BRAINCAKECardiovascular Diseases in the UK
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the general term for diseases of the heart and blood vessels. It includes coronary heart disease (such as angina and heart attacks), stroke, aneurysms and peripheral arterial disease. Coronary heart disease and stroke are the two forms that kill the most people.
Most CVD is caused by atherosclerosis, the build-up of fatty deposits in artery walls, which narrows arteries and can lead to blood clots. This is why CVD is closely linked to lifestyle.
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Key terms in this lesson
- stroke
- A medical emergency in which the blood supply to part of the brain is disrupted, depriving brain cells of oxygen and glucose.
More in Cardiovascular Diseases
All 20 lessons in Cardiovascular Diseases · All Edexcel AS-level Biology topics