Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a general term for conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels. This video gives more information on cardiovascular disease and cardiology.
CVD is usually associated with a build-up of fatty deposits inside the arteries (atherosclerosis) and an increased risk of blood clots.
It can also be associated with damage to arteries in organs such as the brain, heart, kidneys and eyes. There are many different types of CVD, here are the 4 main types according to NHS.com. Coronary heart disease occurs when the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle is blocked or reduced. A stroke is where the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, which can cause brain damage and possibly death. A transient ischaemic attack (also called a TIA or “mini-stroke”) is similar, but the blood flow to the brain is only temporarily disrupted. Peripheral arterial disease occurs when there’s a blockage in the arteries to the limbs, usually the legs. Aortic diseases are a group of conditions affecting the aorta. This is the largest blood vessel in the body, which carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
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