What does cardiovascular diseases mean?

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs)

are a group of conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels, including:

* Ischaemic heart disease (IHD) is the most common type of CVD. It occurs when the blood supply to the heart is blocked or reduced, usually by a build-up of fatty material in the arteries (atherosclerosis).

* Stroke is a sudden loss of brain function caused by a disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be caused by a blood clot blocking an artery in the brain (ischaemic stroke), or by a blood vessel bursting and haemorrhaging into the brain (haemorrhagic stroke).

* Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) occurs when the arteries in the legs or arms become narrowed or blocked, restricting blood flow to these areas.

* Aortic disease is a group of conditions affecting the aorta, the largest artery in the body. This can include aneurysms (bulges in the aorta) and dissections (tears in the aorta).

* Heart failure is a condition in which the heart is unable to pump blood around the body effectively. This can be caused by a variety of factors, including damage to the heart muscle, problems with the heart valves, or an irregular heart rhythm.

* Congenital heart disease refers to heart conditions that are present from birth. These can range from minor defects to life-threatening conditions.

CVDs are the leading cause of death worldwide. In the UK, around 1 in 6 deaths are caused by CVD.