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INTRODUCTION The impact of cerebrovascular disease (CVD) on the mortality and morbidity of developing and developed countries is alarming. For example, in the United States, CVD is the third cause of death, the main cause of disability in adults, the second cause of dementia and the chief reason for hospitalization. These figures would be of relative unimportance if the drugs and adequate pre and intrahospital infrastructures required to treat CVD in its acute phase were available. Since CVD should not occur, this void is staggering. To reach this objective, a series of measures geared to patients and family members have been developed in order to avoid or decrease the risk of CVD, emphasizing primary prevention; lifestyle changes are at its core. Lifestyle reflects behavioral patterns chosen by individuals amongst available alternatives and in accordance with socioeconomic and trans-cultural circumstances. Lifestyle includes preferences in terms of nutrition, physical activity, alcohol consumption, tobacco and/or drug use, recreational activity, interpersonal relationships, sexual practices, work and consumer choices. A healthy lifestyle is a key recommendation in the primary and secondary prevention of CVD as it may also help decrease disease severity and improve prognosis if CVD unfortunately does occur. Lifestyle adjustments considered to represent a modifiable risk factor for CVD are described.

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2013-07-24   |   512 visitas   |   Evalua este artículo 0 valoraciones

Vol. 62 Núm.2. Marzo-Abril 2010 Pags. 181-191 Rev Invest Clin 2010; 62(2-ENGLISH)