Causes of Cardiovascular Disease : Reducing Your Risk

Cardiovascular disease generally refers to conditions that involve narrowed or blocked blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack, chest pain (angina) or stroke. Other heart conditions, such as those that affect your heart's muscle, valves or rhythm, also are considered forms of heart disease.

Cardiovascular

51 causes

Protective Factors	Studies
Protective Factor Humour Selfcare	2 studies A 15-Year Follow-Up Study of Sense of Humor and Causes of Mortality... Study in 2016 -73% with High evidence in 15 years 53,556 subjects Laughter is the Best Medicine? A Cross-Sectional Study of Cardiovas... Study in 2016 -21% with Moderate evidence 20 subjects
Protective Factor Sauna Selfcare	1 study Association between sauna bathing and fatal cardiovascular and all-... Study in 2015 -63% with High evidence in 20.7 years 2,315 subjects
Protective Factor Moderate Exercise Selfcare	5 studies Leisure-Time Physical Activity Reduces Total and Cardiovascular Mor... Study in 2016 -71% with High evidence in 20 years 2,456 subjects Leisure-Time Physical Activity Reduces Total and Cardiovascular Mor... Study in 2016 -58% with High evidence in 20 years 2,456 subjects Does body mass index modify the association between physical activi... Study in 2016 -54% with High evidence 36 subjects Association of “Weekend Warrior” and Other Leisure Time Physical Ac... Study in 2017 -41% with High evidence in 24 years 63 subjects Associations of specific types of sports and exercise with all-caus... Study in 2016 -37% with High evidence in 7 years 80,306 subjects
Protective Factor Racquet sports (tennis... Selfcare	1 study Associations of specific types of sports and exercise with all-caus... Study in 2016 -56% with High evidence in 7 yrs 80,306 subjects
Protective Factor Oral cavity and phary... Digestive system	1 study Non–Cancer-Related Deaths From Suicide, Cardiovascular Disease, and... Study in 2012 -45% with High evidence in 4 years 32 subjects
Protective Factor Red Wine Beverage	1 study Meta-Analysis of Wine and Beer Consumption in Relation to Vascular ... Study in 2002 -32% with High evidence 209 subjects
Minor Protective Factor Coffee (Caffeine) Beverage	2 studies Association of Coffee Drinking with Total and Cause-Specific Mortality Study in 2012 -28% with High evidence in 13 years 617,119 subjects Association of Coffee Consumption with Total and Cause-Specific Mor... Study in 2015 -12% with Moderate evidence in 22 years 208,501 subjects
Minor Protective Factor Green Tea Beverage	1 study Green Tea Consumption and Mortality Due to Cardiovascular Disease, ... Study in 2006 -26% with High evidence in 26 years 40 subjects
Minor Protective Factor Whole grains Nutrition	1 study Whole grain consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer,... Study in 2016 -22% with High evidence in 10 years 705,253 subjects
Minor Protective Factor Walnuts Nutrition	1 study Higher nut intake is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular... Study in 2016 -21% with High evidence in 10 years 819,448 subjects
Minor Protective Factor Nuts & Peanuts Nutrition	1 study Higher nut intake is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular... Study in 2016 -21% with High evidence in 10 years 819,448 subjects
Minor Protective Factor Mediterranean diet Nutrition	3 studies Effects on Health Outcomes of a Mediterranean Diet With No Restrict... Study in 2016 -29% with High evidence in 5 years 465,106 subjects Adherence to Mediterranean diet and health status: meta-analysis Study in 2008 -9% with Moderate evidence in 18 years 1 subjects Dietary patterns and the risk of major adverse cardiovascular event... -6% with High evidence in 3 years 8 months 15,482 subjects
Minor Protective Factor Cacao Nutrition	1 study Cocoa intake, blood pressure, and cardiovascular mortality: the Zut... Study in 2006 -50% with Moderate evidence in 15 years 470 subjects
Minor Protective Factor Fresh Chili Peppers (C... Herb	1 study The Association of Hot Red Chili Pepper Consumption and Mortality: ... Study in 2017 -14% with High evidence in 6 years 16,179 subjects
Minor Protective Factor Fruits Nutrition	1 study Cardiovascular disease Risk factors -11% with High evidence
Minor Protective Factor Vegetables Nutrition	1 study Cardiovascular disease Risk factors -11% with High evidence
Minor Protective Factor Pets Selfcare	1 study Cat ownership and the Risk of Fatal Cardiovascular Diseases. Result... Study in 2009 -13% with Moderate evidence in 20 years 4,435 subjects
Minor Protective Factor Unsaturated fat Nutrition	1 study Effects of Saturated Fat, Polyunsaturated Fat, Monounsaturated Fat,... Study in 2016 -6% with Low evidence in 10 years 4,220 subjects
Minor Protective Factor Aspirin Manufactured	1 study Cardiovascular disease Risk factors -1% with Moderate evidence
Minor Protective Factor Fasting Nutrition	1 study Impact of intermittent fasting on health and disease processes Study in 2016 -1% with Moderate evidence
Minor Protective Factor Yoga Selfcare	1 study Retardation of coronary atherosclerosis with yoga lifestyle interve... Study in 2010 -1% with Low evidence in 1 year 42 subjects
Minor Protective Factor Japanese honeysuckle (... Herb	1 study Novel Antiplatelet Activity of Protocatechuic Acid through the Inhi... Study in 2012 -1% with Low evidence

