What is heart (cardiovascular) disease?

For most people, heart disease does not cause any symptoms in the early stages of development, nor do the conditions that lead to heart disease. Atherosclerosis, diabetes, and high blood pressure (which are all major risk
factors for heart disease) all start developing in the body without causing any symptoms. For this reason, it is important for people to understand their risk factors for heart disease, both modifiable (those you can
control) and non-modifiable (those you can’t control).

Risk Factors You Can Control	Risk Factors You Can’t Control
Weight	Age
Smoking	Family History of Heart Disease or Stroke
Manage Your Diabetes	Gender (men have higher rates of heart disease)
Physical Activity
Manage Your High Blood Pressure
Nutrition

What are 5 types of heart diseases?

• Atherosclerosis (coronary heart disease) is the most common form of CVD. Atherosclerosis not only affects blood flow, but it injures the arteries, making them stiffer and less flexible. That’s why this disease is
  sometimes referred to as “hardening of the arteries”. Atherosclerosis can lead to heart failure (weakening of the heart muscle) or heart attack.
• Stroke is the #5 cause of death in the U.S., and a leading cause of disability.² A stroke occurs when the blood flow to your brain is either slowed or stopped, usually from plaque or a blood clot. This is
  called an ischemic stroke, the type that makes up about 87% of strokes. Another type of stroke is a hemorrhagic stroke, which occurs when a weakened blood vessel breaks and bleeds. Uncontrolled high blood pressure is
  the main cause of hemorrhagic stroke.
• High Blood Pressure (HBP), also called hypertension, is when the force of blood pumping against the wall of the arteries is high enough to cause health problems over time. HBP is a major risk factor for heart attacks
  and strokes.
• Arrhythmia, or an irregular heartbeat, occurs when the heart beats too fast, too slow, or with an irregular rhythm. Many things, including coronary heart disease, an electrolyte imbalance, and even damage to the
  heart muscle after a heart attack, can cause arrhythmias.³ The most common type of arrhythmia is atrial fibrillation (Afib), when the heart beats too fast and at an irregular pace. People with Afib are at
  higher risk for stroke, heart attack, and heart failure.⁴
• Heart valve problems can be present at birth (called congenital), or they can be caused by infections such as endocarditis or rheumatic fever. Atherosclerosis, prolonged high blood pressure, and damage to the heart
  muscle after a heart attack can also cause heart valve disease.⁵