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About thrombosis
Arterial thrombosis
Prevention of arterial thrombosis
Prevention of arterial thrombosis is a vital part of health care. There are two main areas: primary prevention, which means preventing the disease from developing; and secondary prevention, which means preventing the disease from recurring.
There are two main ways of preventing arterial thrombosis: lifestyle changes and medication.
Someone who has suffered a heart attack or stroke will be given advice on making lifestyle changes. They may also be given medication, to reduce the risk of a further heart attack or stroke.
Lifestyle changes
Lifestyle changes can have a major impact in reducing the risk of atherosclerosis,
atherosclerotic disease and arterial thrombosis.
Smoking
Encouraging people to stop smoking - and discouraging people from starting
- is a major priority. The risk of having a heart attack falls immediately
after stopping smoking. If someone stops smoking after a heart attack, the
risk of dying in the next five years is reduced by about half.
Diet and reducing obesity
A diet high in saturated fat, low in fruit and vegetables and high in salt
is linked to an increased risk of developing atherosclerotic disease.
The National Service Framework on coronary heart disease recommends that to reduce this risk, adults should adopt a balanced diet that includes:
- Less fat, particularly saturated fat
- At least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day
- Less salt
- At least two portions of fish (one of oily fish) each week
Evidence also shows that being overweight or obese increases the risk of atherosclerotic disease and is also linked to other risk factors such as raised cholesterol levels, high blood pressure (hypertension) and increased blood glucose levels. All of these risk factors can be reversed by losing weight.
Physical activity
To reduce the risk of atherosclerotic disease, the National Service Framework
on coronary heart disease recommends that adults should undertake 30 minutes
of moderate intensity activity (such as walking, cycling or heavy housework)
on at least five days a week.
Alcohol
Men who have a high alcohol intake (defined as more than 28 units of alcohol
each week) have an increased risk of high blood pressure, or hypertension.
This increases the risk of having a stroke.
However research suggests that drinking 1-4 units of alcohol daily for men,
or 1-2 units daily for women, on five or six days a week, appears to offer
some protection. These benefits appear to be related to alcohol in general,
although the specific benefits of drinks such as red wine are currently being
debated.
Medication
Medication may be given following a heart attack or stroke. This includes:
- Antihypertensives
- Cholesterol-lowering agents
- Antithrombotic drugs
All of these forms of medication have been shown to significantly increase an individual's chances of survival and to lessen the risk of having another heart attack or stroke.
There is also some evidence that folic acid may be beneficial.
Copyright
© Lifeblood: The Thrombosis Charity 2003-2006. A
company limited by guarantee. Registered Company No: 4354472.
Registered Charity No: 1090540
