Risk factors

Normal and Therapeutic Nutrition 3(2+1)
Lesson 26:Cardiovascular and atherosclerosis – causes, symptoms

Risk factors

Risk factors for cardiovascular disease

  • Cigarette smoking
  • Hypertension
  • High serum total cholesterol & LDL
  • Low HDL
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Obesity
  • Physical inactivity
  • Family history of coronary heart disease
  • Hyper triglyceridemia.
  • Small, dense LDL particles
  • Increased lipoprotein(a)
  • Increased serum homocysteine
  • Abnormalities in several clotting factors
  • High levels of serum reactive protein

It has been shown that there is an association between atherosclerosis and various nutrients to varying degrees. There is a definite association between types of dietary fat and elevated blood lipid levels. Controlling blood cholesterol level is a major means of controlling heart disease. While elevated cholesterol levels are major contributor to heart disease, dietary saturated fat contributes to the cholesterol level.

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Last modified: Tuesday, 25 October 2011, 5:19 AM