Unit 9
Heart Health and Disease

This unit looks at diseases related to the cardiovascular system, which are leading killers in North America. Most of these diseases—including hypertension, stroke, and cardiovascular disease (CVD)—are in the same family of lifestyle-related diseases introduced in Unit 1. As you work through this unit, notice how the same clusters of lifestyle factors relate to a number of diseases. This unit also discusses medical techniques for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disorders.

In recent years, tremendous progress has been made in the prevention and treatment of heart disease. Given certain lifestyle modifications, it is now possible to prevent a large proportion of the cases of hypertension, stroke, and CVD, and these same lifestyle modifications are often highly effective treatments for heart disease.

Objectives

After completing this unit, you should be able to

1. describe the anatomy and physiology of the cardiovascular system.
2. discuss the incidence, prevalence, and consequences of cardiovascular disease for individuals and for Canadian society.
3. describe the various types of heart disease, the factors that contribute to their development, the current diagnostic and treatment options, and the lifestyle changes necessary for disease prevention.
4. discuss controllable risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
5. differentiate the cardiovascular disease risks and symptoms that are unique to women from those common in men.
6. discuss methods of diagnosing and treating cardiovascular disease.