Word parts
What it means
A broad name for conditions of the heart and blood vessels, including coronary artery diseaseKOR-uh-nair-ee AR-tuh-ree dih-ZEEZNarrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle, most often from fatty plaque buildup.Full entry , heart failurehart FAYL-yerA long-term condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs.Full entry , strokestrohkSudden damage to part of the brain because its blood supply is blocked or a blood vessel in it bursts.Full entry , hypertensionhy-per-TEN-shunBlood pressure that stays higher than normal, at or above 130/80 mm Hg by current US guidelines.hyper- above, more than normaltension pressureFull entry and peripheral vascular diseasepuh-RIF-er-ul VAS-kyuh-ler dih-ZEEZDisease of the blood vessels outside the heart and brain, most often narrowed arteries or damaged veins in the legs.peri- aroundvascul/o blood vessel-ar relating toFull entry . It is the leading cause of death in the United States and much of the world. Many cases share the same risk factors: smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity and lack of exercise.
For the nurse
Teach risk reduction: stop smoking, eat less salt and saturated fat, stay active, keep a healthy weight and take blood pressure and cholesterol medicines as prescribed.
At a glance
| Abbreviations | CVD |
|---|---|
| Spanish | enfermedad cardiovascular |
| Also written | CVD, cardiovascular diseases, cardiovascular-disease |
Related terms
hypertension
Blood pressure that stays higher than normal, at or above 130/80 mm Hg by current US guidelines.
heart failure
A long-term condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs.
coronary artery disease
Narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle, most often from fatty plaque buildup.
atherosclerosis
A buildup of fatty deposits (plaque) inside the walls of the arteries.
cardiovascular system
The heart and blood vessels, which together move blood through the body.