Vascular Disease Prevetion in China

Received his medical degree from Tokyo Medical University in 1979 and was a Research Fellow of the Department of Cardiology at Jichi Medical School where he learned about cardiac catheterization and aortic input impedance from Dr.Toshio Yaginuma and was taught about Coronary Artery Disease by Prof.Saichi Hosoda.After his return to Tokyo Medical University，he worked as chief of cardiac catheterization and echocardiography.His thesis on A Clinical Study of the Second Component of Left Ventricular Systolic Pressure was referred to as the first paper on augmentation index by Kelly et al.and was cited in the 4th ed.of McDonald’s Blood Flow in Arteries.He had worked as an operator of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for a long time.He chaired the Japanese cine-angiography conference and the local meeting of the Japanese Intervention Society.He measured coronary pressure，flow and intravascular ultrasound.He worked with Prof.Nico Pijls on coronary artery pressure measurements.His paper on Underestimation of Vasodilator Effects of Nitroglycerin by Upper Limb Blood Pressure showed how to detect radial artery late systolic pressure.The contents of his paper on Vascular Aging is now very popular in Japan and was featured in several magazines and TV segments in relation to this life style related disease.He wrote the textbook of electrocardiogram titled“How to read ECG with RAP MUSIC”which is published from NANKODO and is now popular with Japanese medical students，nurses and doctors.The CD，which he himself has sung，is attached to the book as an accessory so that it may be easy to learn and hard to forget an electrocardiogram.He is currently a Professor at Tokyo Medical University and a Visiting Professor at Tokyo University of Pharmacy.He is also Vice President and Director of Cardiology，Tokyo Medical University Hachioji Medical Center.In addition， he serves as the Vice-Chairman of the Board of Education of the Japanese College of Cardiology and is a Councilor and editorial board member of the Japanese Circulation Society，and a number of other distinguished societies.

The 6th Chinese Annual Meeting of Vascular Disease and Arterial Function &The 4rd Asian-Pacific Congress of International Society of Vascular Health have been held in Beijing,in June 26-28,2009.During the conference we had the privilege to interview Prof. Kenji Takazawa ,the following is the interview：

Reporter：What's differences between China and Japan in cardiovascular disease?

Prof.Takazawa ：There are similar in most cases between China and Japan , since now there are a lot of cardiovascular diseases.So I do not think there are many differences.However, compared with the U.S. and Japanese rates of tobacco use remains high.This year the proportion of smokers decreased.China, slightly higher than the proportion of smokers in Japan. I think that the lower the proportion of people smoking is very important.

Reporter：What's the major cardiovascular risk factors in Japan ?

Prof.Takazawa:There are four main cardiovascular risk factors, namely hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia and smoking.But in recent years significantly increased the proportion of diabetes, which may be related to the increase of the number of cars and sports reduction.Therefore, from children to adults should be more exercise,more walking and more exercise in the summer.The another important factor is diet, eat more vegetables, reducing sodium intake.In Japan now, the average daily sodium intake is 11 grams, higher than in other Western countries. I think that China may have the same problem, it should be to reduce sodium intake.

Reporter：Please tell us about the status of vascular disease and its causes in Japan?

Prof.Takazawa:The same to other countries , Japan's elderly population is increasing, so the increase in heart disease in Japan. But it is important to their activities, even the elderly.

Reporter：How to reduce the occurrence of cardiovascular events?

Prof.Takazawa:The important thing is to make people understand how cardiovascular disease occurs.Cardiovascular disease is usually called the "silent killer." It is usually no symptoms of cardiovascular disease, people are not aware of the existence of the disease, but occurs suddenly.Therefore, educating the public how to maintain arterial health, how to soften the arteries,or younger is very important.Softening of the arteries can reduce the occurrence of events such as heart attack.This afternoon i will describe the coupling of blood vessels and the heart.Coupling of the heart and blood vessels, promote and soft the blood vessels is very important.I will discuss the blood vessels of age.Young blood vessels can reduce the occurrence of cardiovascular events. Softening of the blood vessels could benefit the,and therefore can reduce the occurrence of cardiovascular events.

Reporter：Which methods to soften the blood vessels?

Prof.Takazawa:Lifestyle-related diseases are increasing the number of patients.20 minutes quick walking can help you relax blood vessels.We should eat more fresh vegetables, and less super-fat foods.So recently，i was in Japan on television, we should eat more vegetables, the first use of vegetables, it is very important. And vegetables can help reduce the body of salt intake.In a short, one should take more exercise such as quick walking a week for at least two times 20 minutes, eat more vegetables, reducing salt intake, rest, which may reduce the lifestyle related disease is very important.At the same time there are many drugs, such as vasodilator,most of vasodilator drugs may reduce arterial stiffness.I think if changes of life style,we still not reduce arterial stiffness, it would need to take drugs, so as to avoid the occurrence of cardiovascular events.

Reporter：Currently, How about the early detection of arterial disease in Japan ,what are the main indicators?

Prof.Takazawa:In the measurement of arterial stiffness，we should carry out blood tests to detect total cholesterol or hyperlipidemia, because this is a very common disease, detection of diabetes, blood pressure measurement.It is very easy to achieve, at least one time per year. This could to prevent the majority of vascular disease and most of the events.In China, the annual health check is helpful. Then the detection of arterial stiffness.

Reporter：What is the significance of China-Japan vascular forum?

Prof.Takazawa:China-Japan vascular forum is very important.China-Japan share the same Asia area, there are many common features,different from European countries.We can share the arterial stiffness research.Last year, Professor Hongyu Wang has visited Japan, he delivered a good lecture on China situation about vascular health.I was surprised by the progress in China and the development of guideline.China-Japan have the same thing, reports, and goals, can come together. So i am very pleased to be able to come to China to participate in this meeting, and heard many interesting lectures.