Overview
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a general term that refers to any condition affecting the heart and blood vessels.
CVD is one of the leading causes of disease and death in the United States and worldwide. Many cardiovascular conditions result from the combined influence of modifiable (changeable) behaviors and risk factors. Among them, nutrition has a significant and documented impact on the development of CVD. Moreover, early intervention can reduce the likelihood of progressing to more advanced CVD conditions that may culminate in a heart attack or stroke.
For information on the role of nutrients and dietary factors in various cardiovascular conditions and risk factors, see the separate disease topics:
Figure Alternative Text
Figure. Overview of cardiovascular disease: a group of conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels
The figure is a diagram that lists the risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and various cardiovascular conditions, using a combination of boxes, arrows, and color-coded categories. The figure shows a progression from risk factors to endothelial dysfunction, then to disease conditions and then clinical events, with increasing severity of the conditions toward the bottom of the diagram.
At the top left, the physiological risk factors for CVD are listed: high blood cholesterol, high blood homocysteine, high triglycerides, diabetes mellitus, and high blood pressure. The text notes that high blood pressure is both a risk factor and a disease.
At the top right, the behavioral risk factors for CVD are listed: poor diet quality, low physical activity, central adiposity, and smoking.
Below these lists is a diagram that uses color-coded boxes connected by lines. The darker shading indicates increasing severity of the disease. “Endothelial Dysfunction” is listed at the top of the diagram and branches downward into two main paths: one going directly to the diseases, heart failure and arrhythmia, and the other going to atherosclerosis. From atherosclerosis, three branches lead to coronary artery disease, peripheral arterial disease, and carotid artery disease. Under coronary artery disease is a box for coronary heart disease and then a series of severe clinical events: angina pectoris, heart attack, and sudden cardiac death.
Under carotid artery disease is a box for cerebrovascular disease and then the most severe conditions: ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke.