Causes of Heart Disease
Another name for the diseases of the heart and blood vessels is cardiovascular diseases. ... In the United States alone, there are approximately one million Americans who die of heart disease every year. There are over twenty forms of heart disease and several types of blood disorders. The three most common kinds of heart disease are arteriosclerosis, hypertension, and rheumatic fever. Arteriosclerosis is a condition which causes the arteries to harden. ... That causes scars to form. ... When these arteries harden, it reduces the heart’s blood supply. ... Blockage in a coronary artery causes a heart attack and a blocked artery in the brain causes a stroke. Hypertension is the medical term for the disease commonly known as high blood pressure. ... High blood pressure is also the leading cause of kidney failure, strokes, and heart attacks. ... In some cases, kidney disease or overactive adrenal glands can result in hypertension. ... People who have parents with hypertension are more likely to develop the diseases than those who have parents that do not have the disease.