1. Problems of cardiovascular
disease and relation to
smoking
ALBIO9700/2006JK

2. Factor Effect
Age Risk increases with increasing age:
About 80% of people who die of coronary heart diseases are 65 or older
Gender Men are more at risk than women:
Protection is given by oestrogen which occurs either naturally or by hormone replacement therapy
(HRT)
Heredity Children of parents with heart disease are at greater risk than others:
Genes are involved in developing high blood cholesterol concentrations, high blood pressure and
diabetes mellitus
Body mass Being overweight of obese increases risk:
Excess weight puts a strain on the heart and blood pressure rises
Diet Intake of saturated fat and salt:
Development of atherosclerosis and high blood pressure
Risk decrease with high intake of antioxidants (vit E and C) and soluble fibres and moderate intake
of unsaturated fats
Blood cholesterol Direct relationship between concentration of cholesterol in the blood and risk of coronary heart
disease:
Above 250mg cholesterol per 100cm3 of blood is considered high
High blood pressure Risk increases with increasing blood pressure
Smoking Combines with all other risk factors to multiply the chances of developing coronary
heart disease
Exercise Risk decreases as more exercise is taken:
Aerobic activity helps control blood cholesterol, diabetes mellitus and obesity and lowers blood
pressure
Diabetes Increased risk
Alcohol Risk increase with high intake:
Blood pressure rises and atherosclerosis is more likely
Risk may decrease with moderate intake
Social class Risk increase with poverty

3. Global distribution of coronary
heart disease
 Commonly associated with affluence
 As it is a degenerative disease, it may be
high only because people live longer
 Deaths due to infectious disease decrease,
deaths due to coronary heart disease
increase
ALBIO9700/2006JK

4.  Incidence of coronary heart disease
highest:
 In certain parts of the world
 Among the poorer people
 Among certain ethnic groups including south
Asians
 Among men
ALBIO9700/2006JK

5. Prevention and cure of coronary
heart disease
 More exercise
 Avoid/give up smoking
 Decreasing intake of animal fat
 Drugs to lower blood pressure, decrease risk of
blood clotting, prevent abnormal heart rhythms,
reduce retention of fluids and decrease
cholesterol concentration in the blood
 Coronary artery by-pass
 Heart transplant
ALBIO9700/2006JK

6. ALBIO9700/2006JK

7.  Maternal nutrition:
 Higher birth weight is associated with lower blood
pressure in middle age
 High weight at one year of age is associated with a
lower risk of diabetes and a low level in the blood of
low density lipoproteins
ALBIO9700/2006JK