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Risk Factors	Studies
Strong Risk Factor Smoking Contaminant	1 study Cardiovascular disease Risk factors +10000% with High evidence
Strong Risk Factor Type 2 Diabetes Lymphatic system	1 study High diabetes-mellitus-linked mortality in Mexico Study in 2016 +270% with High evidence in 16 years 142,101 subjects
Strong Risk Factor Mercury Contaminant	1 study Metal pollutants and cardiovascular disease: Mechanisms and consequ... Study in 2014 +190% with High evidence 60,000 subjects
Risk Factor Sedentary Lifestyle Selfcare	1 study Sedentary time in adults and the association with diabetes, cardiov... Study in 2012 +90% with High evidence in 10 years 794,577 subjects
Risk Factor Schizophrenia Brain system	1 study A systematic review of mortality in schizophrenia: is the different... Study in 2007 +88% with High evidence in 10 years
Risk Factor Metabolic Syndrome Lymphatic system	3 studies Race and Ethnicity, Obesity, Metabolic Health, and Risk of Cardiova... Study in 2015 +117% with Moderate evidence in 13 years 14 subjects Race and Ethnicity, Obesity, Metabolic Health, and Risk of Cardiova... Study in 2015 +77% with Moderate evidence in 13 years 14 subjects Metabolic Syndrome and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: A Meta-Analysis Study in 2006 +74% with High evidence in 5 years
Risk Factor Napping Selfcare	1 study Daytime Napping and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and All-Caus... Study in 2015 +82% with High evidence in 11 years 151,588 subjects
Risk Factor Long Duration of Sleep Musculoskeletal system	2 studies Sleep duration predicts cardiovascular outcomes: a systematic revie... Study in 2011 +41% with High evidence in 10 years 474,684 subjects Sleep duration and mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis Study in 2012 +23% with High evidence in 14 years 1,350,885 subjects
Risk Factor Lead Exposure Contaminant	1 study Metal pollutants and cardiovascular disease: Mechanisms and consequ... Study in 2014 +463% with Low evidence 60,000 subjects
Protective Factor Cortisol Endocrine system	1 study Cardiovascular consequences of cortisol excess. Study in 2005 +50% with High evidence in 5 years
Risk Factor Passive Entertainment ... Selfcare	2 studies Does body mass index modify the association between physical activi... Study in 2016 +62% with High evidence 36 subjects Television Viewing and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes, Cardiovascular Dise... Study in 2011 +15% with High evidence in 10 years 34,253 subjects
Risk Factor Depression Brain system	3 studies Room for depressed and exhausted mood as a risk predictor for all-c... Study in 2017 +52% with High evidence in 10 years 3,428 subjects Depression as a Risk Factor for Mortality in Individuals with Diabe... Study in 2013 +39% with Moderate evidence 107,944 subjects Elucidating the Association Between Depressive Symptoms, Coronary H... Study in 2016 +30% with High evidence in 32 years 22,666 subjects
Risk Factor Cadmium Contaminant	1 study Metal pollutants and cardiovascular disease: Mechanisms and consequ... Study in 2014 +36% with High evidence 60,000 subjects
