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High Blood Pressure/Hypertension
Have you ever watched the dial on the blood pressure cuff when getting your blood pressure taken? It takes two measurements of mmHG, or millimeters of mercury. The first, the systolic number, measures the force of blood against artery walls when your heart is contracting; the second, known as the diastolic number, measures the force of blood when your heart is relaxing. A reading of 120/80 mmHG is considered normal. When either number starts to rise, it’s considered prehypertension (120-140/80-90) or hypertension (defined as 140/90 and above).
High blood pressure can cause damage to organs like the kidneys, and it can put you at risk for the other leading forms of cardiovascular disease.
Because high blood pressure has no obvious symptoms, your blood pressure needs to be checked regularly. Note that this condition is different from pulmonary hypertension, which relates to the pressure the hearts exerts when pumping blood to the arteries of the lungs. This form of hypertension is rare, affecting fewer than 1,000 people in the United States each year.
Coronary Heart Disease
When the arteries that deliver blood to the heart narrow because of deposits called plaque (a combination of fat, cholesterol, and other substances), the heart can’t get the blood flow it needs.
This condition is called coronary heart disease and can lead to angina, or chest pains. Plaques can rupture, and when they do, a blood clot can result; if the clot forms in one of the blood vessels that goes to the heart, there's a high probability it will cause a heart attack.
Stroke
If a plaque-related blood clot occurs in a blood vessel that delivers oxygen to the brain, the outcome is an ischemic stroke. Ischemic strokes make up 87 percent of all strokes. The other type of stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, occurs when vessels burst and bleed into the brain. Uncontrolled hypertension is a risk factor for this type of stroke.
A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a stroke in which the clot can break up quickly, often in a minute, leaving the brain undamaged. Though TIAs are often considered warning strokes or mini-strokes, most people who experience stroke have not had TIAs. If a TIA does occur, no matter how short-lived, it calls for the same immediate medical attention as a stroke.
Heart Failure
Heart failure occurs when your heart is no longer able to efficiently and effectively pump blood out to the body's tissues. Heart failure causes extreme fatigue and breathing problems. Conditions including high blood pressure and coronary heart disease can result in heart failure.
Other Types of Cardiovascular Disease
There are many other cardiovascular diseases, including those that affect the heart’s rhythm, valves, and veins. One related disease that people are becoming more aware of is DVT, or deep vein thrombosis, in which blood clots form in major veins. The clots usually occur in the legs during long air flights when your movement is limited and legs are confined to a small space. Because DVT can be life-threatening, talk to your doctor about precautions you can take, especially if you already have cardiovascular disease.
Know Your Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease
Risk factors for cardiovascular diseases are interrelated. Some, like family history and advancing age, can’t be changed. But many can.
High blood pressure: More than half the people who have hypertension aren’t controlling it, and its causes are unknown in more than 90 percent of all patients.
High cholesterol: The body packages cholesterol in different forms. As examples, LDL (low-density lipoprotein), the "bad" cholesterol, collects along artery walls; HDL (high-density lipoprotein), the "good" cholesterol sweeps cholesterol out of the body through the liver. The higher your total and LDL numbers, the greater your risk of cardiovascular disease.
Diabetes: This chronic disease puts you at serious risk for cardiovascular disease; about 65 percent of patients die of stroke or heart disease.
Smoking: On its own, smoking can lead to heart disease. It can also worsen high blood pressure, increase the chance for blood clots and stroke, and make it difficult to exercise properly.
Lack of exercise: Physical inactivity puts you at great risk for cardiovascular disease; the American Heart Association ranks it on a par with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking as a contributor to heart disease.
Being overweight: Just carrying excess body fat can lead to cardiovascular diseases while raising blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Poor diet: A diet high in saturated and trans fats contributes to high cholesterol; too much salt and not enough potassium can contribute to high blood pressure. Drinking too much alcohol increases your risk of most cardiovascular diseases.
Stress: This can be a contributing risk factor, especially if it leads you to overeat, drink more alcohol, or smoke.
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