Help Your Patients To Know Their Risk!

Main Category: Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Article Date: 26 May 2008 - 10:00 PDT

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On the opening day of the World Congress of Cardiology 2008, the World Heart Federation is calling for health-care professionals to participate in this year's World Heart Day by offering heart-health checks, including blood pressure screening, to help patients and their families know their risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

By the year 2025 it is estimated that more than 1.5 billion people , or nearly one in three adults over the age of 25 will have high blood pressure, one of the biggest single risk factors for CVD, the world's number one killer. High blood pressure and CVD are major health issues of today that are increasing in prevalence, including among the young, and need action now.

Not enough people are aware of whether their own lifestyle and heritage could be contributing to their risk of developing CVD. World Heart Day 2008, on Sunday September 28th, will be urging people to "Know Your Risk!": to find out via their healthcare professional about their heart health status and how to reduce their risk.

World Heart Day, a major heart health awareness campaign now in its ninth year, is run by the World Heart Federation's member organizations in over 100 countries. The World Heart Federation is a non-governmental organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, committed to helping the global population achieve a longer and better life through prevention and control of CVD. World Heart Day activities include health checks, organized walks, runs and fitness sessions, public talks, stage shows, scientific forums, exhibitions, concerts, carnivals and sports tournaments.

An impact can be made on increasing awareness and encouraging people to take action to reduce CVD by health-care professionals supporting this year's World Heart Day and playing a role in the global movement. Heart health checks can be offered to patients to help them understand their level of risk and actions to combat it, especially lifestyle changes. Straightforward advice can exert a positive influence on patients' motivation to make lifestyle changes.

Opportunistic screening should be encouraged - people with a family history of disease may have the most to gain from screening and lifestyle changes. Family history related risk equates to a combination of genetic factors and shared lifestyle habits. Other groups should also be watched closely: people over 35; pregnant women; anyone with a history of high blood pressure, heart or kidney problems.

The 5 A's should always be kept in mind: Assess the patient's risk; Advise the patient on how to take better care of his/her heart; Agree on a course of action; Assist the patient with information and practical support; Arrange the necessary tests to monitor the patient's progress.

"Cardiovascular disease is one of the major world health issues of the 21st century but is one that we have the knowledge and ability to tackle," said Professor Shahryar Sheikh, President of the World Heart Federation. "Healthcare professional's support for World Heart Day and what it stands for would be a small but significant step in the right direction."

Treatment of high blood pressure requires attention to something more than just a number. The blood pressure reading should be just one part of a cardiovascular disease risk assessment that takes into account everything from smoking to cholesterol levels, as well as evidence of organ damage from high blood pressure.

Lifestyle changes to recommend, where appropriate, include stopping tobacco use and avoiding passive smoking, maintaining a normal weight, exercising regularly (30 minutes per day of moderate intensity for an adult) and eating a healthy diet low in fat and salt and including at least five daily servings of fruit and vegetables.

There is a disproportional amount of attention paid to 'non-sensational' health issues such as CVD compared with others, such as bird flu. Media reporting of health-related news stories can be highly influential: according to the Kings Fund report, Health in the News, members of the public may alter their behaviour in ways that affect their health at least partly as a result of information and advice they get from the media. World Heart Day aims to address that, and healthcare professionals can help by encouraging patients to "Know Your Risk!"

About the World Heart Federation

The World Heart Federation is a nongovernmental organization based in Geneva Switzerland dedicated to the prevention and control of heart disease and stroke, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries. It comprises 196 member societies of cardiology and heart foundations from over 100 countries covering the regions of Asia-Pacific, Europe, East Mediterranean, the Americas and Africa.

World Heart Federation