Blood measurements of hs-CRP are often performed to assess the risk of future heart disease. It has also been suggested that hs-CRP can be used to target therapy and tailor risk modification in order to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD). Therefore it is important to understand when and why these measurements should be done, and how they should be interpreted. It has been known for … Read more
Although the death rate from coronary heart disease (CHD) has declined rapidly during the last few decades, CHD remains the most common cause of death in most countries around the world. The reduction in death rate is partly due to fewer people being diagnosed with CHD and partly due to a better prognosis of those … Read more
My dream is to write a book on health that will sell millions of copies. I’ll introduce a great new dietary solution. I already have a strategic plan. Firstly, I am going to select a target group. Obviously, it has to be a large group of people. I’m going to write exactly what my target audience … Read more
For decades cholesterol has been a major player when it comes to preventing heart disease. Measuring blood cholesterol and knowing your numbers is of key importance. If your numbers spell danger, you need to know what to do. Otherwise, you may be in big trouble. In their book published last year, Heart 411: The Only … Read more
New Nordic/Scandinavian public recommendations on diet and nutrition will be published this autumn. According to an article (English version-Google translation) published in a Swedish newspaper last week the new guidelines will underscore the risks of animal-derived saturated fats. The article is written by three Swedes, two of whom are experts in the field of health and nutrition. … Read more
Most of us realize that lifestyle plays a profound role in many of the chronic diseases of modern society. Despite our knowledge, it seems that somewhere along the path we have gone astray. Body weight is on the rise and people are becoming more sedentary. Obesity, the metabolic syndrome, and type-2 diabetes are becoming public … Read more
Recent studies have shown that the symptoms of heart disease may differ between men and women. For example, women are less likely than men to have chest pain while suffering an acute heart attack (acute myocardial infarction). This may delay diagnosis and may partly explain why women seem to fare worse than men under these … Read more
Two decades ago, many experts predicted that the modification of risk factors, in particular, the treatment of high blood pressure and lipid disorders, would eliminate coronary artery disease in 10 – 20 years. Unfortunately, this prediction was wrong. Although mortality from cardiovascular disease has decreased in many countries, coronary heart disease remains a significant cause … Read more
Measurements of lipids in blood/plasma are frequently used to assess the risk of future coronary heart disease or stroke, commonly termed cardiovascular disease (CVD). Plasma levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) are frequently measured. These numbers are then used to calculate levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) which has been found … Read more
I have a strong interest in the prevention of heart disease. I believe healthy nutrition and lifestyle are the keys to our health and well-being. In my early career as a cardiologist, working in the hospital setting, I was fascinated by the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. Don’t misunderstand me, I still am. However, as the … Read more