Cardiovascular prevention at any age
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In Spain the paradox that we have a high incidence of risk factors-especially high cholesterol, hypertension, smoking and sobrepeso- is given and also the incidence of cardiovascular complications is lower than in other countries with the same or lower load of risk factors. This has made creating a false consciousness of "Mediterranean" immunity, which carries a suicidal passivity to the epidemic that will surely come because of the worsening lifestyle of youth and adolescents.
Risk factors for cardiovascular disease
Although many still believe women are not in any way free of this disease. On the contrary, mortality from cardiovascular disease is higher in women, and also gives them the fact that less frequently applied diagnostic and therapeutic procedures of proven effectiveness.
Nor is it true that from a certain age no longer worthwhile prevent cardiovascular disease. It is true that the sooner you start reducing risk factors more mortality is reduced, but so is that at any age lengthens survival and limiting complications (stroke and heart failure in particular) are reduced. One of the limitations of cardiovascular prevention is that most efforts are applied to the high-risk population (with already discovered disease or group of multiple risk factors), while most of the complications will occur in the population considered low risk, no access to a cardiologist and prevention.
Primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases
In both primary prevention for the person who has had no complications such as secondary for those who wish to avoid the repetition of an episode, the lifestyle is essential. Such lifestyle has three main components, smoking cessation, regular exercise and adequate food. Regarding diet, are important five aspects: caloric intake in terms of weight, salt, alcohol, fat and glycemic index. As for exercise, it is considered as the key point of cardiovascular prevention and is recommended for all people to varying degrees depending on their characteristics and some particular recommendations. And against smoking, no amount is acceptable or not any substitute (electronic cigarettes do not help to quit smoking and are inherently harmful).
