[Etiology and pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis]

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in Western countries, with an enormous increase in death rate and involvement of younger age groups during the last decades. This applies especially to coronary heart disease and is mainly caused by first-degree risk factors: hypertension, hyperlipoproteinemia, cigarette smoking, gout, obesity, polycythemia, lack of physical activity, and stress. These risk factors are discussed with special reference to overnutrition and increased cholesterol levels. Recent resuults of research concerning lipids and their relation to atherosclerosis are reviewed.