The purpose of treatment for hypertension is to relieve dizziness, headache and other uncomfortable symptoms, and to reduce cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease as well as other complications. The key link in the occurrence and development of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases is atherosclerosis. If we can effectively delay atherosclerosis and reduce the risk of atheromatous plaque rupture and thrombosis, we can greatly reduce myocardial infarction, stroke and other cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. Some people, even those who have reached a certain age, immediately feel very nervous once they hear that they have atherosclerosis. In fact, atherosclerosis is also a normal aging process, and some studies have found that it begins in adolescence. By the age of 60 and above, atherosclerosis and even plaque formation is a relatively common occurrence. It is only because each person has different risk factors that cause atherosclerosis, the specific situation varies, and the rate of progression varies from fast to slow. As the saying goes, there are a hundred different types of people. Individual differences in genetics, growth environment and daily living habits vary, and so do the cardiovascular risks. In the case of atherosclerosis, the risk factors that have been fully identified include: blood pressure, blood sugar, blood lipids, smoking, obesity, lack of exercise, hyperuricemia, hyperhomocysteinemia and so on. If these risk factors can be well controlled, it is equivalent to blocking the various fuses that cause atherosclerosis and can effectively slow down atherosclerosis. So, what kind of diet is beneficial to atherosclerosis or cardiovascular disease? This is also a question of concern to many people. Everyone has their own eating habits that they have developed since childhood, and a diet that matches their taste habits is generally reasonable. What needs to be avoided are high-fat diet and high-sodium diet habits. It is often heard that foods such as black fungus and hawthorn have the effect of softening blood vessels, but there is not much definite evidence on how effective they are. There is a lot of research evidence that statins are the nemesis of atherosclerosis. Statins can lower bad cholesterol and play a role in stabilizing plaque or even reversing it. According to the blood lipid situation, combined with other cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk factors, reasonable use of statin to control LDL in the appropriate range is a real and effective way to treat atherosclerosis. So when exactly do statins need to be used? What dose of statins is needed? The first situation When there is hypertension or at least the following three risk factors, it is necessary to take statins to control LDL below 3.4mmol/l (130mg/dl): 1, age ≥ 45 years for men and ≥ 55 years for women; 2, smoking; 3, high density lipoprotein (HDL) <1.04mmol/l; 4, family history of early onset cardiovascular disease; 5, body mass index > 28. , body mass index >28. The second condition LDL target value is <2.6mmol/l (100mg/dl) when hypertension + one of the following risk factors 1, diabetes mellitus; 2, chronic kidney disease (stage 3 or 4). The third case When hypertension + diabetes + other risk factors, or when there is coronary heart disease, the LDL target value is <1.8 mmol/d (70 mg/dl) The aging of blood vessels and the formation of atheromatous plaques in blood vessels are roughly age-related problems. Once people pass middle age, they should not expect their blood vessels to remain young forever; plaque formation within the vessel wall is common in old age. The question is often asked: How many more years can I live with coronary artery disease? I would cite the example of a patient in his 90s who started to have severe coronary artery disease in his 70s, and the amount of activity such as walking in the ward or going to the bathroom would cause chest tightness and chest pain, requiring daily heart pills. He knew his condition well, did his daily precautions, took his medication on time, and often hummed a little song, and it was in this state that he lived into his 90s. He eventually died of a lung infection. The plaque in the blood vessel itself is often not scary; what is scary is when the plaque becomes unstable and ruptures, secondary to thrombosis, which then causes a myocardial infarction, stroke or other problems. It is as if the bad guys in the world are not scary if they are managed effectively, what is scary is that the bad guys have the opportunity to do bad things. The same is true of atherosclerosis. At this time, the risk of thrombosis can be greatly reduced if aspirin or other antiplatelet drugs are taken regularly. So, in which cases do you need to take aspirin? This is another question that often comes up. Aspirin is recommended if coronary heart disease, stroke, or peripheral vascular disease is already present: 1) coronary heart disease; 2) stroke; 3) peripheral vascular disease. If none of the above conditions exist, aspirin is also recommended when hypertension is combined with at least 3 of the following: 1. age, >50 years for men or postmenopausal for women; 2. diabetes; 3. hypercholesterolemia; 4. obesity (body mass index ≥28 kg/m2); 5. family history of early-onset cardiovascular disease (defined as onset in immediate family members <55 years for men and <65 years for women); 6. combination of chronic renal insufficiency. While treating hypertension, it is important to pay attention to both blood pressure management and vascular management. If we can understand the vascular function status in detail and comprehensively assess the various risk factors for cardiovascular disease, we can develop more reasonable and effective treatment measures.