Cardiovascular diseases: An Overview
Scientific support: Prof. Dr. Baptist Gallwitz
Cardiovascular diseases – like severe overweight (obesity) and diabetes – are among what are called non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and are the most common cause of death in Germany. Among heart diseases, coronary heart disease (CHD), myocardial infarction and heart failure are the most common causes of death. Together with high blood pressure and atrial fibrillation – a specific form of cardiac arrhythmia – 20 out of 100 deaths in Germany are attributable to these heart diseases.
The good news: Most cardiovascular diseases can be effectively prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle with
- a balanced diet,
- regular exercise,
- giving up cigarettes and alcohol,
- sufficient sleep, and
- the reduction of existing overweight and stress.
Existing cardiovascular diseases can also be positively influenced by an appropriate lifestyle.
In addition to these lifestyle factors that can be influenced, age, gender and hereditary (familial) predisposition also have an effect on the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
Below you will find information on the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and an overview of the most common cardiovascular diseases.
Contents
- How high is my risk of cardiovascular disease?
- What can I do to prevent cardiovascular diseases?
- Angina pectoris and coronary heart disease (CHD)
- Arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Heart attack (myocardial infarction)
- Heart failure (cardiac insufficiency)
- Cardiac arrhythmia
- Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)
- Stroke
1. How high is my risk of cardiovascular disease?
The personal risk of cardiovascular disease can be measured in various ways: In addition to a medical examination as part of a check-up, the DIfE – Cardiovascular Disease Risk Score is another option. The Cardiovascular Disease Risk Score is a scientifically tested and recognized questionnaire from the German Institute of Human Nutrition (DIfE), which can be completed free of charge online or in paper form.
The questionnaire can be used to determine the individual risk of having a heart attack or stroke within the next 10 years. The test is intended for adults who have not yet had a heart attack or stroke at the time of testing.
In addition to the risk assessment, the test shows the factors which already have a positive effect on the personal cardiovascular disease risk and the lifestyle changes which could further reduce the risk.
Test now how high your risk is of suffering a heart attack or stroke within the next 10 years.
2. What can I do to prevent cardiovascular diseases?
The risk of developing cardiovascular diseases is influenced by a variety of risk factors. A distinction can be made between modifiable and non-modifiable factors. Risk factors that can be modified include, for example, an unhealthy diet, little exercise, nicotine and alcohol consumption as well as stress. By changing to a healthy lifestyle, the personal risk of developing cardiovascular diseases can be actively reduced.
A healthy lifestyle also prevents other non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes, severe overweight (obesity) and lipometabolic disorders.
You can find more information on what you can do to reduce your risk of cardiovascular diseases here.
3. Angina pectoris and coronary heart disease (CHD)
In angina pectoris, arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) leads to deposits in the blood vessels of the heart. As a result, the coronary vessels are constricted and insufficiently supplied with blood.
This results in seizure-like pain in the chest. Angina pectoris is therefore also commonly known as chest tightness. It is the main symptom of coronary heart disease (CHD). In the worst case scenario, it leads to vascular occlusion and heart attack.
The risk of angina pectoris and CHD is significantly increased by smoking, obesity and diabetes. In addition to medically prescribed therapy, a change to a healthy lifestyle is important for the successful treatment of angina pectoris and CHD – and for their prevention.
You can find more information about the clinical picture, the symptoms and ways of treating and preventing angina pectoris and the underlying coronary heart disease (CHD) in our background article.
4. Arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
In arteriosclerosis, known to many as hardening of the arteries, deposits constrict the blood vessels, restricting or, in extreme cases, blocking the flow of blood. Risk factors include, for example, lack of exercise, an unhealthy diet, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stress.
Pronounced arteriosclerosis can have various serious consequences for health, such as a stroke or heart attack.
Arteriosclerosis is usually treated with medication. Sometimes blocked or narrowed vessels have to be opened or widened by surgery. A healthy lifestyle reduces the risk of the development and progression of arteriosclerosis.
You can find more information about the clinical picture, the symptoms and ways of treating and preventing arteriosclerosis in our background article.
5. High blood pressure (hypertension)
High blood pressure, medically known as hypertension, usually does not initially cause any symptoms. However, this can increase the risk of complications such as heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, circulatory disorders in the legs and damage to the eyes. It is therefore all the more important to check your blood pressure regularly and actively combat high blood pressure.
