About Cardiovascular Disease
The heart is an involuntary muscle and is regarded as the strongest and most important muscle in your body.  The main job of the heart is to supply all organs and tissues with oxygen and nutrient-rich blood.

The cardiovascular system is made up of the myocardium (heart muscle), valves (one-way "doors" controlling the blood flow within the heart), the electrical conduction system (which regulates the heart beat), coronary arteries (blood vessels which carry blood away from the heart), veins (blood vessels which carry blood back to the heart) and the pericardium (outer protective layer of the heart).

Cardiovascular disease can affect one or more of these areas of the heart. The most common form of heart disease is coronary artery disease (CAD), which is the build-up of fatty deposits on the walls of the coronary arteries. This build-up slows the amount of blood that flows to the heart, which may eventually cause a heart attack.

Facts and Figures

• Heart disease is still the leading cause of death in the United States- and yet it can be counteracted by raising awareness, changing lifestyles, and improving its diagnosis and treatment.
• The heart is fatigue-resistant, beating more than 100,000 times per day.

Risk Factors for Heart Disease

•  Smoking
  
• High blood cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• Physical inactivity
• Obesity
• Stress
• Diabetes
• Alcohol
  
  
  
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