Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD).

Ischemic Heart Disease (Coronary Artery Disease)

🩺 Symptoms

Common symptoms of ischemic heart disease include:

Chest pain or discomfort (angina)
Shortness of breath during exertion
Unusual fatigue
Heart palpitations
Excessive sweating
Pain radiating to the left arm, jaw, or back
In some cases: no symptoms (silent form)

💊 Treatment

The treatment of ischemic heart disease aims to improve blood flow to the heart:

Medications (aspirin, beta-blockers, statins...)
Surgery: angioplasty (stent placement), coronary bypass
Lifestyle changes (diet, physical activity, smoking cessation)
Regular medical follow-up with a cardiologist

📌 Summary

Definition: Ischemic heart disease, also known as coronary artery disease, is a condition caused by the narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart. This limits oxygen supply to the heart muscle and can lead to angina or heart attack.
Affected population: Mainly adults over 50. Men are slightly more at risk than women, although women become increasingly affected after menopause.
Common causes: Smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity, chronic stress, family history of heart disease.

✅ Prevention

Here’s how to prevent coronary artery disease:

Adopt a balanced diet low in saturated fats
Engage in regular physical activity
Avoid tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption
Control high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes
Manage chronic stress

Stroke (Cerebrovascular Accident - CVA)

🩺 Symptoms

The warning signs of a stroke must be taken very seriously:

Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
Difficulty speaking or understanding others
Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes
Loss of balance, dizziness, walking difficulties
Severe and sudden headache with no apparent cause

💊 Treatment

Treatment depends on the type of stroke:

Ischemic stroke: injection of thrombolytic drugs to dissolve the clot
Hemorrhagic stroke: surgery or medication to control bleeding
Neurological rehabilitation (speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy)
Control of risk factors (hypertension, diabetes...)

📌 Summary

Definition: A Stroke (Cerebrovascular Accident - CVA) occurs when a part of the brain is suddenly deprived of blood due to a clot (ischemic stroke) or a ruptured blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke). This rapidly damages brain cells.
Affected population: Mainly people over 60 years old, but strokes can also affect younger adults, especially in the presence of risk factors. Men are slightly more affected, but women tend to have more complications.
Common causes: High blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, chronic stress, excessive alcohol consumption, physical inactivity.

✅ Prevention

Preventing a stroke involves maintaining a healthy lifestyle:

Regularly monitor blood pressure
Maintain normal cholesterol levels
Quit smoking and reduce alcohol consumption
Exercise regularly
Adopt a healthy diet low in salt and fat

Heart Failure

🩺 Symptoms

Heart failure symptoms appear gradually:

Shortness of breath with minimal effort or even at rest
Persistent fatigue, even after resting
Swelling of the legs, ankles, or abdomen
Rapid weight gain due to fluid retention
Dry cough or wheezing, especially when lying down

💊 Treatment

The treatment aims to relieve symptoms and improve heart function:

Medications: diuretics, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers
Reduction in salt and fluid intake
Regular medical follow-up and daily weight monitoring
In severe cases: pacemaker implantation or heart transplant

✅ Prevention

Preventing heart failure means protecting the heart:

Control blood pressure and diabetes
Lower cholesterol levels
Avoid tobacco, alcohol, and drugs
Engage in appropriate physical activity
Eat a balanced diet, limit salty and ultra-processed foods

📌 Summary

Definition: Heart failure is a condition in which the heart fails to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. It can be chronic or acute and may affect the left, right, or both sides of the heart.
Affected population: Mainly elderly people (over 65), but also patients with chronic heart diseases. Men are more often diagnosed at a younger age, while women may present with different forms of the disease.
Common causes: Myocardial infarction, high blood pressure, valvular heart diseases, diabetes, alcoholism, arrhythmias, congenital or inflammatory heart conditions.

