Cardiovascular disease relates to the disorders of the heart, which propel blood to the tissues and the blood vessels, where the blood moves through. Some of the cardiovascular diseases include stroke and heart disease, which are among the leading causes of fatalities in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control & prevention (CDC) maintains that about one third of the U.S citizens cope with the cardiovascular disease effects particularly stroke or heart disease. The expenses related to managing the disease are high leave alone the fatalities that are related to cardiovascular diseases, which amounts to around 30% globally. My grandfather for instance is suffering from hypertension or high blood pressure. Blood pressure when it is high, it destroys the blood vessels causing them to bleed and clotting of blood occurs within them. The injured sections of the vessels may have an upsurge of plaque through a procedure referred to as atherosclerosis. Risk factors predispose an individual to contact a cardiovascular disease. Some of the risk factors can be managed while others cannot. For instance, age, genetic factor and gender cannot be controlled while others such as hypertension and blood lipids can be managed through lifestyle changes.
Hypertension amounts to the force applied on arteries when the heart is either contracting or relaxing, processes referred to as systole and diastole respectively. Arteries are lined by a layer called endothelium, which prevent clotting and facilitate blood flow. When they are injured, bleeding results and clots occur. The injured sites have plaque buildup and there results to excess blood pressure, further damaging the blood vessels. This may result to the heart using excess force to pump blood to the tissues thus a need for more oxygen. Failure to provide the oxygen may result to angina and for extended periods, the heart may enlarge thus failing to pump blood optimally, which is followed by fluid accumulation in the tissues and may result to congestive heart failure.
Additionally, blood lipids may lead to cardiovascular disease due to excess consumption of fats, which is converted to triglycerides and transmitted in the bloodstream by very low density lipoprotein (VLDL). Thus, more consumption of fats means more VLDL carriers to adipose tissue where they are stored and VLDL changes to Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL). LDL has more cholesterol, which is taken to cells if required. On oxidation LDL increases and may cause a deposition along arterial walls, thus facilitating atherosclerosis. Therefore, LDL is referred to as bad cholesterol since it facilities buildup of plaque. Besides, my grandfather is seventy years and as age increases, the more the likelihood of acquiring cardiovascular disease. Additionally, males have a higher probability of developing the condition than females.
To manage the risks, my grandfather had to make lifestyle changes, which include regular physical exercises especially through swimming and jogging. This has proved essential in reducing blood pressure as well as elevating the HDL levels. Additionally, he has been able to reduce stress and scenarios which would trigger stress. Stress is harmful to patients of cardiovascular disease due to hormonal responses, which elevates heart rate and arterial constrictions resulting to hypertension. Besides, proper medications are crucial to control probability of an acute coronary episode for instance, heart attack. The medication is essential in reducing blood pressure as well as LDL intensity in blood. These medications include diuretics such as Thiazides, potassium-sparing and loop-acting while cholesterol lowering medications include statins, resins, niacin, fibrates among others. The lifestyle changes and medication have improved my grandfather’s health such that he is now leading a normal life.