Risk Factor Sugar Nutrition	1 study Added Sugar Intake and Cardiovascular Diseases Mortality Among US A... Study in 2014 +30% with High evidence in 5 years 43,000 subjects
Risk Factor Passive Smoking Contaminant	1 study Cardiovascular disease Risk factors +30% with High evidence
Minor Risk Factor Air traffic Exposure Selfcare	1 study The association between noise exposure and blood pressure and ische... Study in 2006 +26% with High evidence in 18 years
Minor Risk Factor Arsenic Contaminant	1 study Metal pollutants and cardiovascular disease: Mechanisms and consequ... Study in 2014 +65% with Moderate evidence 60,000 subjects
Minor Risk Factor Processed Meat Nutrition	1 study Red Meat Consumption and Mortality Results From 2 Prospective Cohor... Study in 2012 +21% with High evidence in 22 years 121,000 subjects
Minor Risk Factor Breast Cancer Reproductive system	1 study A Population-Based Study of Cardiovascular Mortality Following Earl... Study in 2017 +16% with High evidence in 4 years 98 subjects
Minor Risk Factor Obesity Musculoskeletal system	1 study Race and Ethnicity, Obesity, Metabolic Health, and Risk of Cardiova... Study in 2015 +49% with Moderate evidence in 13 years 14 subjects
Minor Risk Factor Preterm Delivery Maternity system	1 study Preterm Delivery and Maternal Cardiovascular Disease in Young and M... Study in 2017 +42% with Moderate evidence 70 subjects
Minor Risk Factor Busy Road Traffic Expo... Contaminant	1 study The association between noise exposure and blood pressure and ische... Study in 2006 +14% with High evidence in 19 years
Minor Risk Factor Noise Pollution Contaminant	1 study The association between noise exposure and blood pressure and ische... Study in 2006 +14% with High evidence in 18 years
Minor Risk Factor Red Meat Nutrition	2 studies Red Meat Consumption and Mortality Results From 2 Prospective Cohor... Study in 2012 +16% with High evidence in 22 years 121,000 subjects Association of Animal and Plant Protein Intake With All-Cause and C... Study in 2016 +8% with High evidence in 32 years 131,342 subjects
Minor Risk Factor Job Stress Brain system	1 study Job Strain and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: Meta-Analysis o... Study in 2013 +13% with High evidence 47,000 subjects
Minor Risk Factor Eggs Nutrition	1 study Association of Animal and Plant Protein Intake With All-Cause and C... Study in 2016 +8% with High evidence in 32 years 131,342 subjects
Minor Risk Factor Radiotherapy Manufactured	1 study Non–Cancer-Related Deaths From Suicide, Cardiovascular Disease, and... Study in 2012 +70% with Low evidence in 4 years 32 subjects
Minor Protective Factor Insulin-like Human Gr... Endocrine system	1 study Low insulin-like growth factor-1 level predicts survival in humans ... Study in 2014 +20% with Low evidence 184 subjects
Minor Risk Factor Refined grains Nutrition	1 study Whole grain consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer,... Study in 2016 +2% with High evidence in 10 years 705,253 subjects
Minor Risk Factor Saturated Fat Nutrition	1 study Intake of saturated and trans unsaturated fatty acids and risk of a... Study in 2015 +17% with Low evidence
Minor Risk Factor Early Menarche Reproductive system	1 study Age at Menarche and Risks of All-Cause and Cardiovascular Death: A ... Study in 2014 +5% with Moderate evidence in 2 years