Hypertensive Heart Disease

🩺 Symptoms

Hypertensive heart disease is often silent at first. When symptoms appear, they may include:

Persistent headaches
Shortness of breath during exertion or at rest
Palpitations or irregular heartbeat
Swelling of the legs or ankles (edema)
Unexplained fatigue or general weakness
Chest pain or a feeling of tightness

💊 Treatment

Treatment focuses on blood pressure control and heart protection:

Antihypertensive medications (ACE inhibitors, ARBs, beta-blockers, diuretics, etc.)
Strict and regular medical follow-up
Low-salt diet, rich in vegetables and fruits
Weight reduction in case of overweight
Physical activity adapted to the patient

✅ Prevention

Preventing hypertensive heart disease relies on controlling high blood pressure:

Regularly monitor your blood pressure
Limit intake of salt, alcohol, and saturated fats
Avoid tobacco use
Engage in regular physical activity (30 min/day)
Reduce stress and promote good sleep

📌 Summary

Definition: Hypertensive heart disease refers to all heart disorders caused by persistent high blood pressure. It includes left ventricular hypertrophy, heart failure, arrhythmias, and coronary artery disease.
Affected population: Adults over 40 years old, especially those who do not control their blood pressure. Men are generally more affected, but women can also be affected, especially after menopause.
Common causes: Untreated or poorly controlled chronic hypertension, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, excessive salt intake, alcoholism, smoking, chronic stress, family history.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest

🩺 Symptoms

Sudden cardiac arrest occurs abruptly and unpredictably. Immediate signs include:

Sudden loss of consciousness
Absence of pulse
Stopped breathing
Sudden collapse with no response
Pale or sometimes bluish skin
Fixed gaze, no movement

💊 Treatment

Emergency treatment is vital. Every second counts:

Immediately call emergency services (EMS, firefighters)
Start cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
Use an automated external defibrillator (AED) if available
Administer adrenaline and provide intensive hospital care
Investigate and treat the underlying cause after stabilization (heart attack, electrical disorders of the heart, etc.)

✅ Prevention

Prevention is based on managing cardiovascular diseases and education:

Screening and treatment of heart rhythm disorders
Control of risk factors: high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes
Avoiding tobacco and excessive alcohol
Engaging in regular physical activity
Training citizens in life-saving actions (CPR, AED)
Cardiology follow-up for at-risk patients

📌 Summary

Definition: Sudden cardiac arrest is a sudden and unexpected loss of heart function, breathing, and consciousness. It results from an electrical malfunction in the heart that causes an irregular or absent heartbeat, stopping blood flow to the body and brain.
Affected population: Mainly adults over 50 years old, especially men. However, it can also occur in young adults or athletes with undiagnosed heart conditions.
Common causes: Coronary artery disease, heart attack, severe arrhythmias (such as ventricular fibrillation), cardiomyopathies, drug use, electrocution, intense physical exertion without medical supervision.

Peripheral Vascular Diseases

🩺 Symptoms

Peripheral vascular diseases affect blood circulation in the limbs, especially the legs. Common symptoms include:

Pain or cramps in the legs while walking (claudication)
Numbness, weakness, or a cold sensation in the legs or feet
Paleness or bluish discoloration of the extremities
Loss of hair on the legs, brittle nails
Delayed healing of wounds on the legs

💊 Treatment

The treatment aims to improve blood circulation and prevent complications:

Lifestyle changes (quitting smoking, physical activity)
Blood-thinning medications (anticoagulants, antiplatelets)
Medications to lower cholesterol and blood pressure
Medical procedures: angioplasty, stent placement, vascular surgery
Specific wound care if ulcers are present

✅ Prevention

Prevention is essential to reduce the risk of complications:

Quitting smoking
Strict control of diabetes, hypertension, and cholesterol
Regular physical activity (walking, cycling…)
Balanced diet, low in saturated fats
Regular medical check-ups for at-risk individuals

📌 Summary

Definition: Peripheral vascular diseases (PVD) refer to all conditions affecting blood vessels outside the heart and brain, especially the arteries in the legs. They lead to poor blood circulation, often caused by atherosclerosis (buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries).
Affected population: Adults over 60, especially men, smokers, and individuals with diabetes, hypertension, or high cholesterol.
Common causes: Smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and family history of cardiovascular disease.