The UK takes cardiovascular screening to heart – and so should you!
In spite of advances in medicine, studies are showing that life expectancy is actually starting to get shorter. Don’t believe it? All you have to do is look around … the evidence is everywhere. Along with making our lives easier, we have created a life style that makes it easier to get sick. Bad personal habits, lack of activity, and weight gain are making life hard on our hearts.
The result? An increase in cardiovascular disease. Despite all the tools we have for early detection and prevention, we’re actually losing the battle.
A lot of this has to do with the stealthy nature of the symptoms. Something as simple as high blood pressure, known as the ‘silent killer’, can lead to heart attacks, angina, and strokes. We don’t feel pain, or think that we’re sick … and this is what makes vascular disease so dangerous. According to the Anne Arundel Medical Center, the absence of symptoms makes regular testing doubly important.
In the UK, almost half of all deaths are caused by cardiovascular disease. This frightening statistic has stimulated a call to action for screening. A handbook published by the UK National Screening Committee provided guidelines for detecting and managing vascular risk.
It recommended ALL people – 40 and older should have a routine cardiovascular screening risk assessment. And if you have a family history of heart disease? Don’t even wait that long! It’s not a matter of if, but HOW serious your risk is.
Routine screening starts with a conversation with your doctor or nurse. Habits like smoking, weight gain, poor diet, lack of physical activity, and drinking too much alcohol factor into your risk assessment. Depending on these factors, additional tests may be required.
Blood pressure checks should be routine for everyone. But there are additional screens that can be easily performed by your clinician or a specialist…
•A CT scan is a form of X-ray that takes pictures of your body in sections.
•Magnetic Resonance is similar to an MRI and provides detailed images of the arteries and veins.
•An Ankle Brachial Index compares the blood pressure in your ankle to the blood pressure in your arm.
•And finally, Ultrasound Doppler sees the insides of blood vessels and works as a diagnostic tool to determine treatment.
The Department of Health launched an initiative to offer checks to all people between the ages of 40 and 74. “Putting prevention first”, was designed to identify those who are at increased risk for heart disease. Early detection means early intervention. This, in turn, reduces the cost and the heartache of heart disease.
Today, the Department of Health continues to urge the public to be proactive in managing their health. Policies on prevention can be viewed on their web site, https://www.gov.uk.
Cutthewaist.com offers more detail on testing and the value of vascular screening. However, the best action to take is to be screened and learn how to protect your heart.
Robert Simpson is a keen health blogger who has contributed to various sites, helping people overcome ailments and providing advice.