Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: From Theory to Practice

In France, life expectancy continues to rise, but disability-free life expectancy is falling. Cardiovascular diseases, very often linked to atherosclerosis, are the second leading cause of death and a major cause of disability. Enormous progress has been made in their treatment, but initiatives to prevent them are limited and scattered. Prevention is a new field of intervention, based on rapidly accumulating knowledge. The means are available, and Patient Education optimises care. This book provides a general overview of the issue, then describes the formation of atherosclerotic plaque, the risk factors, and the measures to prevent or delay clinical consequences. In the second part, the benefits of endurance exercise and certain dietary habits modelled on the Mediterranean diet are detailed and explained. The content of this book makes it useful for all audiences, particularly healthcare professionals.