Figure 1.

Pathological processes involved in the development and progression of CVDs. Several risk factors can predispose to CVDs. These can include hypertension, smoking, dyslipidemia stemming from an unhealthy diet, or endocrinopathies like diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, and aging. The risk factors can lead to pathological alterations most of which can be due to endothelial dysfunction or VSMC alterations. Endothelial dysfunction or VSMC alterations increase the risk of developing atherosclerosis and hypertension. Atherosclerosis and hypertension are themselves CVDs risk factors and enhancers for the development of other CVDs like myocardial infarction, coronary artery diseases, or stroke. VSMC, vascular smooth muscle cell; ECM, extracellular matrix; NO, nitric oxide; eNOS, endothelial nitric oxide synthase; iNOS, inducible nitric oxide synthase; Ox-LDL, oxidized low-density lipoprotein.