Atherosclerosis Risk Factors
The major modifiable risk
factors for development of atherosclerosis are:
Diabetes Mellitus
Hypertension:
Blood Pressure above 140/90 mmHg
or being on antihypertensive medications
Cigarette
Smoking
Hypercholesterolemia:
High LDL cholesterol
Low
HDL cholesterol: Below 35 mg/dl
Obesity
Physical
Inactivity
Elevated
levels of the amino acid Homocysteine
This is generating increasing interest since
Homocysteine levels can be modified by
vitamin supplementation
The major non-modifiable
risk factors for development of atherosclerosis are:
Age:
Males 45 years of age and over
Females 55 years of age and over or premature
menopause without estrogen replacement.
Family
history of premature CAD:
This is defined as developing definite myocardial
infarction or sudden death before age 55 in your
father or other male first degree relative,
or developing atherosclerosis before the age of
65
in your mother or other female first degree
relative
National Cholesterol
Education Program Guidelines:
All
adults 20 years of age and older should have their total
cholesterol as well as HDL cholesterol levels measured every five
years. Measurements need not be taken in the fasting state since
total cholesterol and HDL will not be affected. Triglycerides may
be elevated with a non-fasting blood test however.
Treatment Goals:
Patients
without evidence of atherosclerotic disease
and
fewer than two other risk factors, should have
LDL
levels less than 160 mg/dl.
Patients without evidence of atherosclerotic
disease
but who
have two or more other risk factors,
should
have LDL levels less than 130 mg/dl.
Patients with evidence of atherosclerotic disease
should
have LDL levels less than 100 mg/dl.
