Normal and Therapeutic Nutrition

Normal and Therapeutic Nutrition 3(2+1)

Lesson 27:Cardiovascular and atherosclerosis – Risk factors and dietary management

Risk factors

Category I
Risk factors for which intervention have been proven to lower CVD risk are

• Cigarette smoking
• LDL cholesterol
• High fat/ cholesterol diet
• Hypertension
• Left ventricular hypertrophy
• Thrombogenic factor

Category II
Risk factors for which interventions are likely to lower CVD risk

• Diabetes mellitus
• Physical inactivity
• HDL cholesterol
• Triglycerides, small dense LDL
• Obesity
• Postmenopausal status

Category III
Risk factors associated with increased CVD risk may reduce if the following are modified

• Physiological factors
• Lipoprotein A
• Homoecysteine
• Oxidative stress
• No alcohol consumption

Category IV
Risk factors associated with increased CVD risk which cannot be modified

• Age
• Male gender
• Family history of early onset of CVD