Strategy of prevention: lessons from cardiovascular disease.

TLDR: In this article, two types of preventive measures are proposed; the first consists in the removal of an unnatural factor and the restoration of biological normality as the reduction of intake of saturated fats would be in the case of heart disease; the second does not consist of removing a supposed cause of disease but in adding some other factors in the hope of conferring protection as a high intake of polyunsaturated fat and of long-term medication would be for heart disease.

Abstract: Prevention of coronary heart diseases seems to be possible as recent experiences in Australia and in the U.S. have shown. Increased risk of heart disease in women is presented by the use of hormonal contraceptives and in men by high cholesterol levels and by hypertension. Preventive strategy that concentrates on high-risk individuals has to consider the mass approach which however much it may offer to the community as a whole offers little to each participating individual; it is a measure which which applied to many will actually benefit few. There are 2 types of preventive measures; the first consists in the removal of an unnatural factor and the restoration of biological normality as the reduction of intake of saturated fats whould be in the case of heart disease; the second does not consist of removing a supposed cause of disease but in adding some other factors in the hope of conferring protection as a high intake of polyunsaturated fat and of long-term medication would be for heart disease. Preventive medicine can be helped by changes in behavior of society and such changes are often brought about not by medical measures but by social motivations and by the force of economics and convenience.