Factors such as severe overweight (obesity), smoking, increased salt consumption, lack of exercise, diabetes and increasing age increase the risk of developing high blood pressure.
You can find more information about the clinical picture, symptoms and ways of treating and preventing high blood pressure in our background article.
6. Heart attack (myocardial infarction)
Every year, around 300,000 people in Germany suffer a heart attack (myocardial infarction). A blood clot blocks one or more arteries that supply the heart muscle with blood. The blood flow to the heart is then partially blocked, which leads to damage to the affected heart tissue.
Typical complaints are
- Severe pain
- Pressure
- Feeling of tightness
- Feeling of heaviness
- Burning in the chest
The symptoms usually last longer than 5 minutes and can radiate to one or both arms, the jaw, the neck, the back or the abdomen. Other symptoms may also occur, which may differ between men and women. If these signs occur, it is always an emergency that requires urgent treatment. If a heart attack is suspected, make an emergency call (112 in Germany) immediately.
Changing to a healthy lifestyle with plenty of exercise, giving up smoking, eating a balanced diet, reducing excess weight and controlling and stabilizing blood pressure and blood sugar can significantly reduce the risk of a (further) heart attack.
You can find more information about the clinical picture, symptoms and ways of treating and preventing heart attacks in our background article.
7. Heart failure (cardiac insufficiency)
In heart failure, often referred to as cardiac insufficiency, the pumping power of the heart is no longer strong enough to supply the body and organs with sufficient blood and oxygen. In Germany, around 4 million people are affected by heart failure, and the trend is rising.
Heart failure is often the result of other heart diseases. Common symptoms are:
- Shortness of breath
- Exhaustion
- Fatigue
- Swollen ankles or lower legs
- Dry cough, especially at night
The symptoms also occur without strain or exertion.
In order to treat heart failure, it is first necessary to find and treat the underlying disease. There are also special medications for heart failure. Another important factor for treatment is a healthy lifestyle. This also has a preventive effect.
You can find more information about the clinical picture, symptoms and ways of treating and preventing heart failure in our background article.
8. Cardiac arrhythmia
Around 1.6 million people in Germany are affected by cardiac arrhythmia. The heart gets out of sync – it beats too fast, too slowly and/or irregularly. Cardiac arrhythmias are often harmless. This is particularly true if the cardiac arrhythmia is not caused by another heart disease.
However, certain cardiac arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation can be dangerous as they significantly increase the risk of a stroke. A detailed medical examination can determine whether the cardiac arrhythmia is harmless or potentially dangerous.
Cardiac arrhythmia can be triggered by many things, including alcohol, too much coffee, severe overweight (obesity), breathing disorders during sleep (sleep apnea syndrome), diabetes, high blood pressure or other heart diseases.
You can find more information about the clinical picture, symptoms and ways of treating and preventing cardiac arrhythmia in our background article.
9. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) refers to a circulatory disorder in the legs and feet caused by damaged or narrowed blood vessels. It is also known colloquially as intermittent claudication, as affected people stop every few meters as if they were strolling from one shop window to the next.
In fact, the reason is another one: The muscles are insufficiently supplied with blood. This can cause such severe pain when walking that affected people have to stop regularly. Between 3 and 10 out of every 100 people in industrialized nations are affected by PAD.
PAD is diagnosed by means of special blood pressure measurements and imaging procedures. In order to treat them successfully, it is important to counteract risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, existing overweight or nicotine consumption. Anticoagulant medication and surgical interventions are also used to improve blood circulation in the legs. A healthy lifestyle can help to prevent intermittent claudication.
You can find more information about the clinical picture, symptoms and treatment and prevention options for PAD in our background article.
10. Stroke
In a stroke, the blood supply to part of the brain is blocked. The cause is either a blocked or a burst blood vessel. People with high blood pressure, a lack of exercise, severe overweight (obesity) or other illnesses have an increased risk of stroke.
Common symptoms of a stroke are sudden weakness in one or both arms, speech disorders and signs of paralysis in the face. If a stroke is suspected, make an emergency call (112 in Germany) immediately.
Regular blood pressure checks and a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet, plenty of exercise, no smoking, no or as little alcohol and stress as possible, and sufficient sleep can prevent many strokes.
You can find more information about the clinical picture, symptoms and ways of treating and preventing a stroke in our background article.
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As of: 07.05.2024
