Heart attack, atherosclerosis, stroke, and high blood pressure are all different kinds of what?

• A. Cancer
• B. Infectious disease
• C. Autoimmune disease
• D. Cardiovascular disease

Answer: (D)

These conditions all involve the heart and blood vessels and affect how blood moves through the body, so they fall under the cardiovascular system. A heart attack happens when a coronary artery is blocked, injuring heart muscle. A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is disrupted. Atherosclerosis is the buildup of plaques inside arteries, narrowing them and raising the risk of heart attack or stroke. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, puts extra strain on the heart and vessels, increasing cardiovascular risk over time. They’re not cancers, infectious diseases, or autoimmune diseases, which involve abnormal cell growth, pathogens, or immune system misdirection, respectively.