Heart Health

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of mortality worldwide, accounting for approximately 17.9 million deaths annually according to the World Health Organization. CVD encompasses a range of conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels, including coronary artery disease, heart failure, arrhythmias, peripheral vascular disease, and stroke. Many cardiovascular conditions share common underlying mechanisms including atherosclerosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction.

Major risk factors for cardiovascular disease include hypertension (high blood pressure), dyslipidemia (abnormal cholesterol levels), diabetes, obesity, smoking, physical inactivity, and poor diet quality. Many of these risk factors are modifiable through lifestyle interventions, with nutrition playing a central role. Elevated LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, blood glucose, and inflammatory markers contribute to atherosclerotic plaque formation and cardiovascular events.

Heart failure, affecting over 64 million people globally, presents unique nutritional challenges including cardiac cachexia, micronutrient deficiencies, and fluid-electrolyte imbalances. Patients with heart failure often experience reduced appetite, early satiety, and increased metabolic demands. Post-cardiac event recovery requires careful nutritional support to promote healing, prevent muscle wasting, and reduce recurrence risk. Evidence-based nutritional strategies can significantly improve cardiovascular outcomes and quality of life.