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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.
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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