The US Preventive Services Task Force recently published recommendations on behavioral counseling for healthy diet and physical activity to prevent CVD in adults with risk factors.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) refers to the buildup of plaques, which cause blockages, inside important blood vessels in the body. These blood vessels can include the arteries of the heart (coronary heart disease), brain (cerebrovascular disease), and legs (peripheral arterial disease). Cardiovascular disease can cause heart attacks, strokes, and death. Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.
Risk factors for CVD include older age, smoking, high blood pressure, being overweight or obese, diabetes, high cholesterol, and a family history of heart disease. In general, people with higher risk of CVD benefit more from prevention efforts.