How can you prevent cardiovascular disease?

 A disease that is not transmitted by another person, vector, or the environment  Habits and behaviors can increase or decrease risk

 Cardiovascular system Transports blood to all parts of body  Blood carries oxygen and nutrients- without receiving these cells in your body would die

 Cardiovascular disease- Disease that affects the heart or blood vessels  Can interfere with pumping of heart or movement of blood through the vessels  Silent killer no symptoms in early stages

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 CVD- responsible for 40% of all deaths in the US  You can reduce your risk by  Avoiding tobacco  Physical activity  Maintaining healthy weight  Avoiding high fat foods

 Blood pressure The force of blood created by the heart’s contractions and the resistance of the vessel walls  Hypertension  high blood pressure (BP)  BP is continually above the normal range for a particular person  Heart, blood vessels, and other organs can be damaged if HTN continues

 Have BP check regularly  Treated with medication, weight management, physical activity, and proper nutrition

 Healthy lining of blood vessel= smooth and elastic  Fatty substance in blood can build up on artery walls causing them to thicken and lose elasticity  Def: The process in which plaques accumulate on artery walls  Due to eating foods with high saturated fat and cholesterol  Smoke and HTN contribute

 A blood clot can form and grow in an area of plaque an may cause heart attack or stroke

Angina Pectoris  Chest Pain that results when the heart does not get enough oxygen  Sign that heart is temporarily not getting enough oxygen Arrhythmias  Irregular heart beats  Most are common

(Arrhythmias cont.)  Some types can be serious  Ventricular fibrillation- electrical impulses become rapid  Commonly followed by sudden cardiac arrest, heart stops beating, death can follow in minutes

Heart Attack  Damage to the heat muscle caused by blocked blood supply  Most are sudden with intense chest pain  Start slow with mild pain or discomfort which is mistaken for indigestion.  Ventricular fibrillation can follow  Immediate response to warning signs can save a life

Congestive Heart Failure  The heart gradually becomes weaker to the point that it cannot maintain its regular pumping rate and force  Can be a result of high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, a heart valve defect, illegal drug use, or other factors  Can be managed with medications, good nutrition, and physical activity

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Stroke  Occurs when blockage prevents blood flow to the brain  Effects different parts of the body depending on the part of the brain that is deprived of oxygen  Also occurs from a cerebral hemorrhage- blood vessel in the brain bursts causing blood to spread into surrounding brain tissue

EKG  Graph of electrical activity of heart MRI  Magnetic resonance imaging  Produces images of internal body organs  Can identify heart damage

Coronary Bypass  A healthy vain is removed from leg or chest to create a detour around a blocked artery Angioplasty  A tube with a balloon is inserted into a blocked artery  Balloon is inflated, deflated, then removed  Structure may remain to keep artery open

Medications  Variety of medicines are available  Diuretics- lowers fluid balance  Cholesterol lowering drugs  Drugs to slow clotting

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Pacemaker  Used to treat irregular heart beat  Sends steady electrical impulse to trigger regular heart beat

Why Teens Are at Risk  CVD can start developing during childhood  The health behaviors you are practicing now are affecting your cardiovascular system

Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Diseases  The more risk factors you have the greater your chance  Tobacco use- includes second hand smoke  High blood pressure  High cholesterol  Physical inactivity  Excess weight  Stress  Drug and Alcohol Use

Risk factors You Can’t Control  Heredity  Gender- men have a greater risk  Age- risk increases with age  Knowing risk factors can help you make healthy decisions to protect yourself