Treatment A) Lifestyle Modification

Overview of Lifestyle Modification Cardiovascular disease (CVD) develops by various environmental factors such as overeating and low physical activity on the top of genetic predispositions. Many epidemiological studies have revealed that the excessive intake of cholesterol and animal fat (saturated fatty acids) results in increased serum total cholesterol (TC) levels. Overeating and low physical activity are primary causes of metabolic syndrome that lead to abdominal obesity, glucose intolerance, increased blood pressure and triglyceride (TG) levels and decreased HDL-C levels. Such imbalances in lifestyle result in CVDs, such as myocardial infarction. According to the Hisayama study, the prevalence of obesity, impaired glucose tolerance and hypercholesterolemia was increased over 1961, 1974 and 1988 in both men and women, while that of hypertension and smoking decreased, as risk factors for cerebrovascular disease. The National Nutrition Survey in Japan showed marked decrease in consumption of rice and all types of grains from 1946 to 1990 while that of milk, dairy products and meat markedly increased, indicating the Westernization of Japanese dietary habits. Therefore, prevention of CVD should be based in principle on stop smoking, maintaining ideal body weight, restriction of animal fat and cholesterol intake, reduction of salt intake, and increase of fish, vegetables and fruits, and perform aerobic exercise for at least 30 minutes per day (Table 1).