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Cardiovascular disease
 
 
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Cardiovascular disease or cardiovascular diseases refers to the class of diseases that involve the heart
Heart

The heart is a muscle organ in all vertebrates responsible for pumping blood through the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions, or a similar structure in annelids, mollusks, and arthropods....
 or blood vessel
Blood vessel

The blood vessels are the part of the circulatory system that transport blood throughout the body. There are three major types of blood vessels: the artery, which carry the blood away from the heart, the capillary, which enable the actual exchange of water and chemicals between the blood and the tissues; and the veins, which carry blood from...
s (arteries
Artery

Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart. All arteries, with the exception of the pulmonary and umbilical arteries, carry oxygenated blood....
 and vein
Vein

In the circulatory system, veins are blood vessels that carry blood toward the heart. Most veins carry deoxygenated blood from the tissues back to the heart; exceptions are the pulmonary vein and umbilical veins, both of which carry oxygenated blood....
s). While the term technically refers to any disease that affects the cardiovascular system
Circulatory system

The circulatory system is an organ that moves nutrients, gases, and wastes to and from cells to help fight diseases and help stabilize body temperature and pH to maintain homeostasis....
 (as used in MeSH
Mesh

Mesh consists of semi-permeable barrier made of connected strands of metal, fiber, or other flexible/ductile material. Mesh is similar to spider web or Net in that it has many attached or woven strands....
), it is usually used to refer to those related to atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a syndrome affecting artery blood vessels. It is a chronic inflammatory response in the walls of arteries, in large part due to the accumulation of macrophage white blood cells and promoted by low density lipoproteins without adequate removal of fats and cholesterol from the macrophages by functional high density lipoprot...
 (arterial disease). These conditions have similar causes, mechanisms, and treatments. In practice, cardiovascular disease is treated by cardiologists
Cardiology

Cardiology is a subspecialty of internal medicine dealing with disorders of the heart and blood vessels. The field includes diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology....
, thoracic surgeons
Thoracic surgery

Thoracic surgery is the field of medicine involved in the surgery treatment of diseases affecting organs inside the thorax excluding the heart....
, vascular surgeons
Vascular surgery

Vascular surgery is a specialty of surgery in which diseases of the vascular system, or artery and veins, are managed by medical therapy, minimally-invasive catheter procedures, and surgical reconstruction....
, neurologists
Neurology

Neurology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Specifically, it deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of disease involving the Central nervous system, Peripheral nervous system, and autonomic nervous systems, including their coverings, blood vessels, and...
, and interventional radiologists
Interventional radiology

Interventional Radiology is a subspecialty of radiology in which minimally invasive procedures are performed using image guidance. Some of these procedures are done for purely diagnostic purposes , while others are done for treatment purposes ....
, depending on the organ system that is being treated.






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Cardiovascular disease or cardiovascular diseases refers to the class of diseases that involve the heart
Heart

The heart is a muscle organ in all vertebrates responsible for pumping blood through the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions, or a similar structure in annelids, mollusks, and arthropods....
 or blood vessel
Blood vessel

The blood vessels are the part of the circulatory system that transport blood throughout the body. There are three major types of blood vessels: the artery, which carry the blood away from the heart, the capillary, which enable the actual exchange of water and chemicals between the blood and the tissues; and the veins, which carry blood from...
s (arteries
Artery

Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart. All arteries, with the exception of the pulmonary and umbilical arteries, carry oxygenated blood....
 and vein
Vein

In the circulatory system, veins are blood vessels that carry blood toward the heart. Most veins carry deoxygenated blood from the tissues back to the heart; exceptions are the pulmonary vein and umbilical veins, both of which carry oxygenated blood....
s). While the term technically refers to any disease that affects the cardiovascular system
Circulatory system

The circulatory system is an organ that moves nutrients, gases, and wastes to and from cells to help fight diseases and help stabilize body temperature and pH to maintain homeostasis....
 (as used in MeSH
Mesh

Mesh consists of semi-permeable barrier made of connected strands of metal, fiber, or other flexible/ductile material. Mesh is similar to spider web or Net in that it has many attached or woven strands....
), it is usually used to refer to those related to atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a syndrome affecting artery blood vessels. It is a chronic inflammatory response in the walls of arteries, in large part due to the accumulation of macrophage white blood cells and promoted by low density lipoproteins without adequate removal of fats and cholesterol from the macrophages by functional high density lipoprot...
 (arterial disease). These conditions have similar causes, mechanisms, and treatments. In practice, cardiovascular disease is treated by cardiologists
Cardiology

Cardiology is a subspecialty of internal medicine dealing with disorders of the heart and blood vessels. The field includes diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology....
, thoracic surgeons
Thoracic surgery

