Cardiovascular Disease Prevention

About this course

Arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of illness related death in the United States. It can occur at any age, and is prevalent in those who are obese, have high cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes, use tobacco, and do not exercise. There are many ways of improving the condition, including reducing obesity, cholesterol, hypertension, and diabetes through exercise and various medication treatment regimens. A healthcare provider must be able to identify risk factors related to the diagnosis to reduce the risk of disease and its progression. This learning activity provides a brief overview of atherosclerotic heart disease, the risk factors, and common treatment regimens.

Learning objectives

• Define arthrosclerosis
• Identify risk factors that contribute to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
• Describe implementations to reduce the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Course outline

16 sections · finish in any order across devices

1. 1

   Introduction

   Arthrosclerosis is the result of plaques (fatty deposits) that clog the arteries. The plaques are made up of cholesterol, fatty substances, cellular waste products, calcium and fibrin, a clotting material in the blood. ² The wall of the artery becomes thick because of plaque buildup. This causes a n

   4 min

2. 2

   Assessment of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Risk

   To prevent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, one must first identify a risk. Identifying risk factors is the foundation of prevention. Individuals between the ages of 20-39 years should be assessed for risk factors of cardiovascular disease every four to six years to identify major contributin

   4 min

3. 3

   Estimating the Risk of Developing Atherosclerotic Heart Disease

   Chart risk estimators that use population-based and clinical trial outcomes are used to match the need of preventive therapies to the absolute risk; usually 10 years for an atherosclerotic vascular disease event. ³ The atherosclerotic vascular disease Risk Estimator Plus guideline suggests the race

   4 min

4. 4

   Nutrition

   To reduce the risk, individuals should consume a healthy diet that is high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and lean animal protein which has been shown to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease related mortality. ¹ Longstanding dietary patterns that focus on low intake of carbohydrates

   4 min

5. 5

   Obesity

   Adults who are diagnosed as overweight (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m2) or obese (body mass index [BMI ≥30 kg/m2) are at increased risk of developing atherosclerotic heart disease and heart failure compared with those of a normal weight. ¹ Obese and overweight adults should be instructed to participate in compre

   4 min

6. 6

   Exercise

   Despite the public health emphasis for regular exercise based on extensive observational data that physical activity lowers atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, approximately 50% of adults in the United States do not meet the minimum recommendations.³ There is a strong inverse relationship betwee

   4 min

7. 7

   Hypertension

   Hypertension accounts for more atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease deaths than any other modifiable risk factor. ² The prevalence of stage I hypertension is 46% higher in African Americans, Asian, and Hispanic Americans, and this number increases with age. Stage I hypertension is defined as havin

   4 min

8. 8

   Smoking

   Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death, disease, and disability. Inhaled and chewing tobacco increases the risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular heart disease. Secondhand smoke can also cause of ASCVD and stroke. ² In fact, almost one third of heart disease deaths are attributed to

   4 min

9. 9

   Chronic Kidney Disease

   Chronic kidney disease is a major risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and is often associated with other risks such diabetes and hypertension. ⁶ When an individual has heart disease, the heart may not pump blood correctly. The heart may become too full of blood which will cause pr

   4 min

10. 10

    Diabetes

    Type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is defined as having a hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) >6.5%. ¹˒² It is a metabolic disorder that is characterized by insulin resistance that leads to hyperglycemia. The development and progression of T2DM is heavily influenced by diet, physical activity, and body weight. Ind

    4 min

11. 11

    Cholesterol

    Atherosclerotic vascular disease prevention requires assessing risk factors that begin in childhood. A statin is indicated for those less than 19 years old and have familial history of hypercholesterolemia. Young adults between the ages of 20-39 years should have their lifetime risk estimated and be

    4 min

12. 12

    Statin Treatment Recommendations

    The following are guideline recommendations for statin treatment⁵:

    4 min

13. 13

    Antiplatelet Therapy

    Low-dose aspirin has been widely used for primary prevention of heart disease. Aspirin reduces the risk of blood clots by irreversibly blocking platelet function, but it also increases the risk of bleeding, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract. Aspirin is well known regarding its effects for p

    4 min

14. 14

    Conclusion

    Arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease can occur at any age and it is one of the leading causes of illness related death in the United States. It is most prevalent in those who have high cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes, are obese, use tobacco, and do not exercise. Arthrosclerosis can be reduced

    4 min

15. 15

    Cardiovascular Disease Posttest

    Arthrosclerosis is the result of plaques (fatty deposits) that clog the arteries.

    4 min

16. 16

    Cardiovascular Disease Posttest Answers

    Arthrosclerosis is the result of plaques (fatty deposits) that clog the arteries.

    4 min

This course satisfies

Requirement summaries come from our state requirement records. Always confirm details with your board before you renew.

References and resources

• 2019 ACC/AHA guidelines on the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. (2019, March 7). Retrieved from https://www.acc.org/latest-in-cardiology/ten-points-to-remember/2019/03/07/16/00/2019-acc-aha-guideline-on-primary-prevention-gl-prevention
• Acute coronary syndrome. (2016, July 13). Retrieved from https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/about-heart-attacks/acute-coronary-syndrome
• AHA 2019 heart disease and stroke statistics. (2019, February 15). Retrieved from https://www.acc.org/latest-in-cardiology/ten-points-to-remember/2019/02/15/14/39/aha-2019-heart-disease-and-stroke-statistics
• Banerjee, S. (2016). P2Y12 Inhibitors: Which One to Choose? CSI: Cardiology update 2015 (2 Volumes), 422-422. doi:10.5005/jp/books/12785_66
• Bohula, E. A., Morrow, D. A., Giugliano, R. P., Blazing, M. A., He, P., Park, J., … Braunwald, E. (2017). Atherothrombotic risk stratification and ezetimibe for secondary prevention. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 69(8), 911-921. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2016.11.070
• Nissenson, A. R., & Fine, R. E. (2016). Handbook of dialysis therapy. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier.
• Rangaswami, J., Lerma, E. V., & Ronco, C. (2017). Cardio-Nephrology: confluence of the heart and kidney in clinical practice. Basingstoke, England: Springer.
• Swanepoel, C. (2017). Chronic kidney disease is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. SA Heart, 4(3). doi:10.24170/4-3-2087

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