The most generic cardiovascular disorder is a heart attack. What is a heart attack you ask? When the coronary artery of the heart becomes restricted and can no longer function. How does this happen? Either an external force is applied to the heart or a buildup of cholesterol within the blood vessels. What is cholesterol you say? Well, cholesterol is virtually the fats that you ingest that accumulate in your blood vessels instead of the subcutaneous layer of the skin. How will you avoid a heart attack? Simply by eating a low cholesterol diet (no red meat or greasy foods) and by maintaining a low-stress life style.
Another common cardiovascular disorder is an aneurysm. What is an aneurysm? It is a buildup of pressure in a particular region of a major artery. What arteries? Most commonly the carotid artery in the brain, but they can develop throughout the body. How do you tell if you are eligible to have an aneurysm? Well, to put it simply, you can't; at least not alone. A regular checkup at the doctors and a blood pressure examination will provide insight of any possible irregularities. Can you survive an aneurysm? Sadly, more often than not, they tend to be fatal.
A more unfamiliar cardiovascular disorder is a heart murmur. What is this? A heart murmur is an irregular beat in the systolic and/or diastolic contractions of the heart. What causes this? Well, the valves in the heart begin to weaken, and a slight backward flow of blood occurs within the heart, making noise (the detectable murmur). How do you avoid this? Well, heart murmurs are a very common and under-diagnosed disorder. They are usually harmless, other than a possible shortness of breath every so often.