Cardiovascular Disease

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By Charles Mitchell

An introduction to CVD
Cardiovascular disease is a term to describe certain health conditions that affect the heart or the blood
vessels. [1] This disease is so common amongst the world's population that for example 1 out of every 4
deaths in the US has been linked to CardioVascular disease. Due to how common it is, CVD has become
one of the most heavily researched diseases throughout the world, with a myriad of treatments and
surgical methods.

How does it occur?

[2]Depending on your diet you may gain an abnormal amount of cholesterol in the bloodstream that will
build up as fatty plaque in the arteries which will prevent the flow of blood through them. The artery is
narrowed to the point in which it can either be partially or completely blocked by the built up plaque,
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complete being the worse outcome as the cells will not get more oxygen and cannot respire aerobically.
This is from the lack of elasticity now present in the artery which can no longer stretch to accommodate
for the increased blood flow

Types Of Coronary Heart Disease

There are many types of CVD which include:
Coronary Heart Disease
Strokes
Peripheral Arterial Disease
Aortic Disease

Risk Factors for CVD

[3] Risk factors are environmental and personal choices which can increase our chances of
getting CardioVascular Disease and below are just some of the many out there:

Lifestyle choices
-Smoking: The nicotine in cigarette smoke which you inhale makes platelets in the arteries more sticky
meaning that there are increased chances of blood clots which will block the arteries. The Carbon
Monoxide in the blood will also bind to hemoglobin causing them to carry less oxygen in the bloodstream

meaning that the heart will need to beat faster to make up for deficit, this will increase blood
pressure in the body

-High blood pressure: High blood pressure will put strain on the artery walls which increases
it’s chances of taking significant damage, this can result in blood clots and CardioVascular
Disease. All of this is a result of decreased elasticity in the arteries.

-Diet: Diet is one of the largest contributing factors to CVD due to how much saturated fat is in
Most foods now, this is due to the increased cholesterol caused by saturated fat.

Non Lifestyle
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-Age: CVD is more likely to occur as you get older to the gradual build of plaque in the arteries
over the years that will only have a significant impact when enough has built up.

-Gender: Males are more susceptible to CVD do to their decreased levels of estrogen that
regulate the amount of good cholesterol in the bloodstream, decreasing the amount of
cholesterol in the blood

[1]https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm#:~:text=One%20person%20dies%20every%2036,United%20States%20from
%20cardiovascular%20disease.&text=About%20659%2C000%20people%20in%20the,1%20in%20every%204%20deaths.&text=Heart
%20disease%20costs%20the%20United,year%20from%202016%20to%202017.

[2]https://www.savemyexams.co.uk/gcse/biology/edexcel/18/revision-notes/5-health-disease--the-development-of-medicines/5-3-
development-of-medicines/5-3-7-cardiovascular-disease/

[3]https://www.thesciencehive.co.uk/cardiovascular-disease-alevel