Cardiovascular diseases in Kenya causes many deaths to individuals from different ages. There are different cardiovascular diseases most of which are caused by lifestyle choices made by individuals. This document seeks to layout some common facts associated with cardiovascular diseases.

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Cardiovascular diseases are one of the leading causes of death in the world
today among men and women. They are generally diseases that affect the heart
or the blood vessels. There are several cardiovascular diseases. They are caused
when there is either a blood clot or a build-up of fatty deposits inside the arteries.
A blood clot or build-up of the fatty deposits results in reduced or limited blood
flow to the heart, brain and the entire body. When there is limited blood flow, any
of the cardiovascular diseases may occur. There are majorly four types of
cardiovascular diseases: heart attack, stroke, peripheral arterial disease and
aortic disease.

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Coronary Heart Disease occurs when blood flow in the arteries (the main blood
vessels in the body) is blocked due to build-up of fatty substances.
Stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is cut off and it might cause
brain damage or even death in some instances.
Peripheral Arterial Disease or vascular disease occurs when arteries in the limbs,
mostly feet are blocked causing pain in the legs of the victim.
Aortic disease occurs when the wall of the aorta becomes weak and bulges
outward, causing the victim a lot of pain in the chest, back or abdomen.

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Facts about cardiovascular diseases
There are several things about cardiovascular diseases that people need to know.
The following are the common facts:
#1 The risk factors can be controlled
A majority of cardiovascular diseases is apparently
caused by risk factors that can either be controlled,
treated or modified. Some of the risk factors include:
High blood pressure, cholesterol, overweight/obesity,
use of tobacco and lack of physical activity. These are
risk factors that people can control, for instance,
avoiding tobacco use, keeping weight in check by
being physically active. When such measures are taken,
it becomes easier to avoid the risk of cardiovascular
diseases.
A huge number of people get affected each year
An alarming huge number of people suffer from cardiovascular diseases – the
major culprits being stroke and heart attack. Stroke and heart attack happen to
be the leading cause of death across the world. Statistics show than 1 in every 3
deaths was caused by a cardiovascular disease.
Cardiovascular Diseases have several warning signs
Cardiovascular diseases have several warning signs that if detected early can
always help the situation. Knowing the signs and symptoms ensures fast action
and increases chances of surviving an attack. The major warning signs of an
attack include: chest pain or discomfort, upper body pain or discomfort in the
arms, back, neck, jaw or upper stomach, shortness of breath and nausea,
lightheadedness and/or cold sweats.
Prevention of cardiovascular diseases
Most of the cardiovascular diseases are caused by a build up of fatty deposits
within the lining arteries. This can however be reduced by taking lifestyle measures
that ensure the reduction of this build up within the arteries. For instance, not
smoking tobacco, choosing healthy foods, having a low salt intake, keeping fit,
keeping weight and waist size down and drinking enough water.
Blood pressure and cholesterol levels are also important. Ensure they stay at a
recommended level. You can only achieve this by having regular medical
checkups. That is the only way to keep cardiovascular diseases at bay.

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This information was compiled from:
www.chic.or.ke