During a health education session about risk factors for heart disease, the nurse is discussing the updated 2013 guidelines from the ACC/AHA, which include conventional risk factors, modifiable risk factors, and non-traditional risk factors. The nurse educator identifies which of the following as non-traditional cardiovascular risk factors?

Explanation

• Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) risk factors are based on the original 1998 Framingham Model. The updated 2013 guidelines from the ACC/AHA, include Conventional risk factors, Modifiable risk factors, and Non-traditional risk factors

Included in the non-traditional risk factors are:

• Metabolic Syndrome (Met-S) refers to a cluster of CVD risk factors that increase risk of CVD, including: obesity, increased triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, hypertension, & elevated fasting glucose

• C-reactive Protein (CRP) is an independent risk factor for CVD. Research has focused on the use of C-reactive protein as an inflammatory marker for CVD

• Homocysteine is an amino acid that has been shown to be increased in many people with atherosclerosis. Clients with elevated levels of homocysteine may have increased risk of CVD. This is considered a nontraditional risk factor

The following contribute to CVD but are classified in other categories:

• Sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and diabetes are classified as modifiable risk factors of CVD in this model

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