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[The risk factors of atherosclerotic disease. Life style and primary prevention]
L Bagnoli1, R Bellesi, G Menegazzo
1III Divisione di Medicina, Ospedale S.M. Annunziata, Firenze.
Insights
Atherosclerosis, a major cause of death, is linked to risk factors like high cholesterol, smoking, and inactivity. Lifestyle changes, including diet modification, smoking cessation, moderate alcohol intake, and regular exercise, can reduce cardiovascular disease risk.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Public Health
Context:
- Atherosclerosis is the leading global cause of mortality, primarily due to cardiovascular diseases.
- Key risk factors include hypercholesterolemia, smoking, physical inactivity, and alcohol consumption.
Purpose:
- To identify and correlate major risk factors with cardiovascular pathologies.
- To provide evidence-based, practical recommendations for mitigating these risks.
Summary:
- Hypercholesterolemia increases coronary heart disease incidence, though cholesterol reduction trials show no overall mortality benefit.
- Alcohol consumption exhibits a U-shaped mortality curve; moderate intake is associated with lower cardiovascular disease risk, while heavy drinking increases it.
- Smoking and sedentary lifestyles show a direct correlation with increased cardiovascular disease and mortality.
Impact:
- Dietary fat intake should be <30% of calories (10% saturated, 10% monounsaturated, 10% polyunsaturated).
- Absolute smoking cessation is recommended.
- Alcohol consumption should not exceed 15 g/day.
- Engaging in physical activity for 40-60 minutes, twice weekly, is advised.
Abstract:
Atherosclerosis brings about cardiovascular diseases and is the world's largest cause of death. Risk factors are to be considered in their incidence and correlation to various pathologies. Cholesterolaemia, smoking, physical inactivity, alcohol are held to be the most important risk factors. Hypercholesterolaemia involves a greater incidence of coronary heart disease; studies on cholesterol reduction however did not give evidence of any reduction in overall mortality. Alcohol displays an u-shaped relation between levels of assumption and associated mortality, depending on the fact that moderate drinkers show decreasing mortality scores and even a decreasing incidence of cardiovascular diseases (while the curve inflects upwards for serious drinkers). A direct correlation appears instead between both smoking and sedentary life on the one hand and both cardiovascular pathologies and mortality on the other. In order to reduce the risk factors' influence, on the ground of available studies and published trials do the authors offer practical indications. Fats in diet should be less than 30% of total calories (where of 10% saturated, 10% monounsaturated, 10% polyunsaturated); abstention from smoking must be absolute; alcohol should not exceed 15 g/die; some physical activity should be practised for 40-60 minutes, twice a week.