Cardiovascular disease (CVD) includes diseases of the heart and blood vessels and includes such ailments as heart attack and stroke. CVD is the single biggest killer in Australian society responsible for approximately 1 death every 10 minutes! It is the single largest cause of death for both men and women under 70.

 

 

Heart attacks (myocardial infarctions or M.I.):

This occurs when a portion of the heart muscle is starved of oxygen and becomes neurotic (dies) due to some form or obstruction to the artery supplying that region of the heart.

 

Arteriosclerosis:

Also referred to as “hardening of the arteries” and results from a build up of plague within the walls of the blood vessels.

 

Atherosclerosis:

A blockage of a blood vessel due to plague deposit.

 

Embolus:

Refers to a foreign body (e.g. Blood clot, air bubble, etc.) that circulates through the vascular system until it becomes lodged in a vessel causing a blockage.

 

Coronary occlusion:

When a clot becomes lodged in a coronary artery causing a blockage (full or partial) often resulting in a heart attack (M.I.) and/or death.

Cardiac Arrhythmia:
When the heart goes out of its normal beating rhythm (also known as sinus rhythm) and beats quickly (tachycardia) or slowly (bradycardia) and/or in a delay non rhythmical manner (heart block).

Ischemic Heart Disease:

This includes heart attack and related problems caused by a narrowing of the coronary arteries which decreases blood supply to the heart – also known as “coronary artery disease”.

 

Congestive Heart Failure:

A condition that occurs when the heart can’t pump enough blood to meet the body’s demands. This can result as a consequence of:

As blood flow out of the heart slows, blood flood back to the heart backs up (in the veins) causing swelling (often in the ankles). Fluid sometimes collects in the lungs causing shortness of breath. This problem can also lead to kidney failure resulting in sodium and water retention which further causes swelling throughout the body.

 

Angina pectoris:

“Chest pain” due to coronary heart disease (CHD). The heart doesn’t get enough blood (and hence oxygen) so chest pain is experienced.

 

Stroke:
This is also known as a Cerebral Vascular Accident (or CVA) and occurs when blood supply to the brain is blocked leading to “ischemia” (or lack of blood and hence oxygen) to the affected region of the brain.

 

Cerebral Embolism:

This can be a material circulating in the blood stream (e.g. Air bubble, plague, etc.) that lodges in the brain. Generally this is less dangerous than a cerebral thrombosis or haemorrhage – see following.

Cerebral Thrombosis:

A clot in a blood vessel of the brain – the most common cause of stroke. The clot causes ischemia and swelling around the affected region of the brain. With this type of complaint the conditions of the stroke will appear more slowly and progressively.

 

Cerebral Haemorrhage:

The rupturing of a blood vessel in the brain – usually an artery and normally associated with pre-existing high blood pressure.

 

Hypertension or high blood pressure:
Often referred to as “the silent killer” because many sufferers of hypertension don’t even know they have it. A blood pressure – at rest – which is consistently = to or > 130mmHg (systole) and = or > 85mmHg (diastole) is regarded as hypertensive. Systole occurs as the heart beats exerting maximal pressure on the artery walls. Diastole occurs between contractions as the heart relaxes and refills with blood.