Skip to main content
Medicine LibreTexts

6.6: Cardiovascular Disease

  1. Last updated
  2. Save as PDF
  • Page ID
    80529

    • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    ( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)

    \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)

    \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorA}[1]{\vec{#1}}      % arrow\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorAt}[1]{\vec{\text{#1}}}      % arrow\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorB}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorC}[1]{\textbf{#1}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorD}[1]{\overrightarrow{#1}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorDt}[1]{\overrightarrow{\text{#1}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectE}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{\mathbf {#1}}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)

    \(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)

    Types of Cardiovascular Disease

    Cardiovascular disease refers to conditions of the heart and blood vessels. It is the leading cause of death worldwide. Most cardiovascular diseases can be prevented with lifestyle modifications, including healthy food choices, a physically active lifestyle, and not smoking. In this section, terms common to cardiovascular disease are described.1-3

    • Atherosclerosis. Over time, plaque buildup thickens and hardens the arteries, causing restricted or, at times, low or no blood flow to selected areas of the body. This process is also referred to as "hardening of the arteries." Check out this video to see how atherosclerosis forms.

    Video \(\PageIndex{1}\): Source: Khan Academy. Atherosclerosis.4 Accessed August 4, 2023. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3kDdg8r6NY

    • Coronary heart disease (coronary artery disease). A disease of blood vessels supplying the heart muscle.
    • Heart attack (myocardial infarction). A heart attack happens when blood flow to a section of the heart is cut off due to a blood clot. Many have survived heart attacks and go on to return to their lives and enjoy many more years of life on this earth. However, dietary and lifestyle changes must be implemented to prevent further attacks. The following video provides more details on signs, symptoms, and possible treatment for a heart attack.

    Video \(\PageIndex{2}\): What happens during a heart attack?5 Approximately seven million people around the world die from heart attacks every year. Cardiovascular disease, which causes heart attacks and other problems like strokes, is the world’s leading killer. So, what causes a heart attack? Krishna Sudhir examines the leading causes and treatments of this deadly disease. Source: Krishna Sudhir (https://youtu.be/3_PYnWVoUzM).

    • Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition in which the heart is not pumping blood as well as it should. The heart is still working, but it is not meeting the body’s demand for blood and oxygen. If left unchecked, it can progress to further levels of malfunction. Nutrition interventions for CHF often involve sodium and fluid restriction, topics covered in future chapters in this book.
    • Cerebrovascular disease. A disease of the blood vessels supplying the brain.
      • Ischemic stroke. The most common type of stroke in the United States, ischemic stroke, occurs when a blood vessel in the brain or leading to the brain becomes blocked, again, usually from a blood clot. If part of the brain suffers lack of blood flow and/or oxygen for three minutes or longer, brain cells will start to die.
      • Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel within the brain bursts. This is most often caused by uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure). Nutrition interventions for hypertension, such as the DASH diet, were addressed in Chapter 2 and will be covered in future chapters in this book.
    • Peripheral arterial disease. This is a disease of blood vessels supplying the arms and legs.
    • Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. These conditions involve blood clots in the leg veins, which can dislodge and move to the heart and lungs.
    • Arrhythmia. This is an abnormal rhythm of the heart. The heart may beat above one hundred beats per minute (known as tachycardia) or below sixty beats per minute (known as bradycardia), or the beats are not regular. The heart may not be able to pump enough volume of blood to meet the body’s needs.
    • Heart valve problems. Stenosis is a condition in which the heart valves lose their ability to open wide enough to allow proper blood flow. When the heart valves do not close tightly and blood begins to leak between chambers, this is called regurgitation. When valves bulge or prolapse back into the upper chamber, this condition is called mitral valve prolapse.
    • Rheumatic heart disease. In this heart condition, rheumatic fever, associated with streptococcal bacteria, damages the heart muscle and valves.
    • Congenital heart disease. Attributed to birth defects, this condition results in heart structure malformations and dysfunction.

    Attributions:

    Zimmerman, "An Introduction to Nutrition (Zimmerman)", CC BY-NC-SA 3.0. Text was updated and reorganized. References added.

    References

    1. Olvera Lopez E, Ballard BD, Jan A. Cardiovascular Disease. NIH National Library of Medicine. Updated August 7, 2023. Accessed August 8, 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535419/.
    2. What is Cardiovascular Disease? American Heart Association. Reviewed May 31, 2017. Accessed August 4, 2023. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topi...scular-disease.
    3. Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs). World Health Organization. Published June 11, 2021. Accessed August 4, 2023. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-s...iseases-(cvds).
    4. Khan Academy Medicine and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Atherosclerosis [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/g3kDdg8r6NY?si=3rKZe9nxlGNx_sKl. Published October 22, 2014. Accessed August 1, 2023.
    5. Sudhir, K. What Happens During a Heart Attack? [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/3_PYnWVoUzM?si=MlG1CPtQkfEzVUZD. Published February 14, 2017. Accessed August 1, 2023.

    This page titled 6.6: Cardiovascular Disease is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Jan Dowell and Erin Shanle (Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois (CARLI)) .