Cardiovascular health describes how well, or how poorly, the heart (“cardio-”) and blood vessels (“-vascular”) move blood throughout the body. Conditions like coronary artery disease and atherosclerosis are commonly associated with cardiovascular health. However, not all cardiovascular diseases have to do with clogged and hardened blood vessels. For example, Raynaud's disease, varicose veins,[1] and congenital heart diseases[2] are also categorized under cardiovascular health. Metrics like heart rate variability and resting heart rate are also linked to cardiovascular health to some degree, but their significance is still being explored.[3][4]
References
- ^Medline Plus: Vascular Diseases. Accessed 5/30/22
- ^Medline Plus: Heart Diseases. Accessed 5/30/22
- ^Larsson SC, Drca N, Mason AM, Burgess SResting Heart Rate and Cardiovascular Disease.Circ Genom Precis Med.(2019-03)
- ^Souza HCD, Philbois SV, Veiga AC, Aguilar BAHeart Rate Variability and Cardiovascular Fitness: What We Know so Far.Vasc Health Risk Manag.(2021)