Basic Information: Cardiovascular DiseaseWhat is it?Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a group of disorders or illnesses that involve the heart and blood vessels, or both. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among individuals living in the United States. Some diseases associated with cardiovascular disease include: coronary heart disease, congenital heart disease, and pulmonary embolism (US National Library of Medicine). Development Cardiovascular disease develops through a buildup of fatty deposits on the inner walls of blood vessels, which usually takes years to accumulate (World Health Organization). The development of fatty acid deposits can be due to poor diet, physical inactivity, smoking and harmful alcohol consumption. The behavioral risk factors listed above account for approximately 80% of cardiovascular disease, with the remaining 20% ​​caused by fixed risk factors (age, sex, race). Poor diet and physical inactivity can lead to increased blood pressure, increased glucose levels, increased blood lipids, overweight and obesity in individuals, putting them at higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease. . Unlike behavioral risk factors, which can be controlled or modified, there are fixed risk factors like race, gender, and age that can also contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease. Signs and symptoms Often there are no symptoms of the underlying disease. blood vessels. Most of the time, a heart attack or stroke is the first warning or sign of the underlying disease. Because the signs and symptoms of cardiovascular disease are not always apparent, it is important to know the symptoms of a heart attack so that you can seek immediate medical attention. According to...... middle of paper ......growth in their lives. Finally, a heart attack can occur in an individual because of their personality and how they choose to handle the conflict in question. Spiritual Throughout history, it seems that medicine and spirituality have been linked in many circumstances. In a study examining the use of complementary and alternative therapies in heart patients, spiritual healing was one of several practices that patients sought to use. In another study, 29% of participants chose to use prayer or premeditation as a way to cope with their chronic illness. In both studies, prayer or meditation was more likely to be used by individuals with a large social network, as well as support from another person in the same health situation. Based on these studies, it appears that many people (not just cardiovascular patients) turn to their spirituality during times of health problems...