Cardiovascular Disease: Causes, Symptoms, and Prevention

Author: Disabled World (DW)
Updated/Revised Date: 2 Nov 2026

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - About This Section - FAQs - Publications - Subtopics

Synopsis

Learn what cardiovascular disease is, along with its common types, risk factors, warning signs of heart attack and stroke, and steps that support prevention.

At a Glance

• 1 - About 1 in 5 heart attacks is silent, so the person does not know it happened.
• 2 - Autopsy studies found early artery plaque in many young soldiers killed in the Korean and Vietnam wars.
• 3 - Women having a heart attack are more likely than men to experience shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, and back or jaw pain rather than classic chest pain.
• 4 - Nearly half of American adults have some form of cardiovascular disease when high blood pressure is included, and many do not know it because they have no symptoms yet.

Topic Definition

Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease, often shortened to CVD, is a broad class of conditions that affect the heart or the blood vessels that carry blood throughout the body. It covers a wide range of problems, including ischemic heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, heart failure, arrhythmias, aortic aneurysms, and peripheral artery disease, among others. Many of these conditions share a common underlying cause in atherosclerosis, a gradual build-up of plaque that narrows and hardens the arteries over years or even decades. Because it is the leading cause of death and disability in the United States and much of Europe, and because it can develop silently without early warning signs, doctors place strong emphasis on managing risk factors such as diet, physical activity, blood pressure, cholesterol, and smoking.

Overview

What are Cardiovascular Diseases?

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels. Common CVDs include: ischemic heart disease (IHD), stroke, hypertensive heart disease, rheumatic heart disease (RHD), aortic aneurysms, cardiomyopathy, atrial fibrillation, congenital heart disease, endocarditis, and peripheral artery disease (PAD), among others. Cardiovascular disease is currently the number one cause of death and disability in the United States and most European countries.

A definition of cardiovascular disease doesn't include an age. In fact, early signs of cardiovascular disease have been noted during surgeries performed on young soldiers wounded in battle. Autopsy studies of young American soldiers killed in the Korean and Vietnam wars found early plaque build-up in the coronary arteries of many of them (77% in a 1953 study of Korean War casualties and 45% in a 1971 study of Vietnam War casualties). That's pretty striking when one considers that most of these soldiers were in their teens and early twenties. So, we need to take a good look at exactly what cardiovascular disease is, what causes it, and how we can prevent it.

The term 'cardiovascular disease' is used to cover a group of problems related to the heart or the body's overall circulatory system. These issues include heart attacks, strokes, arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, ischemia, hypertension, angina, and other dysfunctions.

Cardiovascular disease is the number one health concern in Western society. Cardiovascular disease caused 919,032 deaths in the United States in 2023, about 1 in every 3 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly half of American adults have some form of cardiovascular disease when high blood pressure is included, although many will not know it because they have no symptoms yet. In fact, about 1 in 5 heart attacks is silent, meaning the person is not aware of it.

Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease

• You have diabetes.
• Your diet is high in saturated fats.
• You consume more than two alcoholic drinks per day.
• You have high blood pressure or need medication to control your blood pressure.
• You have high cholesterol levels or need medication to control your cholesterol level.
• You exercise less than 30 minutes per day - Inactivity puts a person at higher risk of developing heart disease.
• You are overweight - Persons that have an excess of body fat are at a higher risk than persons of normal weight.
• You are over 40 or a post-menopausal woman - Risk of heart disease increases over the age of 45 in males, over 55 in females.
• Family History - Children of parents that developed heart disease before the age of 55 have a higher risk of developing heart disease.
• You smoke - Cigarette smokers are at greater risk than pipe and cigar smokers, but all forms of tobacco are proven to be detrimental to the hearts' health.

