CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES

CHAPTER ONE

1.0                                               INTRODUCTION

1.1       CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels. Common CVDs include: ischemic heart disease (IHD), stroke, hypertensive heart disease, rheumatic heart disease (RHD), aortic aneurysms, cardiomyopathy, atrial fibrillation, congenital heart disease, endocarditis, and peripheral artery disease (PAD), among others (McGill et al., 2008; Mendis et al., 2011). The underlying mechanisms varies depending on the disease in question. IHD, stroke, and PAD involve atherosclerosis. This may be caused by high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, lack of exercise, obesity, high blood cholesterol, poor diet, and excessive alcohol, among others. High blood pressure results in 13% of CVD deaths, while tobacco results in 9%, diabetes 6%, lack of exercise 6% and obesity 5%. Others such as RHD may follow untreated streptococcal infections of the throat (Mendis et al., 2011). It is estimated that 90% of CVD is preventable (McGill et al., 2008). Prevention of atherosclerosis is by decreasing risk factors through: healthy eating,