FROM THE GP'S SURGERY
CARDIOVASCULAR disease (CVD) costs the UK £19bn a year – 46% in healthcare costs, 34% from lost productivity and 20% in family carers. So, what is it?
CVD, is a medical term for conditions which affect the blood vessels and heart. The four main types of are:
■ Aortic disease: Can cause weakening, tearing and life-threatening bleeding in the main blood vessel in the body.
■ Coronary heart disease (CHD): Occurs when blood flow to the heart is reduced, increasing strain on the heart and leading to angina, heart attacks and heart failure. CHD is the biggest killer in the UK, causing 73,000 deaths each year.
■ Peripheral arterial disease: Caused by narrowing or blockages in the arteries to the limbs, usually the legs. It causes pain when walking, numbness, weakness, localised hair loss and open sores (ulcers) on the legs and feet.
■ Stroke: This happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. This will cause brain damage, or death. A transient ischaemic attack (TIA) – or ‘mini-stroke’ – is similar to a stroke, but the blood supply to the brain is only partially or temporarily cut off.
THE CAUSES
THERE are lots of risk factors that can increase your chance of developing CVD, and the more you have the greater your chances of developing it. These include:
■ High cholesterol
■ Diabetes
■ A high-fat and sugar diet
■ Drinking too much alcohol
■ Ethnicity: People of African, Caribbean and South Asian descent have a higher incidence of CVD.
■ Family history: You are at greater risk of CVD if your brother/father was diagnosed before 55 or your mother/sister before 65.
■ Gender: Men have a higher chance of developing CVD at an earlier age.
■ Hypertension
■ Smoking
■ Being overweight or obese
CAN WE BEAT CVD?
CVD isn’t curable, but it can be managed through lifestyle changes and medication.
It can also be preventable, and the best way is to keep yourself healthy. So if you’re a smoker, quit; eat healthily; and cut down on the amount of alcohol you drink.
Another factor for CVD is how much you move. Adults should aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity a week.
Once you reach 40, you’ll be invited for an NHS health check every five years with your GP. This involves assessing your personal CVD risk.
If you have a high risk of developing CVD, your GP may prescribe medication such as statins to lower cholesterol and aspirin.