If you answered yes to one or more of the above, you should talk to your doctor about how you can reduce your risk through lifestyle modifications. Your doctor will determine if preventive medicines, such as those for blood pressure or cholesterol, are right for you. Do not start taking daily aspirin to prevent heart disease without asking your doctor: since 2022, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has advised against starting it for this purpose in adults aged 60 or older, because the bleeding risk can outweigh the benefit. Following cigarette smoking, the major factor that contributes to heart disease is one's diet. There are several dietary changes that can help prevent the onset of heart disease:

• Start by eating less red meat and dairy products.
• For protein, you can eat fish, skinless chicken and turkey.
• Avoid tobacco, and limit alcohol, added sugar, fried and fatty foods, sugary soft drinks, and highly processed foods such as white bread.
• Make sure that you get enough essential fatty acids, particularly omega 3. Eating fish provides the availability of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, a low fat-to-protein ratio, and a high mineral content, particularly in ocean fish. The beneficial fats may help prevent cardiovascular disease.
• A high fiber content in your diet is helpful. Eating many raw foods such as salads, fruits, and vegetables supplies an adequate level of fiber.
• Low sodium diets are beneficial in preventing heart disease. Eliminate foods that are high in salt content. Most salt in the diet comes from processed and restaurant foods, so check labels and choose low-sodium canned vegetables, soups and ready meals.
• Some people take nutritional supplements, such as omega-3 fatty acids or coenzyme Q10, for heart health, but large studies have not shown that most supplements, including vitamin E and vitamin C, prevent heart disease. Supplements can also interact with heart medicines, so talk with your doctor before taking them.
• Perhaps the biggest risk factor of all in heart disease is lifestyle. That means that heart attacks and heart disease are very preventable. It just takes a little work, like everything worthwhile in life does. The key lifestyle changes that will help keep your heart healthy are things that we all know to do. It's interesting to see that a lot of these risk factors work off each other. For example, losing weight will usually lower your cholesterol and blood pressure.

The best changes to make for preventing heart disease are:

• Quit smoking.
• Lose weight.
• Lower your cholesterol.
• Lower your blood pressure.
• Reduce stress.
• Exercise regularly.

Symptoms of a Heart Attack Can Include:

• Pain or discomfort in the center of the chest.
• Pain or discomfort in the arms, the left shoulder, elbows, jaw, or back.
• Women are more likely to have shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, and back or jaw pain.
• The person may experience difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath; feeling sick or vomiting; feeling light-headed or faint; breaking into a cold sweat; and becoming pale.

Symptoms of a Stroke

The brain requires unobstructed blood flow to nourish its many functions. Very high, sustained blood pressure will eventually cause blood vessels to weaken. Over time, these weaken vessels can break, and blood will leak into the brain. The area of the brain that is being fed by these broken vessels start to die, and this will cause a stroke. Additionally, if a blot clot blocks a narrowed artery, blood ceases to flow and a stroke will occur.

Symptoms of a stroke include sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body, confusion, trouble speaking, or seeing, sudden severe headache. Often, there are no symptoms of the underlying disease of the blood vessels. A heart attack or stroke may be the first warning of underlying disease. Common symptoms of a stroke can include:

• Sudden weakness of the face, arm, or leg, most typically on one side of the body.

Other symptoms include sudden onset of:

• Fainting or unconsciousness
• Difficulty seeing with one or both eyes
• Severe headache with no known cause
• Confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding speech
• Difficulty walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• Numbness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body

Symptoms of rheumatic heart disease include:

• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Irregular heart beat
• Chest pain and fainting

Symptoms of rheumatic fever include:

• Fever
• Nausea
• Pain and swelling of the joints
• Stomach cramps and vomiting

If you or someone with you has one or more of these signs, don't delay, call 911.

