What is cardiovascular disease and how does it develop?

Cardiovascular disease encompasses any condition affecting the heart or blood vessels, including coronary artery disease, stroke, and heart failure. Many of these conditions are driven by atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory disease where fatty plaques narrow the arteries. While risk factors include high blood pressure, smoking, and poor diet, up to ninety percent of cardiovascular disease may be preventable through healthy lifestyle habits.

What we know

• Cardiovascular disease refers to any disease involving the heart or blood vessels, including coronary artery diseases, heart failure, and stroke. [3]
• Atherosclerosis is a pattern of arteriosclerosis characterized by atheromatous plaques in artery walls, driven by elevated LDL cholesterol and chronic inflammation. [2]
• Conditions such as coronary artery disease, stroke, and peripheral artery disease involve underlying atherosclerosis. [3]
• Dietary risk factors are associated with an estimated 53% of cardiovascular disease deaths, and up to 90% of cardiovascular disease may be preventable. [3]

Still open

• The exact cause of atherosclerosis remains unknown, though it is proposed to be multifactorial.

Where to go next

• what caused itWhat causes coronary artery disease?
• how it workedHow does atherosclerosis narrow arteries?
• what followedWhat are the primary symptoms of a heart attack?
• whereHow does cardiovascular disease affect Nigeria?
• how we knowHow do diagnosis methods differ for artery blockages?
• an unexpected connectionHow are modern human genes linked to ancient disease origins?Evidence suggests atherosclerosis may trace its origins back to ancient CMAH genetic mutations occurring over two million years ago in hominin ancestors.

Sources

• [1]atherosclerosis (Wikidata Q12252367) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Atherosclerosis · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Cardiovascular disease · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Coronary artery disease · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Cardiovascular disease in Nigeria · CC BY-SA 4.0