Cardiovascular Disease

Varicose veins are damaged, swollen, blood-filled veins just below the skin’s surface. Vasculitis is an inflammation of the blood vessels affecting the veins, arteries or capillaries. For a Spanish-language version of the Guide, click here.

Congenital heart disease is any structural or functional deformity in the heart resulting from malformation in the womb. According to March of Dimes, “about 40,000 infants (1 out of every 125) are born with heart defects each year in the United States. The defect may be so slight that the baby appears healthy for many years after birth, or so severe that its life is in immediate danger.” The causes of congenital heart disease are usually unknown, though genetic and environmental factors are likely responsible. For a Spanish-language version of the Guide, click here.

Arrhythmia is a condition where the heart beats out of time: either too fast, too slow or irregularly. Heart failure is a chronic disease in which the heart lacks the strength to adequately pump blood throughout the body, causing fluid to build up in the lungs, ankles and other body parts. For a Spanish-language version of the Guide, click here.

Arteries need to be strong to transport blood through the body at high pressure. If a section of an artery becomes weak, a bulge can form in the artery’s wall. These bulges are called aneurysms. As an aneurysm grows in size, a rupture becomes more likely. If a rupture occurs, uncontrolled internal bleeding and death can result. Fortunately, doctors can prevent aneurysms from rupturing if caught early. For a Spanish-language version of the Guide, click here.

Angina pectoris, commonly called angina, describes chest pain resulting from decreased oxygen supply to the heart. Coronary artery disease is a condition where plaque accumulates on the lining of the coronary arteries, causing them to harden and narrow. For a Spanish-language version of the Guide, click here.

High blood pressure is a very common disorder linked to heart attacks and strokes. It is caused by a number of lifestyle factors, such as drinking, smoking, lack of physical activity and diet. High blood pressure also runs in families. Luckily, there are a number of medications and life changes that can help manage high blood pressure and prevent it from doing more damage. For a Spanish-language version of the Guide, click here.

About one million people experience a heart attack each year. Though heart attacks claim 400,000 lives annually,the survival rate has improved greatly due to better treatment and increased awareness of their symptoms. For a Spanish-language version of the Guide, click here.

Thanks to online-only health sites, sites operated by the National Institutes of Health and those of our country's top hospitals, clinics and nonprofit heart-health organizations, high-quality information on common and rare cardiovascular diseases are only a quick surf away. Use the Cardiovascular Disease Web Guide to find links to sites with verified, credible information. 

Read a Spanish-language version of the Cardiovascular Disease Web Guide.