Page 67 - Petelin, Ana, ur. 2021. Zdravje starostnikov / Health of the Elderly. Zbornik povzetkov z recenzijo / Book of Abstracts. Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem/University of Primorska Press
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rition of the elderly with atherosclerosis prehrana in zdravje starejših odraslih | nutrition and health of the elderly
Tilen Dolinar, Saša Kastelic
University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Introduction and purpose. Atherosclerosis is a disease of the vascular wall of the
aorta and the middle and large arteries of the muscular and elastic type. It is an
advanced process that can remain without symptoms and signs for a long time,
and in the advanced stage it is manifested by one or more manifestations, such
as coronary heart disease, stroke or peripheral vascular disease. It can begin in
childhood and progress with age, but it is also accelerated by risk factors. The
main risk factors include hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipidemia and increased
concentration of low-density lipoproteins, arterial hypertension, obesity, dia-
betes, smoking, lack of physical activity. Although the developed atheroscle-
rotic changes are irreversible, we can influence the rate of disease progression,
especially with a healthy lifestyle, ie a healthy balanced diet and regular physi-
cal activity.
Content presentation. Atherosclerosis is a disease affecting the vascular aortic
wall and the middle and large elastic and muscular arteries. It is a progressive
condition whose symptoms and signs may not occur for a longer period of time
while the progressive stage may manifest itself via one or several of its manifes-
tations, including coronary artery disease (CAD), a brain stroke, or Peripher-
al arterial disease (PAD). The disease may develop in childhood and progress
with age, although the risk of the latter may be dramatically increased by cer-
tain risk factors. The main risk factors include hypercholesterolemia, hyper-
lipidemia and increased concentration of low-density lipoproteins, arterial hy-
pertension, obesity, diabtes, smoking, and a lack of physical activity. Although
atherosclerosis causes irreversible changes, one can significantly influence the
progression of the latter with a healthy, balanced diet and regular physical ex-
ercise.
Conclusions. The occurrence of atherosclerosis is associated with many factors
that we can influence and factors that we cannot influence ourselves. In our ar-
ticle, we focused mainly on the impact of proper diet. In reviewing the articles,
we found that the authors mention a number of diets, such as the DASH diet,
the TLC diet, the Mediterranean diet. The most appropriate diet for patients
with atherosclerosis is one that includes foods from all groups of the food pyr-
amid in moderation.
An important factor is prevention and awareness of people, as cardiovascular
disease as a result of atherosclerosis is one of the main factors of premature
morbidity and mortality in the developed world, and thus also the financial bur-
den of the health system.
Keywords: aging, cardiovascular diseases, physical activity, prevention
65
Tilen Dolinar, Saša Kastelic
University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Introduction and purpose. Atherosclerosis is a disease of the vascular wall of the
aorta and the middle and large arteries of the muscular and elastic type. It is an
advanced process that can remain without symptoms and signs for a long time,
and in the advanced stage it is manifested by one or more manifestations, such
as coronary heart disease, stroke or peripheral vascular disease. It can begin in
childhood and progress with age, but it is also accelerated by risk factors. The
main risk factors include hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipidemia and increased
concentration of low-density lipoproteins, arterial hypertension, obesity, dia-
betes, smoking, lack of physical activity. Although the developed atheroscle-
rotic changes are irreversible, we can influence the rate of disease progression,
especially with a healthy lifestyle, ie a healthy balanced diet and regular physi-
cal activity.
Content presentation. Atherosclerosis is a disease affecting the vascular aortic
wall and the middle and large elastic and muscular arteries. It is a progressive
condition whose symptoms and signs may not occur for a longer period of time
while the progressive stage may manifest itself via one or several of its manifes-
tations, including coronary artery disease (CAD), a brain stroke, or Peripher-
al arterial disease (PAD). The disease may develop in childhood and progress
with age, although the risk of the latter may be dramatically increased by cer-
tain risk factors. The main risk factors include hypercholesterolemia, hyper-
lipidemia and increased concentration of low-density lipoproteins, arterial hy-
pertension, obesity, diabtes, smoking, and a lack of physical activity. Although
atherosclerosis causes irreversible changes, one can significantly influence the
progression of the latter with a healthy, balanced diet and regular physical ex-
ercise.
Conclusions. The occurrence of atherosclerosis is associated with many factors
that we can influence and factors that we cannot influence ourselves. In our ar-
ticle, we focused mainly on the impact of proper diet. In reviewing the articles,
we found that the authors mention a number of diets, such as the DASH diet,
the TLC diet, the Mediterranean diet. The most appropriate diet for patients
with atherosclerosis is one that includes foods from all groups of the food pyr-
amid in moderation.
An important factor is prevention and awareness of people, as cardiovascular
disease as a result of atherosclerosis is one of the main factors of premature
morbidity and mortality in the developed world, and thus also the financial bur-
den of the health system.
Keywords: aging, cardiovascular diseases, physical activity, prevention
65
