Post-menopausal women benefit from hormone replacement with estrogens. In primary prevention, the balance of benefits and risks of aspirin prophylaxis among women remains unknown and awaits the results of the ongoing Women's Health Study. Antioxidant vitamin supplements, particularly vitamin E, and homocysteine-lowering agents such as folate and B6, have promising roles in prevention of coronary artery disease , but conclusive evidence is still awaited. Early surgical menopause is linked to increased risk of coronary disease, which appears to be neutralized by the use of estrogen therapy . In summary, clinical studies and trials provide compelling evidence that coronary artery disease is largely preventable.
Pharmacological intervention has a role in primary prevention for selected patients.
However, a major emphasis should be placed on lifestyle modifications, including smoking cessation , regular physical activity , maintenance of healthy weight , and consumption of a diet low in saturated fat and high in fruits and vegetables. Further studies on the potential benefits of stress reduction and psychosocial interventions can also provide valuable new information on heart disease prevention. Read More Articles on Heart Disease Ask Dr. Text, graphics, and HTML code are protected by US and International Copyright Laws, and may not be copied, reprinted, published, translated, hosted, or otherwise distributed by any means without explicit permission.