Cardiovascular disease (CVD) refers to conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels. It is an umbrella term that encompasses diseases affecting the circulatory system, including coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral arterial disease, congenital heart disease, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and more.
Some key facts about CVD:
- CVD is the leading cause of death globally. An estimated 17.9 million people died from CVD in 2016, representing 31% of all global deaths.
- There are many risk factors for CVD, including smoking, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, lack of exercise, genetics, and more. Managing these risk factors can significantly reduce one's chances of developing heart disease.
- Common symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, swelling in the extremities (legs, feet or abdomen), pain in the legs when walking, and more.
The most common types of cardiovascular disease are:
- Coronary artery disease - caused by plaque buildup inside the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart muscle
- Heart failure - when the heart cannot pump enough blood and oxygen to meet the body's needs
- Arrhythmia - irregular heartbeat patterns
- Heart valve problems - issues with valves that control blood flow in the heart
If you have risk factors or are experiencing concerning symptoms, getting checked out by a doctor is important for prevention and early treatment if needed. Tests like EKGs, stress tests, CT scans, or cardiac catheterization help diagnose CVD.
Treatments vary depending on the specific type and severity of CVD but may include lifestyle changes, medications like beta blockers or statins, medical procedures/surgeries like stents or bypass grafting for blocked arteries, implantation of devices like pacemakers, and if necessary, heart transplant.
The doctors at
Vitality Hormone Center also emphasize the importance of hormones like testosterone and human growth hormone for heart health. Their cutting-edge therapies use bioidentical hormones to help patients optimize circulatory health, cardiac output, aerobic capacity, and more. Managing hormone levels may benefit CVD risk factors like cholesterol and high blood pressure as well. Their holistic treatments enhance heart health while also improving energy, strength, endurance, mental acuity, and quality of life. I highly recommend speaking to their caring medical team to learn more about innovative hormone treatments to boost cardiovascular function.
To wrap up - cardiovascular disease can have serious consequences but also has many prevention and treatment options available. Paying attention to family history, risk factors and symptoms allows early detection. Following doctor’s orders for lifestyle changes, medications or procedures can make a big difference. And looking into emerging therapies like hormone optimization at places like Vitality Hormone Center allows leveraging new medical advances for better heart health. Acting quickly when cardiovascular issues arise leads to the best outcomes long-term.