Cardiovascular health concerns us all
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) include a range of disorders affecting the heart and blood vessels, including coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and other cardiovascular conditions.
According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular diseases are currently the leading cause of death worldwide.
Their global impact is enormous. However, an important proportion of cardiovascular risk is associated with factors that can be identified, controlled or modified.
Around 85% of these deaths were due to heart attacks and strokes.
Prevention starts with understanding your risk
Cardiovascular risk does not depend on a single parameter. It results from the interaction of multiple factors over time.
Major modifiable risk factors include high blood pressure, alterations in lipid metabolism, smoking, diabetes, excess adiposity, physical inactivity and an unhealthy diet.
Understanding these factors and monitoring them appropriately can support prevention strategies adapted to each individual risk profile.
Risk factors worth knowing
Cardiovascular prevention requires a comprehensive approach. These are some of the key factors to consider when assessing cardiovascular risk.
Blood pressure
Hypertension is one of the major cardiovascular risk factors and can remain unnoticed for years without producing obvious symptoms.
Cholesterol and lipoproteins
LDL and other ApoB-containing lipoproteins play a causal role in the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Smoking
Avoiding tobacco use is one of the most important measures for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Physical activity
Staying physically active contributes to improvements in several factors related to cardiovascular and metabolic health.
Healthy diet
A healthy dietary pattern is a fundamental component of cardiovascular disease prevention.
Family history
Family history and certain inherited conditions can also influence cardiovascular risk and should be considered as part of a comprehensive assessment.
Cholesterol: a key component of cardiovascular risk
Scientific evidence has clearly established the causal role of LDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B (ApoB)-containing lipoproteins in the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
This is why understanding the lipid profile is an important part of cardiovascular risk assessment.
However, lipoproteins are complex structures. Two individuals with similar cholesterol concentrations may differ in the number, size and distribution of their lipoprotein particles.
Small habits, important benefits
Know your numbers
Blood pressure, glucose and lipid profile provide important information for cardiovascular risk assessment.
Stay active
European guidelines recommend 150–300 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity or 75–150 minutes of vigorous activity each week.
Take care of your diet
Healthy dietary patterns contribute to the management of body weight, blood pressure, lipids and glucose metabolism.
Do not overlook family history
Family history can provide highly relevant information, particularly when premature cardiovascular events or inherited lipid disorders are present.
Beyond cholesterol: advanced characterisation with Liposcale®
At Biosfer Teslab, we developed Liposcale®, an advanced test based on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy that enables the characterisation of the main lipoprotein classes.
This approach provides complementary information beyond the conventional lipid profile and allows a deeper analysis of lipoprotein metabolism through parameters such as:
Advanced lipoprotein characterisation can provide relevant information in selected clinical profiles and contribute to a more detailed understanding of lipid metabolism and cardiovascular risk.
Don’t miss a beat.
World Heart Day reminds us that cardiovascular disease can sometimes progress without obvious warning signs and that recognising risk and acting early are essential.
Understand your lipoprotein profile in greater detail
Discover how Liposcale® uses nuclear magnetic resonance to provide advanced lipoprotein characterisation.
Scientific references and sources
- World Health Organization. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Updated July 31, 2025. WHO
- World Heart Federation. World Heart Day 2026 – Don't Miss a Beat. World Heart Federation
- Visseren FLJ, Mach F, Smulders YM, et al. 2021 ESC Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice. European Heart Journal. 2021;42(34):3227–3337. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehab484
- Mallol R, Amigó N, Rodríguez MA, et al. Liposcale: a novel advanced lipoprotein test based on 2D diffusion-ordered 1H NMR spectroscopy. Journal of Lipid Research. 2015;56(3):737–746. doi:10.1194/jlr.D050120
- Pintó X, Masana L, Civeira F, et al. Consensus document of an expert group from the Spanish Society of Arteriosclerosis (SEA) on the clinical use of nuclear magnetic resonance to assess lipoprotein metabolism (Liposcale®). Clínica e Investigación en Arteriosclerosis. 2020;32(5):219–229. doi:10.1016/j.arteri.2020.04.004
- Llauradó G, et al. The benefits of measuring the size and number of lipoprotein particles for cardiovascular risk prediction: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clínica e Investigación en Arteriosclerosis. 2023;35(4):165–177. doi:10.1016/j.arteri.2022.11.001