Article Abstract:
Cardiovascular disease causes one of every two deaths in the US, and costs more than $127 billion each year. High blood pressure (hypertension) and blood cholesterol levels increase the risk of disability and death due to early cardiovascular disease. Cigarette smoking, diabetes, low levels of high-density-lipoprotein (HDL), severe obesity, male sex, and a history of cardiovascular disease are other risk factors. It was estimated that 58 million persons require drugs to lower their blood pressure. In addition, another 60 million persons aged 20 years and older require medical interventions, such as diet therapy, to reduce their blood cholesterol levels. The incidence of hypertension is increased in patients with elevated cholesterol levels; conversely, hypertensive patients tend to have elevated blood cholesterol levels. Epidemiologic studies show that cardiovascular disease develops less frequently in persons with fewer or lower levels of risk factors. Elevated levels of any single risk factor, or a combination of different risk factors, will increase the chance of developing cardiovascular disease. The care and treatment of patients with several risk factors, but particularly hypertension and increased blood cholesterol, are discussed. Hypertension and elevated blood cholesterol can frequently be controlled by proper diet, exercise, and cessation of cigarette smoking, without the need for drugs. Drugs can also be effective in reducing risks associated with hypertension or elevated blood cholesterol, but the overall benefit, cost, and potential adverse side effects of drug therapy must be considered. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
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Article Abstract:
Better methods of risk assessment are needed to determine which surgery patients will have a cardiovascular complication from surgery. In a study of 2,035 surgery patients, none of the four risk assessment tools that were evaluated was 100% accurate in predicting which patients would have a complication.
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Article Abstract:
People with small aneurysms in the abdominal aorta have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a study of 416 people. An aneurysm occurs when part of the aorta becomes weak and begins to bulge.
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