Effects of Some Common Food Constituents on Cardiovascular Disease

Table 4

Summary of recommended lifestyle advice based on cardiovascular risk groups.

CVD risk	Recommendations
High Risk : Clinically; determined ≥20%^∗	Intensive lifestyle advice on a cardioprotective dietary pattern with a dietitian, physical activity, and smoking cessation interventions. Lifestyle advice should be given simultaneously with drug treatment.
Medium Risk : Calculated 10–20%	Specific individualized lifestyle advice on a cardioprotective dietary pattern, physical activity, and smoking cessation. This lifestyle advice should be given by the primary health care team for 3–6 months prior to initiating drug treatment.
Low Risk : Calculated <10%	General lifestyle advice on a cardioprotective dietary pattern, physical activity, and smoking cessation.

∗People who have had a previous cardiovascular event (angina, MI, angioplasty, coronary artery bypass grafts, TIA, ischaemic stroke, or peripheral vascular disease) or people with certain genetic lipid disorders or people with DM and who are over 40 years.
Adapted from American Heart Association guidelines for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease and stroke: 2002 updates and New Zealand cardiovascular guidelines handbook [138, 159].