Cardiovascular Disease

Definition

Cardiovascular disease refers to a class of diseases that involve the heart and blood vessels, including conditions such as coronary artery disease, heart attacks, and strokes. These diseases are often caused by factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, smoking, and obesity.

Related terms

Hypertension: Also known as high blood pressure, hypertension is a condition where the force of blood against the walls of your arteries is consistently too high. It is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Atherosclerosis: Atherosclerosis is a condition characterized by the buildup of plaque (a fatty substance) inside your arteries. This buildup narrows and hardens the arteries over time, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Stroke: A stroke occurs when there is an interruption in the blood supply to part of your brain. It can be caused by a clot blocking an artery (ischemic stroke) or by bleeding into the brain (hemorrhagic stroke). Strokes are one of the serious complications of cardiovascular disease.