One of the goals of the
Virginia Department of Health
is to improve heart health.
This is being done through multiple tools:
- Educating the public and healthcare providers
- Providing additional information and materials
- Looking for ways to assist people who may be at more risk for poor health to make changes to improve their health.
Cardiovascular Disease, as defined by the CDC, is a group of heart [cardio] and blood vessel [vascular] disorders that is the leading cause of death and disability -- not only in the United States but globally.
Coronary Heart Disease
The coronary arteries are the blood vessels in the heart, that provide blood, rich in oxygen, to the heart – allowing it to do the job of circulating the blood around the body. Oxygen is critical to the survival of the body’s cells.
Any sustained reduction in blood flow to an organ will damage that organ. When the reduction in flow is to the heart – this causes a “heart attack”. If the reduction is to the brain , it causes a stroke.
Certain chronic diseases, including hypertension and high blood cholesterol increase the likelihood of damaging your arteries. This, in turn, increases your risk of suffering a heart attack as well as stroke.
Last Updated: February 3, 2025