Cardiovascular Disease- How to Reverse Heart Disease

Aspirin and coronary artery disease mortality:

22,507 cancer-free postmenopausal women provided information on aspirin and NSAID use. Aspirin use was found to decrease the risk of mortality from coronary artery disease by 25% and reduced the risk of all-cause mortality by 18%. (78)

Aspirin for prevention of cardiovascular disease and stroke according to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) (99):

• Ideal dose of aspirin: According to the USPSTF, the ideal dose of aspirin is not known, but a dose of 75 mg per day appears as effective as higher doses and may have less risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.
• The USPSTF recommendation for prevention of cardiovascular disease in men:
• Men younger than 45 years: For myocardial infarction prevention in men younger than 45 years the USPSTF recommends against the use of aspirin since the benefit for prevention of cardiovascular events are small.
• Men age 45 to 79 years: The USPSTF strongly recommends the use of aspirin when the potential benefit due to a reduction in myocardial infarctions is more beneficial than the potential harm due to gastrointestinal hemorrhage.
• The USPSTF recommendation for prevention of cardiovascular disease for the elderly: Men and Women 80 years of age and older: According to the USPSTF, there is insufficient evidence to determine the risk verses benefit of taking aspirin by men and women over 79 years of age for the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
• Aspirin and prevention of ischemic stroke in women: Cardiovascular events were not reduced in women by aspirin and therefore they are not believed to benefit from aspirin for heart disease but women do benefit from aspirin in the prevention of ischemic stroke.
• Women age 55 to 79 years: The USPSTF strongly recommends aspirin when the potential benefit due to a reduction in ischemic strokes (which occur when an artery to the brain is blocked) is more beneficial than the potential harm due greater gastrointestinal hemorrhage.
• Women 55 years old or younger: The USPSTF recommends against the use of aspirin for stroke prevention since the benefit for prevention of ischemic stroke is small.

Omega-3 fatty acids and coronary heart disease:

American Heart Association (AHA) fish, fish oil, and oil intake recommendation is as follows. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that all adults eat fish (particularly fatty fish) at least two times per week. The AHA also recommends eating plant-derived omega-3 fatty acids. Tofu and other forms of soybeans; walnuts and flaxseeds and their oils. For patients with coronary heart disease (CDH) it is recommended they consume about 1 gram of two kinds of omega-3 fatty acids shown to be cardio-protective, EPA and DHA (found in especially oily species like mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna, and salmon). Patients needing triglyceride lowering, should consult a physician and the AHA recommends a daily intake of 2-4 grams of EPA+DHA in capsule form. (1)