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Heart and Stroke

Heart and cardiovascular diseases describe many conditions. Treatments vary for these conditions and it is important to understand the differences in these conditions and their treatments.

All heart and cardiovascular diseases can be managed by introducing healthy lifestyle strategies including healthy eating, being active, working to attain a healthy body weight, being smoke-free, taking medications as prescribed, and managing stress. It is important that individuals with heart and cardiovascular diseases receive support from loved ones. Here we address:

• Coronary Artery Disease



• Congenital Heart Disease



• Heart Failure or Congestive Heart Failure



• Peripheral Vascular Disease



• Stroke or Cardio-vascular Accident

Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common of the heart conditions and "occurs when blood vessels in your heart become blocked or narrowed, preventing oxygen-rich blood from reaching your heart. It can cause chest pain called angina or even a heart attack."

From:  Heart and Stroke Foundation, Heart Disease Conditions, 2011

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Congenital Heart Disease

Congenital heart disease is a heart defect that is present at the time of birth that may range from a tiny hole that will never require treatment to a life threatening heart defect. "Congenital defect" comes from the words congenital, meaning "existing at birth" and "defect", meaning a problem. The heart is completely formed by the 8th week of pregnancy. If a problem occurs in the way the heart or the blood vessels close to the heart are formed the baby is born with what is called a congenital heart defect, CHD for short. Congenital heart defects are sometimes called congenital heart disease. About one of every one hundred babies born has some form of heart defect (i.e., 1%).

Adapted from: Heart and Soul: Your Guide to Living with Congenital Heart Disease, Heart and Stroke Foundation

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Heart Failure or Congestive Heart Failure

Heart Failure or Congestive Heart Failure occurs when the heart "fails". The heart muscle weakens and has trouble pumping blood through the body (systolic heart failure). The heart also "fails" when it has trouble relaxing, building up pressure inside the heart and back to the lungs (diastolic heart failure). This condition occurs due to or with other diseases such as high blood pressure, a heart attack, COPD and/or diabetes.

Some of the blood and fluid collects in areas of the body where it causes "congestion" and swelling (also called edema). There may be "puffiness" in the abdomen, ankles, or feet. Fluid may also collect in the lungs and causes shortness of breath. The fluid may collect until it causes a life-threatening condition called acute pulmonary edema, requiring emergency treatment.

Heart failure can get worse over time and is one of the leading causes for hospitalization for older adults in Canada. As symptoms get worse, those with heart failure experience shortness of breath and fatigue that impacts their daily activities. Treatment can be complicated including use of a number of different medications, low-salt diet, carefully monitoring weight and symptoms and physical activity at a level the person can tolerate.

Adapted from: Heart and Stroke Foundation, Managing Congestive Heart Failure, 2011

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Peripheral Vascular Disease

Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) is a term used to describe a group of diseases of the peripheral blood vessels (those outside the heart) as well as diseases of the lymph vessels. The arterial form, usually referred to as Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), is caused by deposits of fatty material in arteries of the legs and a build-up of plague within the arteries. PVD and PAD can run in families, can be related to blot clots, congenital heart disease and increased risk for heart attack and stroke. Since arteries carry oxygen-rich blood to the cells of the body, restriction of this blood flow can cause the body's organs to fail.
Other risk factors include: being overweight, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol levels, diabetes, cigarette smoking, coronary artery disease, stroke and being over 50. Symptoms include: Claudication—pain, fatigue, aching, tightness, weakness, cramping or tingling in the leg(s) brought on by exercise that goes away when resting, in mild disease; numbness and pain of the legs or feet at rest in more severe disease; cold hands, legs, or feet; loss of hair on the legs and/or feet at night; paleness or blueness of the legs; weak or absent pulse in the leg; sores, ulcer, or infection of the feet and legs that heal slowly; and, swelling in legs. This is a potentially serious condition that requires care from your doctor. The sooner PVD or PAD is treated, the better the outcome.

From: Heart and Stroke Foundation, Heart Disease Conditions, 2011 and

The Mount Sinai Medical Centre, Peripheral Vascular Disease, 2011

Information for patients and caregivers :

It is important that individuals with heart and cardiovascular conditions receive support from loved ones. Research shows that those with support from caregivers do better in managing their conditions.  The following are patient and caregiver-focused resources.

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Stroke or Cardio-vascular Accident

A Stroke or Cardio-vascular Accident (CVA) is a sudden loss of brain function. It is caused by the interruption of flow of blood to the brain (ischemic stroke) or the rupture of blood vessels in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke). The interruption of blood flow or the rupture of blood vessels causes brain cells (neurons) in the affected area to die. The effects of a stroke depend on where the brain was injured, as well as how much damage occurred. A stroke can impact any number of areas including your ability to move, see, remember, speak, reason and read and write.

From: What is Stroke? Heart and Stroke Foundation, 2009

Information for caregivers :

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