Info Modifiable Medical Risk Factors

• Modifiable Medical Risk Factors:

  • need to know:
  • diabetes (hyperglycemia)
  • high blood pressure
  • atherogenic dyslipidaemia (disordered lipids)
  • microalbuminuria
  • lipoprotein(a)
  • use of certain medication
  • left ventricular hypertrophy
  • excess homocysteine
  • inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein)
  • abnormal blood coagulation
• Blood pressure:

  • the higher the blood pressure (hypertension), the higher the risk of coronary heart disease

  
• Categories for conventionally measured seated office blood pressure:

  • non-elevated blood pressure = BP less than 120/70 mmHg
  • elevated blood pressure = BP from 120/70 to less than 140/90
  • hypertension = BP equal to or more than 140/90

  
• Key Messages regarding BP:

  • the lower the better - as long as there are no symptoms
  • for those at high CVD risk or living with diabetes or established CVD, the BP target is 120 to 129/70 to 79 mmHg and pharmacological therapy should be initiated if BP is equal to or more than 130/80 mmHg after 3 months of lifestyle intervention
  • need to know how to measure BP correctly

  
• Cholesterol:

  • the higher the amount of total cholesterol, the higher the risk of coronary heart disease

  
• Cholesterol - measurement of lipids:

  • can be measured via a venous blood sample or through a finger prick test