What is good for the circulation also lessens cancer risk.

Although there have been substantial advances in the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its complications, a new player and concept has entered the scene, namely an association between CVD and cancer. There were two alerting signals to this remarkable coupling. On the one hand, disconcerting evidence has been provided that suggests that the use of angiotensin receptor blockers could be increasing the development of cancers. 3 On the other hand, evidence has been provided that the preventative effects of aspirin both as an antithrombotic agent in CVD prevention and the subsequent discovery of its effects in lessening the development of cancer, especially but not only primary gastrointestinal and distant metastases. In addition, ideal cardiovascular health has been shown to be inversely associated with incident cancer in the Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities (ARIC) study. The American Heart Association (AHA) has now widened its health goals to adherence to seven ideal heart health metrics that are aimed at lessening the incidence of both CVD and cancer as part of its 2020 goals. To achieve this goal, the AHA is therefore pursuing partnerships with cancer advocacy groups to achieve reductions in chronic disease prevalence. The ideal health factors are four ideal self-help health metrics and three ideal measured health metrics (an untreated total cholesterol ,200 mg/dL, untreated blood pressure ,120 mmHg systolic and 80 mm Hg diastolic, and untreated fasting serum glucose ,100 mg/dL) (Table 1). Ambitious plans to reduce both CVD and cancer will be communicated to the American public through the ‘Life’s Simple Seven campaign’. Fundamental to the current ‘war on cancer’ is the role of lifestyle measures in primary prevention, whereby between one-third and one-half of cancers are preventable.