HEART DISEASE, VASCULAR DISORDERS AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
Heart disease and diseases of blood vessels are among the biggest killers in the western world. If ways could be found to reduce the risk of getting them, and to treat them, then countless lives could be saved.Despite a certain amount of controversy over the underlying risk factors which contribute to coronary deaths, a number are broadly accepted:• High cholesterol levels in the blood• Platelets that stick together unduly (platelet aggregation)• High blood pressure• Atheroma clogging up blood vessels• Vascular spasmDeaths from cardiovascular disease are high in those countries where a lot of saturated fat is eaten. Studies suggest that diets rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) do give some protection against these diseases. The death rate in the USA from cardiovascular diseases has fallen by a remarkable 20-25% in the last decade or so, since the population was persuaded to eat less saturated fat and switch to a high PUFA diet. In countries where this advice has not been followed, such as the UK and in particular Scotland, the death rate from cardiovascular disease remains high.
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