"Sniderman and Furberg (11) conclude that "the natural history of coronary heart disease is like a three-act tragedy. The first act introduces and develops the main characters; namely, atherogenic dyslipoproteinemia, hypertension, and cigarettes, that appear as we mature and unless something is done, persist during our entire lifetime. In the second act, that takes place during decades, these villains relentlessly attack and progressively deform the innocent arterial wall. Finally, the third act, which may be tragically short: in an instant the plaque breaks, the artery thromboses and the hero or heroine dies; frequently everybody is unaware of the drama that was represented in their
arteries."