How Do CVD Prevention Strategies Help You To Reduce Heart Disease Risk?
Introduction
The right approach and strategies can help prevent cardiovascular disease by almost 80%. This makes it important for greater awareness of the three different CVD prevention strategies. Each level has its own success rate and steps that need to be followed. Here is a detailed look at these prevention strategies that can save your life.
What is primary prevention of cardiovascular disease?
Cardiovascular disease, as outlined above, can be prevented in a large number of cases. This involves different stages of prevention levels. The first is primary prevention, which is intended to prevent the condition from manifesting in people how have not experienced any tell-tale symptoms. The steps in this level are mainly focused on reducing risk factors, through diet and lifestyle modification, including:
- Dietary changes – You will be asked to switch over to a diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables. Your diet will typically include whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. You will also be asked to reduce salt, sugar, and saturated fat intake.
- Physical activity – You will be recommended a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity daily or about 15 minutes of intensive activity daily.
- Smoking – You will be supported in stopping smoking. Cessation is a mandatory requirement to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease.
- Weight – Your weight will be monitored with recommendations to keep it under control, through a combination of the right diet and adequate exercise.
- Blood pressure levels – You will be required to make necessary changes in your lifestyle to regulate your blood pressure levels. If required, you may be put on medications to control blood pressure levels.
- Cholesterol – Similarly, your cholesterol levels will also be monitored, with necessary recommendations for regulation through diet and exercise. You may also be required to take medications as required.
- Diabetes – You will be required to control your blood sugar levels through a combination of diet, exercise, and medications.
Effects or outcomes of primary prevention
With the right diet and exercise you can reduce your risk of developing CVD by around 30%. Smoking is known to reduce risk of coronary heart disease by a staggering 50%. Similarly, when you control your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, you can reduce the risk of stroke by approximately 35%.
Secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease
The next in the prevention levels is the secondary prevention stage, that is meant for people who have been diagnosed with CVD. This is also meant for people who may have had a recent cardiovascular event, like a heart attack or stroke. The purpose is to stop or slow down the progression of the condition and to avoid any future cardiovascular event. This stage involves:
- Medications – You will be prescribed medicines belonging to the categories like antiplatelets, statins, beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors. This is to help you manage the symptoms and to reduce the risk factors significantly.
- Lifestyle changes – This is to help you continue or start adopting healthy lifestyle practices. These are similar to the lifestyle changes in the primary prevention stage.
- Cardiac rehabilitation – This is intended to put in place a regimen involving structured exercises and awareness. This is to improve your cardiovascular health and to reduce your risk to any possible future recurrence.
- Periodic check-ups – You will have to ensure periodic monitoring of your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. This is to be aware of your risk factors, and take remedial measures when the levels change.
- Existing conditions – Some underlying conditions are known to aggravate CVD. For instance, obesity, diabetes and hypertension are all contributing factors. You will be supported in efforts to reduce the effects of these comorbid conditions.
Effects or outcomes of secondary prevention
A diligently followed regimen of medications can reduce your risk levels considerably. For instance, antiplatelet therapy can bring down your risk by around 25%. Statins can help you cut your risk levels of major cardiovascular events by around 25%. Cardiac rehabilitation is known to bring about a reduction of around 20% in mortality rates.
Tertiary prevention of cardiovascular disease
The third stage of the prevention levels is tertiary prevention. This is for people who have been diagnosed with advanced cardiovascular disease. This is also for people who have suffered some recent or past cardiovascular events that are classified as major/serious. The idea is to bring down complications, and help in altering the ability of the person for routine activities. This is achieved through the following:
- Advanced interventions – The person will be put through procedures like angioplasty, stent implantation, coronary artery bypass grafting etc.
- Chronic disease treatment – The patient is treated for chronic conditions in a comprehensive and intensive manner. This includes conditions like heart failure, arrhythmias, and other health issues that impact heart health.
- Palliative care – The patient is assisted with palliative care to manage symptoms in a dedicated manner. This will also improve the quality of life of patients in cases where the effects are debilitating.
Effects or outcomes of tertiary prevention
Advanced interventions such as angioplasty and coronary artery bypass grafting can significantly improve chances of survival. This is also known to help the patient live with a better quality of life without the need for assistance. Implanted devices for heart failure patients can reduce risk of death by around 23%. Effective management of underlying chronic diseases can reduce the need for repeat hospitalization by around 30%.
Primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of cardiovascular disease
With the right preventive strategies, you can reduce the risk of CVD significantly. In the first stage, or even before any of the prevention levels, you could opt for screening. This could be for common indicators of risk, such as blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes. Another important facet of preventive screening is genetic testing.
With genetic testing you can screen for genetic components that contribute to risk of CVD. For instance, your risk of CVD could be due to an inherited condition or it could be a genetic mutation at birth. These conditions or risks can be screened with advance genetic testing facilities that are available in Tamil Nadu. A simple blood or saliva sample is all that is required for a detailed analysis that will rule out or confirm your future or lifetime risk of CVD.
It is therefore possible in most cases to reduce the risk of CVD through a combination of actions. This includes screening, lifestyle modifications, medications and advanced interventions.
Related Blogs :
Different Stages Of Hypertension Heart Disease
Different Stages Of Hypertension Heart Disease Introduction What Is The Connection Between Night Leg Cramps And Heart Disease? What Are The Different Heart Disease Drugs? Options For...
Read More...
What Are The Main Valvular Heart Disease Causes And Best Treatment Options?
What Are The Main Valvular Heart Disease Causes And Best Treatment Options? Introduction How Is Each Heart Valve Disease Name Assigned To A Condition What Are The...
Read More...
Education: Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm) from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai Experience: Agarwal is a seasoned pharmacist with over 7 years of experience in the pharmaceutical field. She has worked in various settings, including hospital pharmacies and community clinics, where she has excelled in medication management, patient counseling, and clinical support. Agarwal is known for her expertise in drug therapy optimization and patient safety. In addition to her practical experience, she contributes to health journalism, focusing on pharmaceutical advancements and health policy, and is involved in research projects aimed at improving medication practices and health outcomes. is known for her expertise in drug therapy optimization and patient safety. In addition to her practical experience, she contributes to health journalism, focusing on pharmaceutical advancements and health policy, and is involved in research projects aimed at improving medication practices and health outcomes.