Thoracic surgery is the field of medicine involved in the surgery treatment of diseases affecting organs inside the thorax excluding the heart....
, vascular surgeons
Vascular surgery

Vascular surgery is a specialty of surgery in which diseases of the vascular system, or artery and veins, are managed by medical therapy, minimally-invasive catheter procedures, and surgical reconstruction....
, neurologists
Neurology

Neurology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Specifically, it deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of disease involving the Central nervous system, Peripheral nervous system, and autonomic nervous systems, including their coverings, blood vessels, and...
, and interventional radiologists
Interventional radiology

Interventional Radiology is a subspecialty of radiology in which minimally invasive procedures are performed using image guidance. Some of these procedures are done for purely diagnostic purposes , while others are done for treatment purposes ....
, depending on the organ system that is being treated. There is considerable overlap in the specialties, and it is common for certain procedures to be performed by different types of specialists in the same hospital.

Most countries face high and increasing rates of cardiovascular disease. Each year, heart disease
Heart disease

Heart disease is an umbrella term for a variety for different diseases affecting the heart. As of 2007, it is the leading cause of death in the United States, England, Canada and Wales, killing one person every 34 seconds in the United States alone....
 kills more Americans than cancer..

It is the number one cause of death and disability in the United States and most European countries (data available through 2005). A large histological study (PDAY) showed vascular injury accumulates from adolescence, making primary prevention efforts necessary from childhood.

By the time that heart problems are detected, the underlying cause (atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a syndrome affecting artery blood vessels. It is a chronic inflammatory response in the walls of arteries, in large part due to the accumulation of macrophage white blood cells and promoted by low density lipoproteins without adequate removal of fats and cholesterol from the macrophages by functional high density lipoprot...
) is usually quite advanced, having progressed for decades. There is therefore increased emphasis on preventing atherosclerosis by modifying risk factors, such as healthy eating
Healthy diet

A healthy diet is one that helps maintain or improve health. It is important for the prevention of many chronic disease such as: obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer....
, exercise
Physical exercise

Physical exercise is any bodily activity that raises the heart rate above its resting level and enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health....
 and avoidance of smoking
Tobacco smoking

Tobacco smoking is the inhalation of smoke from burned dried or cured leaves of the tobacco plant, most often in the form of a cigarette. People may smoke casually for pleasure, habitually to satisfy an addiction to the nicotine present in tobacco and to the act of smoking, or in response to social pressure....
.

Biomarkers

Some biomarkers
Biomarker (medicine)

In medicine, a biomarker is an indicator of a particular disease state or a particular state of an organism.An NIH study group committed to the following definition in 1998: "a characteristic that is objectively measured and evaluated as an indicator of normal biologic processes, pathogenic processes, or pharmacologic responses to a therape...
 are thought to offer a more detailed risk of cardiovascular disease. However, the clinical value of these biomarkers is questionable. Currently, biomarkers which may reflect a higher risk of cardiovascular disease include:

  • Higher fibrin
    Fibrin

    Fibrin is a fibrous protein involved in the clotting of blood, and is non globular. It is a fibrillar protein that is Polymerization to form a "mesh" that forms a hemostasis plug or clot over a wound site....
    ogen and PAI-1
    Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1

    Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 is the principal inhibitor of tissue plasminogen activator and urokinase , the activators of plasminogen and hence fibrinolysis ....
     blood concentrations
  • Elevated homocysteine
    Homocysteine

    Homocysteine is an amino acid with the formula HSCH2CH2CHCO2H. It is a homologous series of the amino acid cysteine, differing by an additional methylene group....
    , or even upper half of normal
  • Elevated blood levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine
    Asymmetric dimethylarginine

    Asymmetric dimethylarginine is a naturally occurring chemical found in blood plasma. It is a metabolism by-product of continual protein modification processes in the cytoplasm of all human cells....
  • High inflammation as measured by C-reactive protein
    C-reactive protein

    C-reactive protein is a protein found in the blood in response to inflammation .CRP is produced by the liver and by fat cells . It is a member of the pentraxin family of proteins....
  • Elevated blood levels of brain natriuretic peptide
    Brain natriuretic peptide

    Brain natriuretic peptide , now known as B-type natriuretic peptide or GC-B, is a 32 amino acid polypeptide secreted by the Ventricle of the heart in response to excessive stretching of heart muscle cells ....
     (also known as B-type) (BNP)