Outcomes	References
Strong Risk Factor Mortality Musculoskeletal system	2 studies A 7-Year Prospective Study of Sense of Humor and Mortality in an Ad... Study in 2010 +528% with High evidence in 7 years 66,140 subjects Mortality Associated with Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease in Ol... Study in 2012 +132% with Moderate evidence in 11 years 8 months 9,218 subjects

Atrial fibrillation (AF or A-fib) is an abnormal heart rhythm characterized by rapid and irregular beating. Often it starts as brief periods o...

5 causes found in 4 health studies

Heart failure (HF), often referred to as congestive heart failure (CHF), occurs when the heart is unable to pump sufficiently to maintain bloo...

4 causes found in 6 health studies

Coronary Heart Disease (Ischaemic Heart Disease) Cardiovascular

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a disease in which a waxy substance called plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries. These arteries suppl...

41 causes found in 36 health studies

Heart Attack (Myocardial infarction - ACS) Cardiovascular

Myocardial infarction (MI) or acute myocardial infarction (AMI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow stops to a part of t...

50 causes found in 34 health studies

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is one of the five major groups of lipoprotein. These groups, from least dense (largest particles) to most dense...

23 causes found in 23 health studies

Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) Cardiovascular

Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are extra, abnormal heartbeats that begin in one of your heart's two lower pumping chambers (ventric...

1 cause found in 1 health study

Stroke is when poor blood flow to the brain results in cell death. There are two main types of stroke: ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, an...

65 causes found in 42 health studies

Thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel, obstructing the flow of blood through the circulatory system. When a blood ...

5 causes found in 5 health studies

There are 22 factors preventing Cardiovascular Disease, including:

Protective Factor HumourSelfcare

Protective Factor SaunaSelfcare

Protective Factor Moderate ExerciseSelfcare

Protective Factor Racquet sports (tennis...Selfcare

Protective Factor Oral cavity and phary...Digestive system

Protective Factor Red WineBeverage

Minor Protective Factor Coffee (Caffeine)Beverage

Minor Protective Factor Green TeaBeverage

Minor Protective Factor Whole grainsNutrition

Minor Protective Factor WalnutsNutrition

Minor Protective Factor Nuts & PeanutsNutrition

Minor Protective Factor Mediterranean dietNutrition

Minor Protective Factor CacaoNutrition

Minor Protective Factor Fresh Chili Peppers (C...Herb

Minor Protective Factor FruitsNutrition

Minor Protective Factor VegetablesNutrition

Minor Protective Factor PetsSelfcare

Minor Protective Factor Unsaturated fatNutrition

Minor Protective Factor AspirinManufactured

Minor Protective Factor FastingNutrition

Minor Protective Factor YogaSelfcare

Minor Protective Factor Japanese honeysuckle (...Herb

There are 31 factors increasing Cardiovascular Disease, including:

