Preventive efforts should be guided by the patient's global cardiovascular (CV) risk. A risk stratification should be done in every person> age 35 with more than a single risk factor. Recommendations for improved lifestyle are applicable to all persons with CV risk factors: smoking cessation, daily exercise, normal body mass index, Mediterranean diet, blood pressure< 140 mmHg systolic, and LDL cholesterol< 130 mg/dl are beneficial. If the 10-year risk is≥ 20% for CV events or≥ 5% for CV death, additional drug interventions are usually necessary: acetylsalicylic acid 100 mg daily, statins to lower LDL cholesterol to< 100 mg/dl or, in diabetics with coronary artery disease, to< 70 mg/dl, blood pressure should be< 130 mmHg systolic, eg, in patients with diabetes or renal disease. After bare-metal stent implantation clopidogrel should be given for≥ 4 weeks and after drug-eluting stents for≥ 6 months. In patients after myocardial infarction with an ejection fraction of< 40%, ACE inhibitors and β-blocker should be started. Influenza vaccination improves prognosis in high-risk patients.