Drugs and lifestyle for the treatment and prevention of coronary artery disease: comparative analysis of the scientific basis
Braz. j. med. biol. res
;
44(10): 973-991, Oct. 2011. ilus
Artículo
en Inglés
| LILACS
| ID: lil-600691
ABSTRACT
In this article, we compare two strategies for atherosclerosis treatment drugs and healthy lifestyle. Statins are the principal drugs used for the treatment of atherosclerosis. Several secondary prevention studies have demonstrated that statins can significantly reduce cardiovascular events including coronary death, the need for surgical revascularization, stroke, total mortality, as well as fatal and non-fatal myocardial infarction. These results were observed in both men and women, the elderly, smokers and non-smokers, diabetics and hypertensives. Primary prevention studies yielded similar results, although total mortality was not affected. Statins also induce atheroma regression and do not cause cancer. However, many unresolved issues remain, such as partial risk reduction, costs, several potential side effects, and long-term use by young patients. Statins act mainly as lipid-lowering drugs but pleiotropic actions are also present. Healthy lifestyle, on the other hand, is effective and inexpensive and has no harmful effects. Five items are associated with lower cardiac risk non-smoking, BMI ≤25, regular exercise (30 min/day), healthy diet (fruits, vegetables, low-saturated fat, and 5-30 g alcohol/day). Nevertheless, there are difficulties in implementing these measures both at the individual and population levels. Changes in behavior require multidisciplinary care, including medical, nutritional, and psychological counseling. Participation of the entire society is required for such implementation, i.e., universities, schools, media, government, and medical societies. Although these efforts represent a major challenge, such a task must be faced in order to halt the atherosclerosis epidemic that threatens the world.
Texto completo:
Disponible
Índice:
LILACS (Américas)
Asunto principal:
Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria
/
Inhibidores de Hidroximetilglutaril-CoA Reductasas
/
Aterosclerosis
/
Estilo de Vida
Tipo de estudio:
Estudio de etiología
/
Factores de riesgo
Límite:
Femenino
/
Humanos
/
Masculino
Idioma:
Inglés
Revista:
Braz. j. med. biol. res
Asunto de la revista:
Biologia
/
Medicina
Año:
2011
Tipo del documento:
Artículo
País de afiliación:
Brasil
Institución/País de afiliación:
Universidade de São Paulo/BR
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