It's important to understand the causes and symptoms, as well as what you can do to manage and prevent cardiovascular diseases. This is not one single condition, instead there are groups of diseases that have to do with the heart and or blood vessels. Some of the more common diseases affecting this system are:
Heart Disease
Synecope
High Blood Pressure
Aortic Aneurysm
Some of these diseases have to do with the heart, while others affect the blood vessels. Both can be treated with lifestyle changes, and respond well to such adjustments. There are also supplements that can help manage and even treat these conditions.
What Are Some Common Causes?
Since there are so many different kinds of cardiovascular diseases, the cause will depend on the specific disorder. Sometimes lifestyle is the cause, other times it is genetic. A doctor may not know the cause right away, in which case tests will have to be done. However, there are some risk factors that play a major role in cardiovascular disease.
A risk factor does not guarantee the development of a condition. It does increase the chances of a person eventually developing that condition, especially if there are multiple risk factors taking place. These can be behavioral or physical factors, there can even be a combination taking place. The following are some risk factors of CVD:
Smoking
Obesity
Diabetes
Physical Inactivity
Tobacco Use
There is also a genetic component to CVD, as it tends to run in families. However, people living together can also share similar lifestyles, so environmental factors should still be taken into account.
What Are My Prevention or Treatment Options?
The best way to treat and prevent CVD is to make healthy choices, and to manage any conditions you do have. There are many dietary changes you can make, such as eating fresh fruits and veggies while avoiding fats and sodium. Incorporating exercise into your daily life is another way to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease.
There are also things you should avoid, like smoking and alcohol use. Both of these take a serious toll on your heart and blood vessels. If you do not smoke or drink, then make a conscious choice to never start. If you do, then consider quitting.
While there are many forms of cardiovascular disease, most of them can be managed. Be aware of what specific condition or conditions you have. Understand the causes as well as how to treat and prevent CVD.