Cardiovascular Diseases – Symptoms, Causes, and Prevention. How to Protect Yourself?

Cardiovascular Diseases – Statistics

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, with the death rate increasing year by year. Annually, they claim more lives than any other cause. It is estimated that in 2016, 17.9 million people died from cardiovascular diseases globally, accounting for 31% of all deaths (1, 2).

The vast majority of deaths in 2016 (85%) were associated with heart attacks and strokes (1, 2). In Europe alone, 45% of deaths were due to cardiovascular diseases, and they still outnumbered cancer-related deaths by twofold. In the European region, coronary artery disease is the most common cause of death, accounting for 20% of deaths in women and 19% in men (3).

Cardiovascular diseases also significantly contribute to years of life lost, particularly years of healthy life lost (4).

Worryingly, cardiovascular diseases do not affect only the elderly. Many patients are under 75, or even under 65 years old (3).

Cardiovascular Diseases – Causes

Risk factors for cardiovascular diseases can be divided into modifiable and non-modifiable ones.

Non-modifiable risk factors include:

• age,

• sex (men are more at risk),

• pre-existing cardiovascular conditions or genetic predispositions (gene mutations).

The most important modifiable risk factors are:

• unhealthy diet,

• physical inactivity,

• smoking,

• alcohol consumption.

These behaviors can lead to elevated blood pressure, lipid disorders, high blood glucose levels, hyperglycemia or diabetes, overweight, and obesity. These, in turn, increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and other complications (1).

Cardiovascular Diseases – Examples

Cardiovascular diseases involve disorders of the heart or blood vessels. These include:

• hypertension (high blood pressure),

• heart failure,

• ischemic heart disease (coronary artery disease – conditions affecting the blood vessels supplying the heart muscle, including heart attacks),

• cerebrovascular diseases,

• peripheral artery disease (conditions affecting the vessels supplying the limbs),

• rheumatic heart disease (damage to the heart muscle due to rheumatic fever),

• cardiomyopathies,

• congenital heart defects,

• deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism (clots in the leg veins that can travel to the heart or lungs) (1).

Some of these diseases are considered lifestyle diseases, meaning they are primarily caused by an unhealthy lifestyle, particularly poor diet. These include hypertension and atherosclerosis.

Cardiovascular Diseases – Symptoms and Treatment of the Most Common Conditions

What are the symptoms of cardiovascular diseases, their causes, and how can they be prevented? Below is a summary of:

• Hypertension

• Atherosclerosis

• Ischemic heart disease

• Cerebrovascular disease

Hypertension

Hypertension is diagnosed when systolic blood pressure exceeds 140 mmHg and/or diastolic pressure exceeds 90 mmHg.

Over 1 billion adults worldwide have elevated blood pressure, but fewer than 1 in 5 effectively manage it. In Poland, nearly 75% of people over 65 have hypertension.

This condition doesn’t only affect the elderly. High blood pressure is also seen in children and adolescents, particularly those with obesity.

Symptoms of Hypertension:

• headaches and dizziness,

• insomnia,

• shortness of breath,

• palpitations,

• excessive sweating,

• hot flashes,

• facial redness,

• reduced physical performance.

Persistent high blood pressure can damage organs and small blood vessels.

Treatment:
The first line of treatment is lifestyle change—reducing risk factors like obesity, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, alcohol, and high-sodium diets. In some cases, medication is needed to control blood pressure. Regular monitoring is essential.

Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease of the arteries, characterized by plaque build-up that narrows blood flow and reduces oxygen supply to vital organs like the heart and brain.

It often begins in childhood, with clinical symptoms appearing between ages 50 and 60.

The process involves inflammation and lipid accumulation—especially LDL cholesterol, which increases with high intake of saturated and trans fats.

Consequences of atherosclerosis include:

• coronary artery disease (limited blood flow in coronary vessels),

• heart attack (plaque rupture and blockage of blood flow causing myocardial necrosis).

If the carotid arteries are affected, symptoms may include memory issues, visual disturbances, dizziness, fainting, or stroke. Atherosclerosis can also affect the lower limbs or intestines.

Treatment:
Lifestyle changes are crucial: quitting smoking, increasing physical activity, and following a heart-healthy diet. In advanced cases, treatment may include:

• LDL-lowering and triglyceride-lowering medications (e.g., statins, fibrates),

• plant sterols or stanols that reduce cholesterol absorption (found in some margarine and yogurts),

• anticoagulants.

Healthy nutrition should always accompany pharmacological treatment.

Ischemic Heart Disease (Heart Attack)

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) includes all conditions in which the heart muscle doesn’t get enough oxygen.

This includes chronic coronary syndrome, most often caused by atherosclerotic changes in coronary arteries.

Types:

• Stable (e.g., angina, cardiac syndrome X),

• Acute (e.g., myocardial infarction, unstable angina).

Symptoms:

• shortness of breath,

• radiating chest pain or pressure behind the sternum,

• nausea,

• palpitations,

• rapid heartbeat,

• sweating,

• dizziness,

• fatigue.

However, many cases are asymptomatic until a full-blown heart attack occurs.

Treatment:
Prevention is key: avoid smoking, manage stress, and maintain a balanced diet. It’s also worth monitoring blood homocysteine levels—high levels are a risk factor for ischemic heart disease.

Treatment may also include:

• anticoagulants (aspirin),

• beta-blockers,

• ACE inhibitors,

• lipid-lowering medications (e.g., statins),

• nitroglycerin for acute pain episodes.

Cerebrovascular Diseases (Stroke)

Cerebrovascular diseases—particularly stroke—are a major medical, social, and economic issue. They account for around 40% of hospitalizations in neurology wards in Poland.

These diseases can lead to disability and loss of independence.

They include:

• brain infarcts (ischemic strokes),

• intracranial and subarachnoid hemorrhages,

• narrowing of cerebral or precerebral arteries without infarction,

• other vascular brain conditions,

• long-term consequences of cerebrovascular diseases.

Most cerebrovascular diseases result from atherosclerosis or structural defects in blood vessels. They can cause sudden-onset conditions like stroke or chronic diseases like dementia, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, or depression.

Stroke is defined as the sudden onset of focal or generalized dysfunction of the central nervous system lasting over 24 hours or leading to death sooner.

Typical symptoms:

• sudden weakness or paralysis on one side of the body or face,

• numbness or sensory, vision, or speech disturbances,

• inability to maintain balance,

• severe headache.

Prevention of cerebrovascular diseases focuses on managing risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, and atherosclerosis.