Strong Risk Factor SmokingContaminant

Strong Risk Factor Type 2 DiabetesLymphatic system

Strong Risk Factor MercuryContaminant

Risk Factor Sedentary LifestyleSelfcare

Risk Factor SchizophreniaBrain system

Risk Factor Metabolic SyndromeLymphatic system

Risk Factor NappingSelfcare

Risk Factor Long Duration of SleepMusculoskeletal system

Risk Factor Lead ExposureContaminant

Protective Factor CortisolEndocrine system

Risk Factor Passive Entertainment ...Selfcare

Risk Factor DepressionBrain system

Risk Factor CadmiumContaminant

Risk Factor SugarNutrition

Risk Factor Passive SmokingContaminant

Minor Risk Factor Air traffic ExposureSelfcare

Minor Risk Factor ArsenicContaminant

Minor Risk Factor Processed MeatNutrition

Minor Risk Factor Breast CancerReproductive system

Minor Risk Factor ObesityMusculoskeletal system

Minor Risk Factor Preterm DeliveryMaternity system

Minor Risk Factor Busy Road Traffic Expo...Contaminant

Minor Risk Factor Noise PollutionContaminant

Minor Risk Factor Red MeatNutrition

Minor Risk Factor Job StressBrain system

Minor Risk Factor EggsNutrition

Minor Risk Factor RadiotherapyManufactured

Minor Protective Factor Insulin-like Human Gr...Endocrine system

Minor Risk Factor Refined grainsNutrition

Minor Risk Factor Saturated FatNutrition

Minor Risk Factor Early MenarcheReproductive system

Possible outcomes of Cardiovascular Disease

Strong Risk Factor MortalityMusculoskeletal system

Related to Cardiovascular Disease

Atrial FibrillationCardiovascular

Congestive Heart FailureCardiovascular

Coronary Heart Disease (I...Cardiovascular

Heart Attack (Myocardial ...Cardiovascular

LDLLymphatic

Premature ventricular con...Cardiovascular

StrokeBrain

ThrombosisCardiovascular

Protective Factor Humour
Selfcare

Protective Factor Sauna
Selfcare

Protective Factor Moderate Exercise
Selfcare

Protective Factor Racquet sports (tennis...
Selfcare

Protective Factor Oral cavity and phary...
Digestive system

Protective Factor Red Wine
Beverage

Minor Protective Factor Coffee (Caffeine)
Beverage

Minor Protective Factor Green Tea
Beverage

Minor Protective Factor Whole grains
Nutrition

Minor Protective Factor Walnuts
Nutrition

Minor Protective Factor Nuts & Peanuts
Nutrition

Minor Protective Factor Mediterranean diet
Nutrition

Minor Protective Factor Cacao
Nutrition

Minor Protective Factor Fresh Chili Peppers (C...
Herb

Minor Protective Factor Fruits
Nutrition

Minor Protective Factor Vegetables
Nutrition

Minor Protective Factor Pets
Selfcare

Minor Protective Factor Unsaturated fat
Nutrition

Minor Protective Factor Aspirin
Manufactured

Minor Protective Factor Fasting
Nutrition

Minor Protective Factor Yoga
Selfcare

Minor Protective Factor Japanese honeysuckle (...
Herb

Strong Risk Factor Smoking
Contaminant

Strong Risk Factor Type 2 Diabetes
Lymphatic system

Strong Risk Factor Mercury
Contaminant

Risk Factor Sedentary Lifestyle
Selfcare

Risk Factor Schizophrenia
Brain system

Risk Factor Metabolic Syndrome
Lymphatic system

Risk Factor Napping
Selfcare

Risk Factor Long Duration of Sleep
Musculoskeletal system

Risk Factor Lead Exposure
Contaminant

Protective Factor Cortisol
Endocrine system

Risk Factor Passive Entertainment ...
Selfcare

Risk Factor Depression
Brain system

Risk Factor Cadmium
Contaminant

Risk Factor Sugar
Nutrition

Risk Factor Passive Smoking
Contaminant

Minor Risk Factor Air traffic Exposure
Selfcare

Minor Risk Factor Arsenic
Contaminant

Minor Risk Factor Processed Meat
Nutrition

Minor Risk Factor Breast Cancer
Reproductive system

Minor Risk Factor Obesity
Musculoskeletal system

Minor Risk Factor Preterm Delivery
Maternity system

Minor Risk Factor Busy Road Traffic Expo...
Contaminant

Minor Risk Factor Noise Pollution
Contaminant

Minor Risk Factor Red Meat
Nutrition

Minor Risk Factor Job Stress
Brain system

Minor Risk Factor Eggs
Nutrition

Minor Risk Factor Radiotherapy
Manufactured

Minor Protective Factor Insulin-like Human Gr...
Endocrine system

Minor Risk Factor Refined grains
Nutrition

Minor Risk Factor Saturated Fat
Nutrition

Minor Risk Factor Early Menarche
Reproductive system

Strong Risk Factor Mortality
Musculoskeletal system

Atrial Fibrillation
Cardiovascular

Congestive Heart Failure
Cardiovascular

Coronary Heart Disease (I...
Cardiovascular

Heart Attack (Myocardial ...
Cardiovascular

LDL
Lymphatic

Premature ventricular con...
Cardiovascular

Stroke
Brain

Thrombosis
Cardiovascular