patient lifestyle advice - for primary and secondary prevention of CVD

Last reviewed 05/2021

Lifestyle changes for primary and secondary prevention of CVD

• Cardioprotective diet
  • aim to have to eat a diet in which:
    • total fat intake is 30% or less of total energy intake
    • saturated fats are 10% or less of total energy intake
    • dietary cholesterol is less than 300 mg/day
    • saturated fats are replaced by monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats
      
      
  • eat at least:
    • five portions of fruit and vegetables per day
    • two portions of fish per week, including a portion of oily fish
      
      
    • pregnant women to limit their intake of oily fish to two portions a week
    • look at www.eatwell.gov.uk/healthydiet and www.5aday.nhs.uk for advice on healthy eating and portion size
      
    • omega-3 fatty acid supplements or plant sterols and stanols are not routinely recommended for primary prevention
      
      
• Physical activity
  • take 30 minutes of at least moderate intensity exercise a day at least 5 days a week
    • people who cannot manage this amount of exercise should undertake exercise at their maximum safe capacity
  • exercise that can be incorporated into everyday life, such as brisk walking, using stairs and cycling
  • can exercise in bouts of 10 minutes or more throughout the day
    
    
• Weight management
  • work towards achieving and maintaining a healthy weight
    
    
• Alcohol consumption
  • men to limit their alcohol intake to 3-4 units a day
  • women to limit their alcohol intake to 2-3 units a day
  • avoid binge drinking
  • look at www.eatwell.gov.uk/healthydiet for information on alcohol units
    
    
• Smoking cessation
  • if a smoker then reduces risk of heart attack or stroke if you stop smoking

Reference:

• 1) NICE (May 2008). Lipid modification - Cardiovascular risk assessment and the modification of blood lipids for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease