Diseases of the heart and vessels

Cardiovascular diseases or diseases of the heart and the vessels, arteries and veins are responsible for cardiac arrhythmias, arterial hypertension, myocardial infarction, heart failure or strokes . They are one of the main causes of death in Europe and constitute the first cost for public health systems with more than 15 million people treated for cardiovascular disease.

Despite advances in prevention and treatment, the number of people with cardiovascular disease continues to increase, particularly with the aging of the population. This increase is marked by strong social and territorial inequalities. At the center of the cardiovascular disease epidemic, atherosclerosis , that is to say this phenomenon of accelerated aging of the arteries which become rigid with often the formation of atherosclerotic plaques which can clog them, the first cause of myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accidents and a contributing factor hypertension. Atherosclerosis is favored by metabolic diseases, diet rich in animal fat, physical inactivity, tobacco or even heredity.