The incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been increasing steadily over the past several years and is currently one of the biggest public health concerns in Italy. One of the chief objectives in CVD prevention is primary prevention of coronary artery disease (CAD). Longitudinal epidemiological studies have confirmed the benefit of lifetime maintenance of the population at low levels of risks. CVD prevention cannot and should not be the responsibility of doctors alone, but should involve politicians/ policymakers, as well as the media, local institutions, schools, food producers, etc. These players should avoid futile prohibitions, and work together to “make health choices easy.” Primary prevention is an investment for the future. The Italian operational model is based on a three-pronged policy including individual prevention, community prevention, and surveillance...