After contracting rheumatic fever as a child and then rheumatic heart. I have been battling with cardiovascular disease.I had my first heart attack at the age of 38. I created this site to share what I have been through and information I have learned along the way. Read about my battle with heart disease. Definition of Cardiovascular disease Cardiovascular disease: Disease affecting the heart or blood vessels. Cardiovascular diseases include arteriosclerosis, coronary artery disease, heart valve disease, arrhythmia, heart failure, hypertension, orthostatic hypotension, shock, endocarditis, diseases of the aorta and its branches, disorders of the peripheral vascular system, and congenital heart disease. cardiovascular disease also called Coronary artery disease, coronary heart disease,ischemic heart disease or simply, heart disease, is the No. 1 killer in America, affecting more than 13 million Americans. What Is Coronary Artery Disease? Coronary artery disease is atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries. Atherosclerosis occurs when the arteries become clogged and narrowed, restricting blood flow to the heart. Without adequate blood, the heart becomes starved of oxygen and vital nutrients it needs to work properly. When you think of heart disease, you probably get a mental image of the traditional hollywood view of a man clutching his chest and falling to the floor. Right? Wrong. My Story by Vicki. call 911 when heart attack symptoms hit. Every minute counts in the event of a heart attack, because most are caused by blocked arteries that keep blood from reaching the heart. Patients face the highest chance of death in the first hour after that happens, because their hearts become unstable and often stop altogether, If you're driving yourself or a family member is driving you, you have no chance of recovering from that. If you're in a medic unit, you have a 95 percent chance "Dial Don't Drive" Another form of cardiovascular disease is Congenital heart disease. Congenital heart defects are abnormalities in the heart's structure that are present at birth. Congenital abnormalities of the heart and circulatory system affect more infants born than any other type of birth defect. Congenital heart defects These defects can involve the interior walls of the heart, valves inside the heart, or the arteries and veins that carry blood to the heart or out to the body. Congenital heart defects change the normal flow of blood through the heart. There are many different types of congenital heart defects. They range from simple defects with no symptoms to complex defects with severe, life-threatening symptoms. CHD's are the #1 cause of DEATH from a birth defect, killing twice as many children as cancer every year. Congenital Heart Defects are not always found during pregnancy or at birth, many are not found till childhood, adolescence, adulthood, or after death when it is to late. Many Dr's believe that CHD's are genetic, although most people know nothing of Heart Defects till they have a child born with one. New studies are showing that Painkillers and Antidepressants taking before and during pregnancy can raise the risk of having a CHD child. CHD's can not be cured, the heart must be monitored throughout life. Most will need multiple open heart surgeries, some may even need a heart transplant. Babies born with CHD's may need their first open heart surgery at just a few hours or days old. Most defects today are treated with surgery, catheter procedures, and sometimes medication. Thanks to advances in techniques, surgical and heart catheterization procedures can treat congenital heart defects that once could not be treated effectively. Post a Prayer page message in the name of a loved one for the world to see and pray for them. Prayer page More information about Congenital heart defects Excessive Noise Exposure Can Cause Heart Disease A study by the World Health Organisation (WHO) has found that long term exposure to excessive noise is responsible for thousands of premature deaths due to cardiovascular disease Chronic noise was linked to a "mildly to moderately" increased heart attack risk, write the researchers. Research published in recent years has shown that noise can increase the levels of stress hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenalin in the body, even during sleep. The longer these hormones stay in circulation around the bloodstream, the more likely they are to cause life-threatening physiological problems. High stress levels can lead to heart failure, strokes, high blood pressure and immune problems. United Kingdom Heart Disease Statistics. Australia Heart Disease Statistics.

cardiovascular disease acronyms

• ACLS---advanced cardiac life support
  
• A-fib---atrial fibrillation
  
• ASCAD--- arteriosclerotic coronary artery disease, atherosclerotic coronary artery disease
  
