Cardiovascular Disease
What is Cardiovascular disease?
Cardiovascular disease includes conditions that affect your heart and blood vessels. These include coronary artery disease, heart attacks, strokes, and irregular heartbeat. The disease happens when plaques build up in your arteries, narrowing the space where blood flows.
Plaque is made of cholesterol, fat, calcium, and other substances in your blood. When plaques grow, they reduce blood flow to your heart, brain, and other organs. Sometimes plaques can rupture and cause blood clots that block arteries completely. This leads to heart attacks and strokes.
Cardiovascular disease develops slowly over many years. Many people have no symptoms until a serious event occurs. Early detection through blood testing helps you understand your risk and take steps to protect your heart before problems develop.
Symptoms
- Chest pain or pressure, especially during physical activity
- Shortness of breath during exercise or at rest
- Pain or numbness in your arms, legs, neck, or jaw
- Irregular or rapid heartbeat
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Fatigue that limits your daily activities
- Swelling in your legs, ankles, or feet
Many people with early cardiovascular disease have no symptoms at all. The condition can progress silently for decades before causing noticeable problems. This makes regular blood testing essential for catching risk factors early.
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Causes and risk factors
Cardiovascular disease develops when your arteries become damaged and inflamed over time. High cholesterol and certain fats in your blood stick to artery walls and form plaques. Inflammation from poor diet, smoking, and chronic stress accelerates this process. High blood pressure damages artery walls and makes plaque buildup worse. Blood clots can form when platelets become overly active and stick together.
Risk factors include smoking, poor diet high in processed foods, lack of physical activity, and excess weight. Family history plays a role, especially if close relatives had heart disease before age 55. Conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure increase your risk significantly. Chronic inflammation and imbalanced minerals like magnesium also contribute to heart disease development.
How it's diagnosed
Doctors diagnose cardiovascular disease using blood tests, imaging studies, and physical exams. Blood tests measure key markers that show your risk level. These include lipid panels that check cholesterol types, tests for platelet activation, and mineral levels that affect heart function. Elevated markers can reveal problems years before symptoms appear.
Rite Aid offers testing for cardiovascular disease markers through our annual blood panel. We measure Lipoprotein a, which shows genetic risk for plaque buildup. We also check 11-Dehydrothromboxane B2 to assess platelet activation and clot risk. Magnesium testing reveals imbalances that affect heart rhythm and blood pressure. Testing is available at over 2,000 Quest Diagnostics locations nationwide.
Treatment options
- Eat a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and healthy fats like olive oil and fish
- Exercise for at least 150 minutes per week with activities like walking, swimming, or cycling
- Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke exposure
- Maintain a healthy weight through balanced nutrition and regular movement
- Manage stress with practices like meditation, deep breathing, or yoga
- Limit alcohol to no more than one drink per day for women, two for men
- Take prescribed medications like statins to lower cholesterol or aspirin to reduce clotting
- Use blood pressure medications if lifestyle changes alone are not enough
- Consider magnesium supplementation if blood levels are low
- Work with your doctor to manage diabetes and other chronic conditions
Concerned about Cardiovascular disease? Get tested at Rite Aid.
- Simple blood draw at your nearest lab
- Results in days, not weeks
- Share results with your doctor
Frequently asked questions
Early cardiovascular disease often has no obvious symptoms. Some people experience mild chest discomfort during exercise or unusual fatigue. Others notice shortness of breath with activities that used to feel easy. Blood tests can detect risk factors years before symptoms appear.
Adults should have baseline testing by age 35 or earlier if risk factors exist. People with normal results can retest every 2 to 5 years. Those with elevated markers or existing heart disease should test annually or as their doctor recommends.
Lipoprotein a is a cholesterol particle that promotes plaque buildup in arteries. High levels increase your risk of heart attacks and strokes significantly. Unlike other cholesterol types, Lipoprotein a is largely genetic and does not change much with diet alone.
Lifestyle changes can slow or stop cardiovascular disease progression in many cases. Some studies show intensive diet and exercise programs can reduce existing plaque. Early intervention works best, which is why testing and prevention matter so much.
Magnesium helps regulate heart rhythm and blood pressure. Low magnesium increases the risk of irregular heartbeat and coronary artery disease. High magnesium can lower blood pressure too much. Balanced levels support proper heart and blood vessel function.
11-Dehydrothromboxane B2 measures platelet activation in your blood. Platelets help form clots to stop bleeding. When platelets become too active, they can form dangerous clots in arteries. High levels indicate increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Family history significantly increases cardiovascular disease risk. If close relatives had heart disease before age 55, your risk is higher. Genetic factors affect cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and how your body handles inflammation. Testing helps you understand your inherited risk.
Eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and fatty fish like salmon. Use olive oil instead of butter. Choose lean proteins and limit red meat to a few times per month. Avoid processed foods, sugary drinks, and excess salt.
Yes, standard cholesterol tests miss important risk factors. Lipoprotein a, platelet activation, inflammation markers, and mineral imbalances all contribute to heart disease. These can be abnormal even when basic cholesterol numbers look fine. Comprehensive testing reveals hidden risks.
Statins lower cholesterol and reduce plaque formation. Aspirin reduces platelet activation and clot risk. Blood pressure medications protect arteries from damage. Some people need medications for diabetes or irregular heartbeat. Your doctor chooses medications based on your specific risk factors and test results.