or in any part of the heart, something can go wrong. The diseases and conditions affecting the heart are commonly known as heart disease.
Like cardiovascular disease, the term heart disease is somewhat loose and broad and it’s often used that way, i.e., avoid smoking so that you can reduce your risk of heart disease, or that heart disease is the leading killer of both men and women, which is true. But, neither exercise, nor healthy diet or low cholesterol can protect you against all forms of heart disease.
There are many types of heart disease, and not all are the consequences of unhealthy lifestyle habits. Some forms of heart disease, like cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle), can be caused by viruses. Some babies are born with a heart disease known as Ebstein’s anomaly, which is a defect in one of the heart’s valve that causes blood to leak and prevents the heart from working at top efficiency.
Coronary artery diseases are diseases of the arteries that supply the heart muscle with blood. Sometimes referred to as CAD, coronary artery disease is the most common form of heart disease in this country and the leading cause of “heart attacks”. Most often, when you hear a report or read an article about preventing heart disease, it’s really a call to prevent coronary artery disease or coronary heart disease.
Coronary artery disease generally means that blood flow through the arteries has become impaired or obstructed. The most common way that obstruction develops is through a condition called atherosclerosis. This is when the lining of these arteries become clogged with clumps of fats, cholesterol and other material commonly called atherosclerotic plaques. You may have also heard this called narrowing or hardening of the arteries. The inner walls of arteries become narrow slowly because of a buildup of these plaques, or suddenly by a rupture of a plaque and the formation of a blood clot around the ruptured plaque. As a result, the supply of blood — with its oxygen and nutrients — going to the heart muscle is choked off. This is what is called myocardial ischemia. As less blood reaches the heart, it can not function normally, and you begin to experience some physical problems.
When the oxygen demand of the heart muscle is more than the oxygen supply, due to the narrowing in the coronary arteries, a person may experience chest pain. When this demand lasts for more than a few minutes, heart muscle can begin to die, causing a heart attack. This may occur with or without symptoms.
In addition, the lack of blood, even briefly, can lead to serious disorders of the heart rhythm, known as arrhythmias. Coronary artery disease can even cause sudden death from an arrhythmia without any prior warning.
Coronary artery disease is sometimes used interchangeably with coronary heart disease. Technically they are not the same. Coronary heart disease is one of those more encompassing terms that refers to diseases of the coronary arteries and their resulting complications — angina, a heart attack and even scar tissue caused by a heart attack. Coronary artery disease is disease only of the arteries.
One of the most common diseases of the heart is Congestive heart failure. This occurs when the heart no longer pumps normally, although it does continue to work to some degree. With less effective pumping, vital organs don’t get enough blood, causing such symptoms as shortness of breath, fluid retention and fatigue. This condition may develop suddenly or over many years. Congestive heart failure occurs as a result of other cardiovascular conditions that have damaged or weakened the heart. Among them are coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, valvular heart disease and some forms of congenital heart disease.

Disease of the blood vessels
Blood is carried from the heart to all the body’s tissues and organs in vessels, called arteries. Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of those arteries.
Each time the heart beats (about 60 to 70 times a minute at rest) it pumps blood out into the arteries. When the heart is pumping the blood, it is called systolic pressure. When the heart is resting or in between beats, your blood pressure falls; this is the diastolic pressure.

Hypertension (high blood pressure) is defined as either:
• a systolic pressure consistently at 140 or higher or
• a diastolic pressure consistently at 90 or higher.

High blood pressure is perhaps the most common form of cardiovascular (blood vessel) disease in this country. It affects about one in four Americans and approximately 1 in 3 African Americans. It is also one of the most preventable and treatable types of cardiovascular disease.
High blood pressure can lead to stroke. That happens when a bit of cholesterol or other clump of arterial plaque breaks off and block blood flow to the brain. Stroke may also happen when a tiny blood vessel in the brain ruptures because of damage sustained by high blood pressure.
Aneurysms are another disease of the blood vessels. An aneurysm is a bulge or weakness in the wall of an artery or vein. Aneurysms usually enlarge over time, and have the potential to rupture and cause life-threatening bleeding. Aneurysms can occur in arteries in any location in your body, but common sites include the abdominal aorta and the arteries at the base of the brain.
The vast majority of aneurysms occur when an artery becomes weak or damaged by atherosclerosis. And that means, in many cases, that aneurysms are another type of cardiovascular disease that is preventable. The usual suspects in blood vessel damage are often to blame here, too — smoking, high blood pressure and unhealthy lifestyle habits that contribute to atherosclerosis. Women may be affected by a blood vessel disorder known as varicose veins. When the valves in your veins don’t function properly, blood can accumulate in your lower extremities causing the veins to bulge and twist. The veins appear blue because they contain less oxygen. They’re usually located on the backs of the calves or on the inside of the legs, from the groin to the ankle.
So, as you can see, cardiovascular disease is a broad term that encompasses a collection of diseases and conditions. The most common forms of cardiovascular disease are high blood pressure and coronary artery disease, both of which are highly preventable.
Some preventive measures you can take are:
• Don’t smoke or use other tobacco products
• Eat a varied diet, rich in fruits, vegetables and low-fat foods
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Get at least 30 minutes of exercise daily, most days of the week.
• Keep your cholesterol levels in normal ranges.
• Control your blood sugar if you have diabetes
• Control your blood pressure if you have hypertension
To learn more about cardiovascular disease, call the American Heart Association at 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit www.healthyh.com to find links to the American Heart Association and more information about healthy living and healthy lifestyles.
You have the power to greatly reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, so learn and live.