Guidelines on Lifestyle Modification in the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease

2013-11-29 15:22:25

In addition to updated guidelines for cholesterol management, this past month has seen the release of new guidelines from the American Heart Association on the role of lifestyle management for the reduction of cardiovascular disease risk. The guideline group sought to answer three topics: 1) the role of dietary patterns and/ or macronutrient composition; 2) the role of sodium intake or restriction; 3) the role of exercise in managing blood pressure and cholesterol.

For patients that would benefit from LDL cholesterol lowering, the guidelines recommend the following dietary pattern: emphasis on intake of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains; includes low-fat dairy products, poultry, fish, legumes, non-tropical vegetable oils and nuts; and limits intake of sweets, sugar-sweetened beverages and red meats. This diet should aim for between 5% to 6% of calories from saturated fat, and reduce the percent of calories from trans fat.

For patients that would benefit from lowering blood pressure, the same dietary recommendations apply, with the addition of sodium restriction. Sodium should be limited to no more than 2,400 mg of sodium/day, with 1500 mg being a more ideal target; for those who do not consume this amount but still have high blood pressure, a further reduction by at least another 1000 mg/d sodium will further lower blood pressure.

Both groups of patients should be advised to engage in aerobic exercise as a way to lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Exercise frequency should be 3 to 4 times a week, lasting on average 40 minutes per session, and involving moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity.