2016 Volume 62 Issue 3 Pages 217-223
Recently, the incidence of atherosclerotic diseases, including coronary artery disease, ischemic stroke, aortic aneurysm, and peripheral artery disease, has increased in Japan. Atherosclerotic diseases develop as a result of various environmental and lifestyle factors such as an imbalance of dietary habits, low physical activity, active/passive smoking, and heavy alcohol consumption. These life style choices are the primary causes of increased blood pressure, glucose intolerance, and dyslipidemia, resulting in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. Therefore, the essential approaches for preventing atherosclerotic diseases should be based on the principle of lifestyle management for maintaining adequate food balance, increasing physical activity, stopping active/passive smoking, and avoiding excessive alcohol consumption. In this review, we will discuss the important points of lifestyle modification for preventing atherosclerotic diseases. In addition, we will also propose an “ultimate” practice for achieving health and longevity.