Common Heart Disease Terms

• Angina: A form of heart disease where the blood flow to the heart is restricted by a blockage in one or more of the arteries that carry blood into the heart. Usually, the first sign of Angina is a pain in the chest, not unlike a squeezing or pressing sensation, or a sense of suffocating contraction or tightening of the lower part of the chest.
• Arrhythmia: An irregularity in the force or rhythm of the heartbeat.
• Atherosclerosis: A form of arteriosclerosis characterized by the deposition of plaques containing cholesterol and lipids on the innermost layer of the walls of large and medium-sized arteries.
• Arteriosclerosis: A chronic disease in which thickening, hardening, and loss of elasticity of the arterial walls result in impaired blood circulation. It develops with aging, and in hypertension, diabetes, and other conditions.
• Atrium: Either of the upper chambers of the heart that receives blood from the veins and forces it into a ventricle.
• Cardiomyopathy: A disease or disorder of the heart muscle, especially of unknown or obscure cause.
• Congestive Heart Failure: A condition marked by weakness, edema, and shortness of breath that is caused by the inability of the heart to maintain adequate blood circulation to the peripheral tissues and the lungs.
• Coronary: The blood vessels surrounding the heart, or an obstruction of blood flow in a coronary artery by a blood clot.
• Fibrillation: Rapid, uncoordinated twitching movements that replace the normal rhythmic contraction of the heart and may cause a lack of circulation and pulse.
• Hypertension: Arterial disease in which chronic high blood pressure is the primary symptom.
• Ischemia: A decrease in the blood supply to a bodily organ, tissue, or part caused by constriction or obstruction of the blood vessels.
• Mitral Valve Prolapse: A condition resulting from the mitral valve not regulating the flow of blood between the left atrium and left ventricle of the heart.
• Myocardial Infarction: Destruction of heart tissue resulting from obstruction of the blood supply to the heart muscle.
• Palpitations: Irregular, rapid beating or pulsation of the heart.
• Peripheral Vascular Disease: A condition involving circulatory problems in the extremities.
• Stroke: A sudden loss of brain function caused by a blockage or rupture of a blood vessel to the brain.
• Tachycardia: A rapid heart rate, especially one above 100 beats per minute, in an adult.
• Ventricle - a.) The chamber on the left side of the heart that receives arterial blood from the left atrium and contracts to force it into the aorta. b.) The chamber on the right side of the heart that receives venous blood from the right atrium and forces it into the pulmonary artery.

By the time that heart problems are detected, the underlying cause (atherosclerosis) is usually quite advanced, having progressed for decades. There is therefore increased emphasis on preventing atherosclerosis by modifying risk factors, such as healthy eating, exercise and avoidance of smoking.

Frequently Asked Questions

At what age can cardiovascular disease begin to develop?

Cardiovascular disease can begin very early in life, and arterial plaque build-up has been observed even in people in their teens and early twenties, so it is not limited to older adults.

Can you have cardiovascular disease without any symptoms?

Yes, many people have cardiovascular disease without knowing it because symptoms may not appear until the condition is advanced, and a heart attack or stroke can be the first warning sign.

What lifestyle changes help lower the risk of heart disease?

Quitting smoking, losing excess weight, lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, reducing stress, and exercising regularly are key changes that help protect heart health.

How does diet affect cardiovascular disease?

After smoking, diet is a major contributor to heart disease, and eating less red meat and salt while choosing fish, lean poultry, fiber, and omega 3 fatty acids can help lower the risk.

What is the difference between a heart attack and a stroke?

A heart attack involves blocked blood flow to the heart muscle, while a stroke involves blocked or ruptured blood flow to the brain, though both can stem from the same underlying vascular disease.

What should you do if you notice signs of a heart attack or stroke?

If you or someone with you shows one or more warning signs, you should not delay and should call 911 right away, because fast treatment can save life and function.

Is cardiovascular disease preventable?

In many cases it is largely preventable, since lifestyle is one of the biggest risk factors and changes such as healthy eating, exercise, and avoiding tobacco can significantly reduce risk.

What is atrial fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation is an irregular and often fast heartbeat caused by chaotic signals in the upper chambers of the heart. It raises the risk of stroke about fivefold, so many people need blood thinners.

Curated and edited by Ian C. Langtree, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Disabled World. This section is maintained by the Disabled World editorial team. Last updated: 2 Nov 2026