What is the goal of secondary prevention in cardiovascular disease?

The goal of secondary prevention in cardiovascular disease focuses on preventing the recurrence of cardiovascular events in individuals who have already been diagnosed with heart disease or have experienced an initial event, such as a heart attack or stroke. This approach is crucial because individuals who have had one cardiovascular event are at significantly higher risk of experiencing another.

Secondary prevention strategies may include lifestyle modifications, such as dietary changes and increased physical activity, as well as medical interventions like medications to manage blood pressure, cholesterol levels, or anticoagulation therapy. These efforts are aimed at reducing the risk of further events, managing symptoms effectively, and improving overall quality of life.

In contrast, the other options refer to different levels of prevention or aspects of cardiovascular health. For instance, preventing the onset of heart disease is related to primary prevention, which targets individuals without established disease to promote overall cardiovascular health. Managing symptoms of existing heart disease may be part of treatment but does not fully capture the proactive approach of secondary prevention focusing on risk reduction. Promoting regular physical activity is an important component of cardiovascular health but is more of a general health promotion strategy rather than a specific definition of secondary prevention.