• ASCVD--- arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
  
• ASHD--- arteriosclerotic heart disease, atherosclerotic heart disease
  
• AV--- atrioventricular, arteriovenous
  
• CABG--- coronary artery bypass graft/grafting
  
• ECG--- electrocardiogram, electrocardiography
  
• EF--- ejection fraction
  
• EKG--- electrocardiogram, electrocardiography
  
• fem-fem---femoral-femoral
  
• fem-pop---femoral-popliteal
  
• IVC--- inferior vena cava
  
• LAD--- left anterior descending (artery)
  
• LAO--- left anterior oblique
  
• LCA--- left coronary artery, left circumflex artery
  
• LIMA--- left internal mammary artery
  
• LV--- left ventricle/ventricular
  
• MI---myocardial infarction
  
• OMB---obtuse marginal branch
  
• PAC--- premature atrial contraction, premature auricular contraction
  
• PDA--- patent ductus arteriosus, posterior descending artery
  
• PE---pulmonary embolism/embolus
  
• PTCA--- percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty
  
• PVC---premature ventricular contraction
  
• PVD--- peripheral vascular disease
  
• RAD--- right anterior descending (artery)
  
• RAO---right anterior oblique
  
• RCA--- right coronary artery, right circumflex artery
  
• SMA--- superior mesenteric artery
  
• SVC--- superior vena cava
  
• V-tach ---ventricular tachycardia
  
• ACHD...adult congenital heart disease
  
• ASD...atrial septal defect
  
• AV...atrioventricular
  
• BP...blood pressure
  
• CHD...congenital heart disease
  
• CHF...congestive heart failure
  
• EP...electrophysiology
  
• HTN...hypertension
  
• KOH...King of Hearts
  
• MVP...mitral valve prolapse
  
• PAC...premature atrial contractions
  
• PAD...peripheral artery disease
  
• PFT...pulmonary function tests
  
• PSVT...paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia
  
• SA...sinoatrial
  
• SVT...supraventricular tachycardia
  
• VSD...ventricular septal defect
  
• VT...ventricular tachycardia
  

Read about peoples fight with heart Disease and defects and leave them a comment to show you care. Stories Share information about what you have experienced. Procedures, test or anything you want share regarding cardiovascular disease. taking Asprin angioplasit and stents Recovering from a heart attack Angina Sleep apnea children and heart disease The Truth about Gum disease and heart disease Traveling with heart disease Stress It is through awareness that advancements in treatment of cardiovascular disease are made. Learn about EECP called the natural bypass. test and procedures quit smoking Losing Weight When it comes to eating right and exercising, there is no "I'll start tomorrow." Tomorrow is disease. ~V.L. Allineare Heart-healthy diet: This is the diet recommended by the American Heart Association. Begin the day with whole-grain bread or cereal and fruit. For lunch and dinner, make whole grains and vegetables the main course. Add leafy salads, pasta salads, chickpeas, beans, and soy products, all of which help reduce LDL cholesterol. Eat a fruit plate or low-fat yogurt for dessert. Cut sweets and sugars to a minimum. Cook foods in olive oil or canola oil, which are high in monounsaturated fats. These fats decrease LDL and total cholesterol levels. Eat nuts that are rich in monounsaturated fats, such as hazelnuts, almonds, pecans, cashews, walnuts, and macadamia nuts. These nuts are healthful but high in fats. They should be eaten in small amounts. Cooking foods with garlic, which may have a slight cholesterol-lowering effect. Alcohol may be taken in moderation. No more than 2 drinks per day for men and 1 drink per day for women is recommended to raise the good cholesterol (HDL). However, some people should not use alcohol. People who have liver or kidney problems, certain other medical problems, problems with alcohol abuse, or who are taking certain medications should not use alcohol. If you do not use alcohol, most medical professionals would recommend that you not start just for the benefits to your heart. If you have any questions about alcohol's positive and negative effects on your health, ask your health care provider. Read how a Vegetarian diet reverses heart disease You should carry an up-to-date and accurate list of medications you are taking. It only takes a few moments to collect and may help health care workers treat you or a loved one in the event of an emergency. Open this document and print out to create your list