What are Cardiovascular Diseases?

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are conditions that specifically affect the heart and blood vessels. They’re the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for more than 18 million lives each year. CVDs can target one part or multiple parts of the cardiovascular system and are often classified as either:

Symptomatic - physically feeling the symptoms (heart failure)

Asymptomatic - light symptoms until deadly (heart attack)

The Most Common Types of Cardiovascular Diseases:

1. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): 

• The most common type of CVDs, about 1 in 20 adults ( ≥ 20 years) are affected

• It occurs when the coronary arteries (supplies blood to the heart muscle) in the heart are either narrowed or clogged by plaque buildup from fatty substances, cholesterol, etc. 

  The plaque buildup in the coronary artery leads to:

• Sudden heart attacks, 

• Arrhythmia (irregular heart rhythms)

• Heart failure

• Symptoms: angina (chest pain), shortness of breath, fatigue

2. Arrhythmia: 

• Abnormal heart rhythm, where your heart either beats too fast or slow

• It is common to have irregular heartbeats, but some arrhythmia could sometimes be life-threatening

• 3 Common Types of Arrhythmias:

• Tachycardia - Fast heartbeat, averages over 100 heartbeats per minute

• Bradycardia - Slow heartbeat, averages under 60 heartbeats per minute

• Ventricular Fibrillation - Rapid irregular heartbeats, could lead to cardiac arrest due to sudden drop in blood pressure

• Symptoms: palpations (feeling of a racing heart), chest pain, shortness of breath

3. Heart Valve Disease:

• The heart contains 4 valves to control the direction of blood flow

• One or more of the valves doesn’t open or close properly, leading to slow blood flow in the heart

• The flaps aren’t formed, too thick, or stretched out

• Increased risk of blood infections and heart attacks

• Symptoms: angina (chest pain), arrhythmia, shortness of breath

4. Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack):

• Occurs when the coronary artery is blocked by either plaque buildup or a blood clot is formed by plaque rupture

• Lack of blood flow causes the tissue in the heart muscle to die, developing scar tissue, and decreasing the heart’s efficiency to pump blood

• Heart attacks are asymptomatic and could suddenly occur, giving its name the “Silent Killer”

• Symptoms: chest pain, heartburns, fatigue, or shortness of breath

CVDs can occur genetically or physically based on the lifestyle of an individual. Most CVDs overlap each other, creating a “domino effect” where one disease can significantly increase the risk of another, leading to congestive heart failure and death. Make sure to consult your doctors because early detection of cardiovascular diseases is important in preventing further permanent damage to the heart.

Sources and Citation:

Cleveland Clinic. “Cardiovascular Disease: Symptoms, Types, Causes, Management & Prevention.” Cleveland Clinic, 1 Sept. 2022, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21493-cardiovascular-disease.

World Health Organization. “Cardiovascular Diseases.” World Health Organisation, 2025, www.who.int/health-topics/cardiovascular-diseases#tab=tab_1.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Heart Disease Facts.” CDC, CDC, 24 Oct. 2024, www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/data-research/facts-stats/index.html.

Mayo Clinic. “Coronary Artery Disease.” Mayo Clinic, 14 June 2024, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronary-artery-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20350613.

Mayo Clinic. “Heart Arrhythmia.” Mayo Clinic, 13 Oct. 2023, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-arrhythmia/symptoms-causes/syc-20350668.

Mayo Clinic. “Heart Valve Disease - Symptoms and Causes.” Mayo Clinic, 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-valve-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353727.

---. “Heart Attack.” Mayo Clinic, 2023, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-attack/symptoms-causes/syc-20373106.

Published in May 24, 2025