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Cardiovascular disease: Understanding the leading killer Diseases of the blood vesselsHigh blood pressure. High blood pressure (hypertension) is perhaps the most common form of cardiovascular disease. It's also one of the most preventable and treatable types of cardiovascular disease. But it's more than just a type of cardiovascular disease. High blood pressure is also a cause of cardiovascular disease and a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Blood pressure is determined by how much blood your heart pumps out and how narrow your arteries are. The more your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries — say they're clogged from atherosclerosis — the higher your blood pressure, and the harder your heart has to work to pump the same amount of blood. High blood pressure has far-reaching and serious health consequences. For one thing, it accelerates the development of atherosclerosis, which, in turn, makes high blood pressure worse and further increases the risk of other cardiovascular complications. High blood pressure can also lead to stroke. That happens when a bit of cholesterol or other clump of arterial plaque breaks off and blocks blood flow to the brain. It may also happen when a tiny blood vessel in the brain ruptures because of damage sustained by high blood pressure. Stroke is sometimes considered a type of cardiovascular disease. But technically, it's actually a result of cardiovascular disease. In addition, high blood pressure can wreak havoc on the heart itself. It can cause coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure and heart attack. And the damage doesn't stop there: High blood pressure can also damage other vital organs, such as your kidneys and eyes. Aneurysms. An aneurysm is a bulge or weakness in the wall of an artery or vein. Aneurysms usually enlarge over time, and have the potential to rupture and cause life-threatening bleeding. Aneurysms can occur in arteries in any location in your body, but common sites include the abdominal aorta and the arteries at the base of the brain. The vast majority of aneurysms occur when an artery wall becomes weak or damaged by atherosclerosis. And that means in many cases, aneurysms are another type of cardiovascular disease that's preventable. The usual suspects in blood vessel damage are often to blame here, too — smoking, high blood pressure, and unhealthy lifestyle habits that contribute to atherosclerosis. Brain aneurysms are a different matter and often result from a congenital weakness in the arteries at the base of the brain. Claudication. Strictly speaking, this is a symptom of the condition occlusive arterial disease, but it's often referred to as a disease itself. Symptoms develop when the arteries to the legs or arms become partially obstructed, compromising blood flow — similar to how coronary artery disease can cause angina. When the obstruction is mild, you may have such symptoms as extremity pain during strenuous exercise. As the disease progresses and arteries become more obstructed, you may notice symptoms with minimal or no activity at all and develop ulcers of the skin and soft tissue that don't heal. As with aneurysms, claudication is most often caused by preventable atherosclerosis. Claudication isn't just a type of cardiovascular disease. It's also a symptom of other cardiovascular disease — the pain of claudication can be a symptom that you have atherosclerosis. Vasculitis. This is inflammation of the blood vessels. It usually involves the arteries but may also affect small veins and capillaries. The inflammation may damage the wall of the artery or vein and impair blood flow to the region of the body supplied by that vessel. Sometimes vasculitis occurs in the presence of a generalized disorder, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, but it sometimes occurs without an associated disease. Venous incompetence. This is a condition in which blood actually flows the wrong way in veins. Veins have tiny valves that are designed to promote blood flow in a forward direction, back to the heart. But if you have such conditions as infection, inflammation, abnormal blood clotting, or even high-back pressure in pregnancy, the valves may become damaged and incompetent. That allows blood to flow backward and pool in the extremities when sitting or standing, causing a variety of complications, such as prominent and painful varicose veins, skin changes and ulcers. Venous thrombosis. This is the abnormal formation of a blood clot (thrombus) in a vein. This condition may damage the vein and its valves. In addition, clots that break off and travel in the bloodstream can lodge in the lungs, a condition known as pulmonary embolism. In some cases, this type of clot can also cause a stroke. Varicose veins. This is a condition in which veins become gnarled, twisted and enlarged. They're usually located on the backs of the calves or on the inside of the legs, from the groin to the ankle. When valves in your veins don't function properly, blood can accumulate in your lower extremities, causing the veins to bulge and twist. The veins appear blue because they contain less oxygen.
Prevention powerCardiovascular disease is not a linear disease. People don't usually have only one of these conditions that make up cardiovascular disease. Most of the time there's a complex interplay of the conditions, and a primary disorder may cause a secondary disorder, which can lead to other disorders and make all of them worse, including the primary disorder. Furthermore, one cardiovascular disease can be a manifestation of another. Case in point: aneurysm. It can be a sign that you have atherosclerosis. All of this underscores the complexity that is cardiovascular disease. But in the end, the most common forms of cardiovascular disease are high blood pressure and coronary artery disease, both of which are highly preventable. Some preventive measures you can take:
You have the power to greatly reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, whether it's heart disease, coronary artery disease or coronary heart disease — or any of their numerous incarnations.
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Don't smoke or use other tobacco products 
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