Preventive Cardiology: Strategies for the Prevention and Treatment of Coronary Artery Disease (Contemporary Cardiology)

Leading clinicians and researchers concisely review the significant risk factors, including dyslipidemias, hypertension, diabetes, lack of exercise, obesity, tobacco, and homocysteine, and outline the best preventive strategies available. They also offer an overview of the new paradigms in coronary artery disease pathophysiology, including the nature of the unstable atherosclerotic plaque, new strategies for the modification of plaque constituents, the importance of the endothelium in the maintenance of cardiovascular health, and the emerging roles of oxidative stress, infection, and inflammation. Comprehensive and pathbreaking, Preventive Cardiology: Strategies for the Prevention and Treatment of Coronary Artery Disease provides physicians with the understanding and tools necessary to bring the practice of preventive cardiology to their patients. As fresh evidence mounts that preventive measures produce a considerable decrease in the incidence of primary and secondary cardiac events and mortality, there is growing understanding that health care providers must initiate preventive strategies in the management and care of their patients. In Preventive Cardiology: Strategies for the Prevention and Treatment of Coronary Artery Disease, leading clinicians and researchers-many internationally recognized in their area of research-concisely review the significant risk factors, including dyslipidemias, hypertension, diabetes, lack of exercise, obesity, tobacco, and homocysteine, and outline the best preventive strategies available. They also offer an overview of the new paradigms in coronary artery disease pathology, including the nature of the unstable atherosclerotic plaque, new strategies for the modification of plaque constituents, the importance of the endothelium in the maintenance of cardiovascular health, and the emerging roles of oxidative stress, infection, and inflammation. Among the particular strategies discussed in detail are pharmacologic therapies, aspirin and antiplatelet agents, exercise testing for identifying at-risk patients, and the possibilities of electron beam tomography. Comprehensive and pathbreaking, Preventive Cardiology: Strategies for the Prevention and Treatment of Coronary Artery Disease provides physicians with the understanding and tools necessary to bring the practice of prevention to their patients Front Matter....Pages i-x Front Matter....Pages 1-1 The Unstable Plaque....Pages 3-17 Endothelial Function and Insights for Prevention....Pages 19-28 Role of Antioxidants in Coronary Artery Disease....Pages 29-45 Inflammation and Infection in Coronary Artery Disease....Pages 47-64 Front Matter....Pages 65-65 Dyslipidemias and Coronary Artery Disease....Pages 67-98 Management of Hypertension....Pages 99-116 Diabetes Mellitus, Hyperinsulinemia, and Coronary Artery Disease....Pages 117-142 Exercise in the Prevention of Coronary Artery Disease....Pages 143-158 Obesity and Coronary Artery Disease....Pages 159-176 Tobacco as a Cardiovascular Risk Factor....Pages 177-191 Women and Coronary Artery Disease....Pages 193-219 A Recognized Risk Factor....Pages 221-231 Front Matter....Pages 233-233 Pharmacologic Agents in Preventive Cardiology....Pages 235-256 Aspirin and Antiplatelet Agents in the Prevention of Complications of Coronary Artery Disease....Pages 257-281 Exercise Testing and Risk Assessment....Pages 283-301 Electron Beam Tomography in the Prevention of Coronary Artery Disease....Pages 303-324 A Multidisciplinary Model for Aggressive Risk Factor Control in Cardiovascular Disease....Pages 325-338 Pharmacoeconomics of Cardiovascular Medicine....Pages 339-356 Back Matter....Pages 357-368 Designed for the practitioner, this book takes a practical approach to preventive cardiology by presenting only clinically oriented material that can be assimilated into the physician's daily practice. Basic pathophysiology, tools for diagnosis, and strategies for intervention are also discussed. Over this past decade, clinical trials have added to our understanding of the pathophysiology and prevention of coronary atherosclerosis.