Prioritize your cardiac health this Heart Month
February is Heart Month, a time to put matters of the heart first by checking in on your cardiac health.
As a pharmacist, helping my patients take care of their heart health is always a priority, but every February we get an extra opportunity to focus on this.
One common heart health issue that often goes undetected is hypertension, also known as high blood pressure. Hypertension is a silent killer. Yet, new survey data from Shoppers Drug Mart reveals many Canadians are neglecting their heart health. The survey found one in five Canadians hasn’t had their blood pressure checked in the last 18 months, and 13 per cent have never it checked. What Canadians don’t know may be putting them at risk.
Getting active treatment of hypertension can result in a reduction in stroke incidence by about 35 to 40 per cent, and reduction in incidence of coronary heart disease by eight to 14 per cent. It’s time for Nova Scotians to prioritize heart health.
Here are the top myths surrounding heart health I hear from my patients and the truths about each:
MYTH: Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is not that serious.
FALSE. Hypertension is responsible for up to 50 per cent of deaths due to heart disease and stroke and is a leading cause of kidney disease and failure, making it crucial for Canadians to prioritize their heart health.
MYTH: Men are at a higher risk of hypertension than women throughout their lives.
FALSE. Hypertension is of particular concern for older women, as those over age 60 are at higher risk for developing hypertension than men. Many women don’t know the associated risks, which means it often goes undiagnosed. Factors including pregnancy and menopause can increase the risk of women developing high blood pressure.
MYTH: Healthy people don’t need to get their blood pressure checked.
FALSE. Even if you are in good health, Health Canada recommends you check your blood pressure once a year. Hypertension is more common than many people think, affecting nearly one in four Canadians. By checking your blood pressure regularly, you and your pharmacist or health-care provider can identify ways to meet your blood pressure targets that may require support through lifestyle or medication changes.
MYTH: It’s easy to tell if you have hypertension.
FALSE. You may think hypertension
shows obvious signs and symptoms, but many of my patients are surprised to learn hypertension often presents no symptoms until it has reached a severe or life-threatening stage. That’s why it’s so important to prioritize your heart health and get your blood pressure checked regularly to help identify any potential issues.
MYTH: Diet is the only thing I need to change to improve my heart health.
FALSE. Maintaining a healthy heart takes more than simply eating your greens. While diet is a factor, getting regular physical activity – ideally 30 to 60 minutes most days of the week - is another important part of heart health. For women, not getting enough physical activity is a higher risk factor for hypertension, whereas not having a healthy diet leads to a greater risk of hypertension in men. If you’re ready to quit smoking, your pharmacist can help you choose a smoking cessation aid that’s right for you, as smoking is another
risk factor for hypertension.
MYTH: I can only get my blood pressure checked by my family physician.
FALSE. Your local pharmacist can help you use an in-store blood pressure monitor, explain what the reading means and work with your family physician to help develop a plan to meet your blood pressure targets. If you’ve been prescribed any medications for hypertension or are looking to monitor your blood pressure at home, your pharmacist can also review these with you.
For more advice and information on managing your heart health, speak to your local pharmacist. We can support patients with hypertension to better manage their condition and we are your local frontline health-care professional to help you understand, manage and maintain your heart health.