cardiovascular-disease

Cardiovascular Disease

• There are many lifestyle factors that can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD)

  • CVD is a general term for conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels

  • It is usually associated with

    • Atherosclerosis; the formation of hard plaques in the artery lining

    • Thrombosis; the formation of blood clots in the arteries

• Risk factors are factors that can be linked to an increased risk of a disease

  • Exposure to a risk factor doesn’t guarantee that an individual will suffer a disease, e.g. a person who smokes regularly isn’t guaranteed to develop lung cancer but their risk compared to someone who doesn’t smoke is much higher

  • Certain risk factors are correlated with certain diseases, but correlations are not always causations

• Risk factors can be

  • Aspects of a person’s lifestyle such as the food they eat or whether or not they drink alcohol

  • Substances in a person’s body or environment such as air pollution in a crowded city or asbestos in old buildings

  • Genetic predispositions to developing certain diseases

  • Other biological factors such as age or biological sex

• Many diseases are caused by the interaction of a number of factors

  • E.g. the chance of developing CVD is higher in individuals who have a diet high in cholesterol, don’t exercise regularly, and smoke; all of these behaviours increase the likelihood of damage occurring to the arteries

• Some factors, such as those related to lifestyle, are to some extent under the control of the individual

  • It is usually possible to make decisions about diet, smoking, alcohol intake, and exercise levels

  • Note that scientists are becoming increasingly aware that the best choices are easier to make for some than others; unhealthy food choices are often cheaper and easier, and not everyone has time to exercise

• Other factors are outside of an individual’s control, such as genetics, biological sex, and age

Lifestyle Factors Linked to CVD Table

Other Factors Linked to CVD Table