Risk factors increase likelihood of CVD event

Middle aged adults that have one or more elevated traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease(CVD) have a significantly more chance of having a CVD event such as a heart attack or stroke, it has been found by the Cardiovascular Lifetime Risk Pooling Project.

The project, one of the largest-ever analyses, was supported by the National Institute for Health and analysed data from 250,000 people involving 18 population-based studies. It is the first of its kind to look simultaneously at age, sex, race and birth generation, which makes it an important source of data for CVD prevention.

Susan B. Shurin, M.D., acting director of the NIH's National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, said:"Prevention of cardiovascular disease is a lifetime opportunity for and a responsibility of individuals, families, communities, and the health care system. This paper reinforces that cardiovascular disease can be prevented and controlled throughout the course of an adult's lifetime."

According to the British Heart Foundation, there are many ways in which you can prevent CVD over the course of a lifetime. Exercising and having a healthy diet are important for all ages. Smoking a drinking limits should be observed by adults, as they lead to high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Posted by Ben Evans