The document summarizes information about the heart, vascular system, cardiovascular risk factors, forms of cardiovascular disease, and prevention and treatment of hypertension. It describes that the heart has four chambers and is located in the thorax between the lungs. The vascular system includes arteries that carry blood away from the heart and veins that return blood to the heart. Risk factors for cardiovascular disease include age, gender, heredity, smoking, physical inactivity, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. Forms of cardiovascular disease include coronary artery disease, hypertension, stroke, and congestive heart failure. Prevention and treatment of hypertension includes weight reduction, physical activity, moderating alcohol, sodium restriction, and stress reduction.
Chapter 10: Reducing Your Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Heart Disease continues to be the number 1 killer in the United States, even though mortality rates have declined in recent years due to better medical treatment for Cardiovascular Disease. The term cardiovascular refers to the heart (cardio) and the vessels that carry blood (vascular). Cardiovascular disease starts as early as two years of age and progresses into a life threatening disease, even into early adulthood. These factors will be discussed in this presentation as well as reducing our chances from suffering from this preventive condition.
