CARDIOVACULAR DISEASES ARE PREVENTABLE. HOW??
Prevention is nothing but aggressive risk factor management
The ultimate goal is towards
Improving the mean survivalage
Reducing recurrent cardiovascular events
Reducing the need for interventional procedures
Improving the quality of life,
This is done by
Primary prevention- Prevention of occurrence of disease condition in people with no history of cardiovascular disease.
Secondary prevention- Prevention of progression of the disease in individuals detected with atherosclerotic plaques.
PRIMARY PREVENTION
Because the majority of causes of cardiovascular diseases are known and modifiable, the American Heart Association has integrated a number of guidelines and consensus statements, and established the guidelines noted below for adult patients with no known heart or blood vessel disease.
While these guidelines apply to adults, they can help identify high-risk patients for whom screening and intervention in relative, including children, could be an important aspect of primary intervention.
Most importantly, a family-centered approach to primary prevention should be emphasized and the continuing message is that “ the adoption of healthy life habits remains the foundation of primary prevention”.
Lifestyle Modification- There are a number of healthy activities that cab be easily implemented to enhance your quality of life and help prevent heart disease and stroke.
You are what you eat- Better eating habits can reduce your future heart attack. A healthy eating plan not just means choosing the rights foods to eat but also preparing foods in a healthy way.
Heart Disease is Not Just a Man’s Disease- Heart disease is also a very important cause of death for women especially post menopausal women and who have a history of diabetes.
Exercise a Fitness- A number of activities can make you feel and look good, while helping your heart. These include swimming, cycling, jogging, skiing, aerobic dancing, walking or many other activities. Whether you participate in a structured exercise program or just make exercise part of your daily routine, you can improve the health of your heart.
PRIMARY PREVENTION
Cholesterol guideline
Ongoing advances in epidemiology and clinical research have led to recent revision or consensus assessment and treatment guidelines fro high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure.
In 2001, the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults published a new guideline, known as ATP III (Adult Treatment Panel), are based on procedures for risk assessment from which specific target levels for total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL or “bad cholesterol”), as well as treatment recommendation, are derived.
LDL Cholesterol
<100>190 mg/dL High very high
Total Cholesterol
<200>240 mg/dL High
HDL Cholesterol
<40>60 mg/dL High
<150>500 mg/dL Very high
Cigarette smoking
Hypertension (blood pressure>140/90 mm Hg, or on antihypertensive medication
Low HDL Cholesterol (
45years, women>55 years)
Individuals with 0-1 of the risk factors listed above are at extremely low risk for CAD or CAD events, and no further assessment of risks is necessary (although individuals with 0-1 risk factors and high LDL should be considered fro drug therapy). For individuals with 2 or more of the risk factors listed above, amore detailed risk assessment is performed using tables derived from analyses of the Framingham Heart Study, a long-term longitudinal study of cardiovascular risk. The Framingham risk score provides a percentage estimate of the likelihood of developing CAD or experiencing a CAD event within the next 10 years. From the risk estimates derived from risk factors and, if appropriate, from the Framingham information, ATP III then provides the target LDL level, the LDL level at which therapeutic lifestyle changes should be instituted. These are summarized below.
Risk Catagory
LDL(mg/dL) Goal
LDLLevel (mg/dL)
at which toinitiate
therapeutic lifestyle changes
LDL Level (mg/dL) at which to initiate durg therapy
Existing CAD or CAD risk Equivalents (10-year risk > 20%)
100
>130
2+ Risk Factors (10-year risk > 20%)
130
10- year risk 10-20%:> 130
-1 Risk Factor
160
<190> 20% 10-year risk of CAD development or event. Diabetes is considered a CAD risk equivalent, as is any combination of risk factors that confer > 20% 10-year risk using the Framingham Heart Study data.
The Goal of achieving normal LDL levels is done by
Dietary control (reduction of saturated fat to
40 inches in men, > 35 inches in women)
· High triglyceride level (>150 mg/dL)
· Low HDL level (<40>85 mm Hg)
· Elevated fasting glucose (>110 mg/dL)
Patients with metabolic syndrome should be treated with a combined program of weight control and increased physical activity.
For more visit Health Screen magazine and website http://diagnostics.siemens.com/
-
1 - Peas and other Legumes Soy , Peanuts , Beans , Lentils and Peas - not only are they good... Read Full Story » -
1. Various defining features of high cholesterol (Hypercholesterolemia) • High cholesterol... Read Full Story »