Awareness

Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a syndrome affecting artery blood vessels. It is a chronic inflammatory response in the walls of arteries, in large part due to the accumulation of macrophage white blood cells and promoted by low density lipoproteins without adequate removal of fats and cholesterol from the macrophages by functional high density lipoprot...
 is a process that develops over decades and is often silent until an acute event (heart attack) develops in later life. Population based studies in the youth show that the precursors of heart disease start in adolescence. The process of atherosclerosis evolves over decades, and begins as early as childhood. The Pathobiological Determinants of Atherosclerosis in Youth Study demonstrated that intimal lesions appear in all the aortas and more than half of the right coronary arteries of youths aged 7-9 years. However, most adolescents are more concerned about other risks such as HIV, accidents, and cancer than cardiovascular disease. This is extremely important considering that 1 in 3 people will die from complications attributable to atherosclerosis. In order to stem the tide of cardiovascular disease, primary prevention is needed. Primary prevention starts with education and awareness that cardiovascular disease poses the greatest threat and measures to prevent or reverse this disease must be taken.

Early detection

Platelet and Fibrin complexes can be seen with the technique of dark field microscopy. They are much bigger then red blood cells and easily block capillaries. These complexes are clearly visible in dark field but not in stained bright field samples because the different staining methods disburse them. However, they are visible in unstained blood smears. This method of early detection allows to identify people at risk and take appropriate measures.


Types of cardiovascular diseases

  • Aneurysm
    Aneurysm

    An aneurysm is a localized, blood-filled dilation of a blood vessel caused by disease or weakening of the vessel wall.Aneurysms most commonly occur in artery at the base of the brain and in the aorta ....
  • Angina
  • Atherosclerosis
    Atherosclerosis

    Atherosclerosis is a syndrome affecting artery blood vessels. It is a chronic inflammatory response in the walls of arteries, in large part due to the accumulation of macrophage white blood cells and promoted by low density lipoproteins without adequate removal of fats and cholesterol from the macrophages by functional high density lipoprot...
  • Cerebrovascular Accident (Stroke
    Stroke

    A stroke is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to a disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. According to the National Stroke Association, a "stroke" occurs when a blood clot blocks and artery or a blood vessel breaks, interrupting blood flow to an area of the brain....
    )
  • Cerebrovascular disease
    Cerebrovascular disease

    Cerebrovascular disease is a group of brain dysfunctions related to disease of blood vessels supplying the brain. Hypertension is the most important cause that damages the blood vessel lining endothelium exposing the underlying collagen where platelets aggregate to initiate a repairing process which is not always complete and perfect....
  • Congestive Heart Failure
  • Coronary Artery Disease
    Coronary heart disease

    Coronary artery disease is the end result of the accumulation of atheroma within the walls of the Coronary circulation that supply the myocardium with oxygen and nutrients....
  • Myocardial infarction
    Myocardial infarction

    Myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when the Blood flow to part of the heart is interrupted. This is most commonly due to occlusion of a coronary artery following the rupture of a Vulnerable plaque, which is an unstable collection of lipids and white blood cells in the wall of an artery....
     (Heart Attack)
  • Peripheral vascular disease


Research

The causes, prevention, and/or treatment of all forms of cardiovascular disease are active fields of biomedical research
Biomedical research

Biomedical research , in general simply known as medical research, is the basic research, applied research, or translational research conducted to aid the body of knowledge in the field of medicine....
, with hundreds of scientific studies being published on a weekly basis.

A fairly recent emphasis is on the link between low-grade inflammation
Inflammation

Inflammation is the complex biological response of Blood vessel tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. It is a protective attempt by the organism to remove the injurious stimuli as well as initiate the healing process for the tissue....
 that hallmarks atherosclerosis and its possible interventions. C-reactive protein
C-reactive protein

C-reactive protein is a protein found in the blood in response to inflammation .CRP is produced by the liver and by fat cells . It is a member of the pentraxin family of proteins....
 (CRP) is an inflammatory marker that may be present in increased levels in the blood in patients at risk for cardiovascular disease. Its exact role in predicting disease is the subject of debate.

Some areas currently being researched include possible links between infection
Infection

An infection is the detrimental colonization of a host organism by a foreign species. In an infection, the infecting organism seeks to utilize the host resources to multiply ....
 with Chlamydophila pneumoniae
Chlamydophila pneumoniae

Chlamydophila pneumoniae is a species of Chlamydophila bacteria.It was until recently known as "Chlamydia pneumoniae", and that name is used as an alternate in some sources....
 and coronary artery disease. The Chlamydia link has become less plausible with the absence of improvement after antibiotic use.

See also


  • Oral hygiene
    Oral hygiene

    Teeth cleaning is the removal of dental plaque from teeth, in order to prevent Dental caries , gingivitis, and Periodontal disease. It is part of a complete program of oral hygiene....


External links


Informational
Organizations
  • from the American Heart Association