Cardiovascular disease prevention scheme
I’ve had a text telling me I’ve been invited for the cardiovascular disease prevention scheme. What is it?
The scheme is a service aimed at detecting risk factors for cardiovascular disease before it becomes a problem. This will involve blood tests and body measurements prior to an appointment with a GP to discuss your results.
What is cardiovascular disease?
Cardiovascular disease is the general name for conditions that affect your heart or circulation. These include high blood pressure, stroke and vascular dementia.
Cardiovascular disease includes conditions that narrow or block blood vessels (coronary heart disease). This can lead to a heart attack, angina and some strokes. Heart disease also covers conditions that affect your heart’s muscle, valves or cause abnormal rhythms (arrhythmias).
What are the risk factors for cardiovascular disease?
Risk factors are conditions or habits that increase your risk of developing a condition. The more you have, the higher your chance of cardiovascular disease.
There are several risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including:
- smoking
- stress
- alcohol
- high blood pressure
- high blood cholesterol
- not being active
- being overweight or obese
- diabetes
- family history of heart disease
- your ethnic background
- your sex (men are more likely to get cardiovascular disease earlier than women)
- your age (the older you are, the more likely you are to get cardiovascular disease).
Many heart and circulatory diseases are caused by risk factors that can be controlled, treated or modified. Even if you cannot change all your risk factors, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk.
How will my risk be assessed?
You will be seen for an initial appointment lasting 20-30 minutes which will include body measurements (height, weight and waist circumference), blood pressure testing and bloods. You will then be given an appointment with a clinician to discuss your risk factors.
What will happen at the follow up appointment?
With your results we will calculate your ongoing cardiovascular risks and either discuss starting medication aimed at reducing your risk or if your risk is deemed low provide lifestyle advice.
