Cardiovascular Disease

Question 1

What is it

Answer 1

🔹 A group of heart & blood vessel disorders including:

Coronary artery disease (CAD)
Heart failure
Stroke
Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
🔹 Leading cause of death worldwide

Question 2

Clinical presentation

Answer 2

Coronary artery disease (CAD):

Chest pain (angina)
Shortness of breath
Heart attack (myocardial infarction)
🔹 Heart failure:
Swelling in legs (edema)
Fatigue, weakness
Fluid buildup (pulmonary congestion)
🔹 Stroke:
Sudden weakness, numbness (one-sided)
Slurred speech, vision loss
🔹 Peripheral artery disease (PAD):
Leg pain with walking (claudication)
Cold, pale extremities

Question 3

Epidemiology

Answer 3

🔹 #1 cause of death globally (~32% of deaths worldwide)
🔹 More common in men, but high risk for postmenopausal women
🔹 Coronary artery disease (CAD) & stroke → most common types

Question 4

Age groups affected

Answer 4

🔹 Risk increases with age, especially >50 years
🔹 Atherosclerosis starts early, often asymptomatic for years
🔹 Young adults at risk if they have strong genetic or lifestyle factors

Question 5

Risk factor

Answer 5

🔹 Modifiable:

High blood pressure (hypertension)
High cholesterol (hyperlipidemia)
Smoking 🚬
Diabetes 🩸
Obesity 🏋️‍♂️
Unhealthy diet (high salt, trans fats)
🔹 Non-modifiable:
Age (>50 years)
Family history of CVD
Ethnicity (higher risk in African, South Asian populations)

Question 6

Clinical features

Answer 6

🔹 General signs:

Chest pain (angina, heart attack)
Shortness of breath
Dizziness, fainting (arrhythmias, stroke)
Leg swelling (heart failure)
Cold, discolored limbs (PAD)
🔹 Severe cases → Heart attack, stroke, heart failure, sudden cardiac arrest

Question 7

Prognosis

Answer 7

🟢 What is the outlook for CVD?
🔹 Chronic but manageable with lifestyle changes & treatment
🔹 High mortality if untreated (e.g., heart attack, stroke)
🔹 Medical therapy & surgeries (bypass, stents) improve survival
🔹 Prevention is key!