Recently, the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) has published new primary prevention of heart disease guidelines.
The new guidelines focus on traditional recommendations for managing heart conditions like atrial fibrillation (AFib), irregular heartbeat, and hardening or narrowing of arteries.
These conditions put patients at increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
In addition, the new recommendations include social determinants that may hinder a person’s ability to live a heart-healthy lifestyle.
The recommendations also include new guidelines for the use of daily aspirin to reduce the risk of a heart attack.
According to the Western Connecticut Medical Group (WCMG) primary care and cardiology experts, cardiovascular disease continues to be the leading cause of death in the United States.
Nearly 50% of all American adults have some form of heart disease, according to AHA.
Based on the results of the risk assessment, the guidelines suggest that lifestyle changes and managing chronic conditions to help prevent heart disease.
The lifestyle changes include:
Nutrition: People should follow a plant-based diet rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, and lean proteins.
Bodyweight: Overweight and obese people should participate in lifestyle-changing programs that combine a low-calorie diet with increased physical activity to help with weight loss.
Physical activity: Depending on the age and other risk factors, most people should engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week (about 20 minutes per day), or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity each week (about 10 minutes per day), including resistance training.
Smoking: Everyone should avoid all types of tobacco use. The ACC/AHA guidelines advise primary care providers to refer patients to smoking cessation specialists who can help them quit.
Type 2 diabetes: People with Type 2 diabetes should eat a heart-healthy diet and follow the physical activity recommendations. If necessary, they should use medications to control blood sugar levels.
High cholesterol: People with high cholesterol should follow the nutrition and the physical activity guidelines too. If necessary, they should use cholesterol-lowering medication to manage cholesterol levels.
High blood pressure: People with high blood pressure should also follow the nutrition and physical activity guidelines, with a specific focus on lowering sodium intake and reducing alcohol consumption.
If necessary, medications should also be used to lower blood pressure.
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