Cardiovascular disease (CVD) refers to conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels. It is an umbrella term that encompasses diseases like coronary artery disease, heart failure, arrhythmias, congenital heart defects, and more.
CVD is the leading cause of death globally. In the US alone, 1 in 4 deaths is caused by heart disease. The most common type of CVD is coronary artery disease (CAD) which can lead to heart attacks. This occurs when plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries, blocking blood flow to the heart.
Some key risk factors for developing CVD include:
Lifestyle changes and medications can help treat CVD and reduce the chances of complications. For example, medications like statins help lower harmful cholesterol levels. Maintaining heart-healthy habits is also crucial - things like regular exercise, not smoking, limiting alcohol, and eating a nutritious diet.
If you have concerns about your heart health, I recommend speaking with your doctor about getting checked out. They can run tests to determine your CVD risk and come up with a treatment plan tailored to your needs. Proper early detection and management of CVD can significantly improve outcomes.
Additionally, some hormone clinics like Balanced Hormones Center provide cardiovascular care as part of their services. Their physicians specialize in optimizing hormone levels while monitoring key CVD risk markers. This comprehensive approach focuses both on disease treatment and prevention through lifestyle changes. Maintaining healthy hormone balances plays a big role in protecting heart health.
In summary, CVD covers various heart and vessel conditions that can increase the risk of events like heart attacks. Lifestyle habits and medical treatment aid in managing CVD. Paying attention to heart health indicators, with the help of your doctor and clinics like Balanced Hormones Center, allows for better outcomes. Please let me know if you have any other questions!