Cardiovascular Disease

Original Editor - Rachael Lowe

Top Contributors - Lucinda hampton, Kim Jackson, Admin, Catriona O'Brien, Evan Thomas and Oyemi Sillo

Introduction

Cardiovascular system

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) refers to the following 4 entities

• Coronary artery disease (CAD): Sometimes referred to as Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), results from decreased myocardial perfusion that causes angina, myocardial infarction (MI), and/or heart failure. It accounts for one-third to one-half of the cases of CVD.
• Cerebrovascular disease (CVD): Including stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA)
• Peripheral artery disease (PAD): Particularly arterial disease involving the limbs that may result in claudication
• Aortic atherosclerosis: Including thoracic and abdominal aneurysms

CVD is the main cause of death globally.

• Measures aimed to prevent the progression of atherosclerosis are the hallmark for primary prevention of CVD.
• Risk factor and lifestyle modification are paramount in the prevention of CVD.
• Behavioural risk factors such as physical inactivity, tobacco use and unhealthy diet explain nearly 80% of the CVD burden .

Watch this good 2 and a 1/2 minute introductory video.

Epidemiology

Global burden of CVD Worldwide Distribution of CVD Risks

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally.

An estimated 17.9 million people died from CVDs in 2019, representing 32% of all global deaths. Of these deaths, 85% were due to heart attack and stroke.

Over three quarters of CVD deaths take place in low- and middle-income countries.

Out of the 17 million premature deaths (under the age of 70) due to noncommunicable diseases in 2019, 38% were caused by CVDs.

What Are Cardiovascular Diseases?

CVDs include a wide range of conditions, such as the following:

• Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
• Stroke
• Peripheral Arterial Disease
• Rheumatic Heart Disease
• Congenital Heart Disease
• Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
• Pulmonary Embolism

85% of CVD deaths are due to Myocardial Infarctions (heart attacks) and strokes. These are generally acute events caused by a blockage, preventing blood flow to the heart or brain. The most common cause for these blockages is due to a process called atherosclerosis.

Who Is at Risk?

Modifiable risk factors of CVD include

• Unhealthy diet
• Physical inactivity
• Smoking
• Increased consumption of alcohol

Individuals with such behaviours may present with increased blood pressure, lipids and glucose levels, as well as being overweight or obese.

Non-Modifiable risk factors include

• Family history
• Age
• Gender - men at greater risk than pre-menopausal women; post-menopausal women are at similar risk as men
• Ethnicity
• Socioeconomic status

Symptoms of CVD

Often the first warning of an underlying cardiovascular disease is a heart attack or stroke.

Symptoms of a heart attack may include:

• Pain or discomfort in the centre of the chest
• Pain or discomfort in the arms, left shoulder, elbows, jaw, or back.
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea or vomiting
• Light-headedness
• Pallor
• Cold sweat

Symptoms of a stroke may include the following:

• Unilateral weakness of the face, arms or legs
• Confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding speech
• Dizziness
• Difficulty seeing with one or both eyes
• Headache
• Fainting

How Physiotherapists Can Help

Cardiac rehab programmes have been shown to be very effective, with physiotherapists playing a key role in these programmes. They have been shown to reduce the length of hospital stay as well as the number of cardiovascular-related admissions, cardiac mortality and improved quality of life. Cardiac rehab classes include exercise, education and support.

Physical activity performed at an intensity of >40% of maximal aerobic capacity has shown the greatest benefits in reducing the development or progressing of CVD. For every one metabolic equivalent (MET) increase in aerobic fitness, there is a reduction of 8-17% in premature death. Aerobic exercise increases people’s cardiac output, maximum heart rate, endurance, and arterial blood flow. It may also enhance their blood lipid profiles. For people who already have cardiovascular disease, prescribed aerobic exercise programs by physiotherapists can reduce their risk long-term. Aerobic conditioning activities such as running, rowing and walking along with resistance strength training exercises have been shown to be inversely associated with the risk of
coronary heart disease.

Resources

• Cardiovascular Disease. World Confederation for Physical Therapy (2009).
• Cardiovascular Disease. The World Health Organisation [Accessed 18 July 2016]
• The Global Economic Burden of Non-Communicable Diseases. Harvard School of Public Health (2011).
• ACPICR Standards for Physical Activity and Exercise in the Cardiovascular Population (2015)

• Cardiovascular Disease (CVDs) The World Health Organisation (WHO)
• The BACPR Standards and Core Components for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Rehabilitation (2017)