What is cardiovascular disease?

Cardiovascular disease refers to a large spectrum of disorders, many of which involve narrowed or blocked blood vessels, leading to chest pain (angina), heart attacks and strokes.

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death amounting to over 30% of all deaths worldwide. Lifestyle choices, such as physical inactivity, unhealthy eating habits and smoking, can all increase the risk of heart problems. But there are also “hidden” factors (i.e. certain genetic variants) that can also predispose to heart attacks.