International Task Force Risk Calculation
The International Task Force for Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease was founded in 1987. Among its goals, it promotes the formation of clear, simple and up-to-date guidlines for CHD prevention. Its web site contains a wealth of information about risk factors and treatment of CHD. It provides two risk calculator tools based on the Prospective Cardiovascular Munster (PROCAM) study. The first estimates one's risk of a heart attack (myocardial infarction) within the next 10 years. The second estimates one's risk of suffering a heart attack or dying from an acute coronary event within the next 10 years. The results are slightly different from a Framingham calculation, but not by much. Their review of reducing the risk of CHD can be downloaded from their site.
The review contains a detailed list actions each person can take, aside from medication, to decrease the odds of getting CHD.
If you smoke, stop smoking. The document provides a list of different techniques for smoking cessation. It includes self-control techniques, triggering factors, counseling, formal programs, and more.
Management of overweight and obesity. Weight loss around the body center is the most important. Losing weight at a slow but maintainable pace is the most effective.
Aerobic exercise leads to a major reduction in CHD risk. Exercise that burns 2000 to 3000 calories each week, reduces the CHD risk by a factor of 2 to 3.
Treatment of hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol). This involves diet modifications, and use of cholesterol-lowering drugs. Use of different types of drugs is discussed.
Management of hypertension - lowering one's blood pressure.
Other potential issues are also listed, such as the impact of menopause and Hormone Replacement Therapy, use of anti-oxidants (inconclusive results), and CHD prevention in the elderly, to name a few.