Cardiovascular disease, heart disease, and coronary heart disease.  They are all the same, right?  Not exactly.  People may use these terms interchangeably, but these conditions do differ.  So, what is the difference?

Cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular disease is the umbrella term for all types of diseases that affect the heart or blood vessels, which includes heart disease and coronary heart disease.  It is estimated that more than 800,000 people die of cardiovascular disease every year in the United States. That is an alarming 1 in 3 deaths. Cardiovascular disease can cause heart attack, stroke, heart failure, arrythmias, heart valve problems, and peripheral artery disease.

Heart Disease – A Type of Cardiovascular Disease

Heart disease is a variety of conditions that affect the heart’s structure and function. While all heart diseases are cardiovascular diseases, not all cardiovascular diseases are heart diseases. According to the CDC, in the United States, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups. About 1 in 5 deaths, or 697,000 people in the United States died from heart disease in 2020.  Heart disease includes conditions such as heart attack, arrhythmias, and heart failure.  It can be a silent disease and not diagnosed until signs and symptoms occur.

Coronary Heart Disease – A Type of Heart Disease

Coronary heart disease, also known as coronary artery disease, is the most common type of heart disease in the United States. Coronary heart disease is the result of plaque buildup in the wall of the arteries that supply blood to the heart and other parts of the body. This plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in the blood. It reduces the amount of oxygen-rich blood getting to the heart, which can cause chest pain.  Plaque can also lead to blood clots, which block blood flow and are the most common cause of a heart attack.

Know Your Risks and How to Protect Yourself

Cardiovascular, heart, and coronary heart disease all carry similar risk factors that may include:

• High blood pressure
• High blood cholesterol
• Smoking
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Unhealthy diets
• Physical inactivity
• Excessive alcohol use
• Family history
• Age
• Sex
• Genetics
• Race/ethnicity

While some risk factors may not be modifiable, there is a lot that you can do to protect yourself and potentially offset cardiovascular disease.  This can include:

• Reducing your blood pressure and cholesterol
• Managing your diabetes
• Smoking or alcohol cessation
• Increase physical activity
• Control your weight
• Eat a healthier diet
• Manage stress

How The Compliance Store can help

February is American Heart Month and is a good time to remind you of the importance of taking care of yourself and the residents that you serve and care for.  The Compliance Store has resources such as care plans, training for staff, and educational materials for residents and families about cardiovascular disease.

The Compliance Store is your one stop shop to all regulatory information, policies and procedures, tools and other resources to aid you in your daily operations and compliance efforts. For more information, contact us online or call us at 877-582-7347.