Heart and Blood Vessel Diseases: A Comprehensive Overview

Heart and blood vessel diseases encompass a wide range of conditions that affect the cardiovascular and circulatory systems. These diseases can significantly impact overall health and are a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Below is a detailed breakdown of the main categories and types of heart and blood vessel diseases:

Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular diseases primarily affect the heart and blood vessels. They include various conditions such as rheumatic heart disease, hypertension-related heart issues, ischemic heart disease, and pulmonary heart disease. It's important to note that congenital heart defects are not classified under this category.

Rheumatic Heart Disease

This condition stems from rheumatic fever, which can lead to long-term damage to the heart valves. It includes disorders like rheumatic heart inflammation and valve diseases. The most common valve issues associated with this condition are aortic valve stenosis and regurgitation, as well as mitral valve stenosis and insufficiency.

Ischemic Heart Disease

Also known as coronary artery disease, this condition is mainly caused by atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries. It includes chronic myocardial ischemia syndrome and acute coronary syndrome. Acute coronary syndrome further breaks down into three subcategories: unstable angina, non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), and ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Cerebrovascular Diseases

Cerebrovascular diseases refer to conditions that affect the blood vessels supplying the brain. These diseases are typically divided into two major groups: hemorrhagic and ischemic.

Hemorrhagic Stroke

This type of stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures, causing bleeding. Common forms include subarachnoid hemorrhage, where bleeding occurs in the space between the brain and the surrounding membrane, and intracerebral hemorrhage, which involves bleeding directly into the brain tissue.

Ischemic Stroke

Ischemic strokes happen when a blood vessel supplying the brain becomes blocked, leading to reduced blood flow and oxygen to the brain. Types of ischemic stroke include cerebral thrombosis, embolic stroke, lacunar infarction (small areas of brain tissue damage due to blockages in tiny arteries), and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), which are temporary disruptions of blood flow to the brain.