A stroke is a “brain attack”: It occurs when blood flow to the brain is cut off, causing death or brain damage. Often referred to as a disease, a stroke is really the result of cardiovascular disease. There are basically…

Smoking is a major cause of fatal (heart, lung, cancer) and non-fatal diseases (osteoporosis, skin aging, peptic ulcers, impotence, pregnancy complications), many of which are preventable. Exposure to secondhand smoke is also responsible for deaths from heart disease and contributes…

Overweight and obesity are major public health issues. There has been a dramatic increase in the incidence of overweight and obesity across the globe and the problem affects adults and children alike. Overweight has become such a prevalent problem that…

Lung cancer is a disease caused by abnormal (cancerous) cells in the lungs. These cells multiply, destroy the normal cells and prevent the lungs from functioning properly. There are two types of lung cancer: small-cell lung cancer and non-small-cell lung…

Blood pressure is a measure of the force that the heart uses to pump blood around the body. It reaches its highest point when the heart is contracting and its lowest point when the heart is relaxing between beats. As…

Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is present just about everywhere in the body. It is vital to a range of life-sustaining functions. The liver is the organ responsible for regulating cholesterol. In addition to producing about 80% of the…

Diabetes is a chronic disease in which the body either cannot produce insulin or cannot properly use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone that helps glucose enter the body’s cells, where it is used for energy. Diabetes therefore…

Senile dementia is a gradual decline of mental abilities that generally affects those 65 years or older. Persons with dementia experience a decline in social and intellectual skills that is usually irreversible. Causes Senile dementia can be divided into three…

The role of the lungs is to provide oxygen to the body and to eliminate waste. To this end, the lungs are made up of thousands of small sacs (called alveoli) that allow maximal gas exchange with the environment. In…

Cardiovascular is made up of the words “cardio” meaning heart and “vascular” meaning blood vessels. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) thus encompasses diseases of the heart and diseases of the blood vessels. CVD includes angina (chest pain), myocardial infarction (heart attack), and…