CVD Prevention and NHS Health Checks

Heart and circulatory disease, also known as cardiovascular disease or CVD, causes a quarter of all deaths in the UK and is the largest cause of premature mortality in deprived areas.

Millions of people are unaware that they are living with serious but treatable conditions such as atrial fibrillation, high blood pressure (hypertension) and high cholesterol. These are known as the A-B-C conditions, which are the major causes of CVD.

CVD can often largely be prevented by leading a healthy lifestyle, for example stopping smoking, reducing alcohol intake, maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly. Spotting risk factors early reduces the chance of developing potentially life-threatening conditions including heart attacks, stroke and dementia.

Source: https://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/clinical-policy/cvd/prevention-recovery/

Very Brief Intervention

Ask

Have you heard of the term CVD or Cardiovascular Disease? Would you like some information on what this?

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a general term for conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels.
It includes all heart and circulatory diseases including coronary heart disease, angina, heart attack, congenital heart disease, hypertension, stroke and vascular dementia.
It's usually associated with a build-up of fatty deposits inside the arteries and an increased risk of blood clots.
It can also be associated with damage to arteries in organs such as the brain, heart, kidneys and eyes.
The exact cause of CVD isn't clear, but there are lots of things that can increase your risk of getting it. These are called "risk factors". More details on each of the risks below can be found on the NHS website
- High blood pressure
- Smoking
- High Cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Inactivity
- Being overweight or obese
- Family History or CVD
- Ethnic background
- Other factors include Age, Gender, Diet and Alcohol

The more risk factors you have, the greater your chances of developing CVD.

Healthy Lifestyle/Modifiable Risks

Did you know that CVD is one of the main causes of death and disability in the UK, but it can often largely be prevented by leading a healthy lifestyle? Would you like some further information on this?

I've been looking into some ways to prevent heart disease, like stopping smoking, eating a balanced diet and staying active, would you like some further information on this?

NHS Health Checks

Did you know that if you are over 40 you can access a free NHS Health check? This can help assess your CVD risk and help support you to reduce the risk if necessary. Would you like some further information on this?

Assist

Healthy lifestyle/Modifiable Risk - Changes can help you to lower your risk of CVD

If you smoke you should try and give up as soon and possible, there is lots of support available for this, would you like some information?
- See ‘Quitting smoking’ in the ACT section and dedicated smoking topic on MECC Link
To keep health risks from alcohol to a low level it is safest not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis. If you regularly drink as much as 14 units per week, it's best to spread your drinking evenly over three or more days, would you like some further information other tips and resources?
- See ‘Drink Less’ in the ACT section and dedicated Alcohol topic on MECC Link
Maintaining a healthy weight will keep your heart healthy. A balanced diet is recommended for a health heart, this includes lowering levels of saturated fats such as processed meat (burgers, sausages, bacon etc), cakes, biscuits, lowering levels of salt. Try to eat more fibre and wholegrain foods, plenty of fruit and vegetables.
- See ‘Eating Well and achieving a healthy weight’ in the ACT section and dedicated topic on MECC Link.
Regular exercise can reduce your risk of major illnesses, such as coronary heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and cancer and lower your risk of early death by up to 30%. You don’t need to visit the gym, regular exercise includes walking, dancing or even gardening.
- See ‘The benefits of Physical Activity’ in the ACT section and dedicated topic on MECC Link.

Would you like any further information on any of this, I can signpost you to a range or self care, national or local support services if that’s works for you?

NHS Health Checks

You'll be invited for a free NHS Health Check every 5 years if you're between 40 and 74 years of age and do not already have a pre-existing condition.
If you're registered with a GP surgery that offers the NHS Health Check, you should automatically get an invitation. Do not worry if you have not been invited yet – you will be over the next 5 years.
Alternatively, your local authority will send you an appointment letter explaining where you have to go for your NHS Health Check.
If you're not sure if you're eligible for an NHS Health Check and would like one, or if you are eligible but have not had an NHS Health Check in the last 5 years, ask at a GP surgery for an appointment.

Would you like some further information on what is included in an NHS health checks?

See National support services in the ACT section for further details

Was there an area that we discussed that could help you keep your heart healthy that would be helpful explore further?

How ready are you to make a change? Is there any other help that you might need?

Act

Self-Care & National Support Services

Reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) involves adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle and managing key risk factors. There are some useful resources available on the NHS Better Health Website: https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/

This includes useful tools and we can recommend:

Quitting Smoking

Better Health quit smoking website which includes information about the benefits of quitting, advice on various quitting aids and a local stop smoking service lookup tool

NHS Quit Smoking App - a 28-day programme that provides practical support, encouragement, and tailored clinical advice on your mobile/tablet. Includes a savings calculator so you can see how much money you're saving.

To find out more you could watch our app demo which provides a step by step view of how to get started

Personal Quit Plan – four simple steps to create your own personal quit plan

Drink Less

https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/drink-less/

Cutting back on the booze can be a really effective way to improve your health, boost your energy, lose weight and save money. Any reduction in the amount you drink every week will be beneficial – and with the right help, it's easier than you think.

The benefits of Physical Activity

Get active - Better Health - NHS (www.nhs.uk) - website includes access to free online exercise routines you can do at home and offers from approved partners

Active 10 walking app - track your walking habits to increase the number of brisk minutes, which is when the health benefits will be greatest. No Lycra required, and there are lots of benefits of getting out into local green spaces like parks for your mental health too. Available from the App Store and Google Play

Couch to 5k app - easy to follow, flexible programme to get you running 5k in as little as 9 weeks, or longer if you want. Listen to your preferred music player as you run, between motivational messages from your chosen celebrity “coach”. Track your achievements and collect awards as you progress. Available from the App Store and Google Play

Eating Well and achieving a healthy weight

Lose weight - Better Health - NHS (www.nhs.uk) – information and advice, and links to offers from approved partners

NHS Weight Loss Plan app, a 12-week programme following NHS advice on losing weight safely. Available from the App Store and Google Play. To find out more you could watch our app demo

Healthy Steps email programme:

Healthy Steps is a budget-conscious email programme designed to encourage families to take steps to improve their health and wellbeing. It provides regular reinforcement and feedback to help families set and achieve goals. Particular focus on lower income families with children aged 5-11.

The programme invites families/parents/carers to complete a quiz, leading to a recommendation of the best NHS approved health options for your family. There are currently three on offer: sugar reduction, 5 A Day or planned cooking. Those who sign up will get eight weekly emails with hints and tips on their chosen theme, as well as weekly challenges. Built-in feedback loops means that they will also be provided reinforcement and encouragement after set-backs to help them in their journey through Healthy Steps.

NHS Health Checks

The NHS website provides full details on what happens in an NHS health check

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-health-check/what-happens-at-an-nhs-health-check/

An NHS Health Check will be done by a healthcare professional

The check takes about 20 to 30 minutes. There will be questions, measurements and tests.

You'll be asked some simple questions, including:

whether any of your close relatives have had the illnesses being checked for
if and how much you smoke
how much alcohol you drink, if any
how much physical activity you do

Your weight and height will be measured to work out if you are a healthy weight for your height.

Your waist may also be measured using a tape measure.

Your age, gender and ethnicity will be recorded.

Your blood pressure will be taken using a cuff fitted over your upper arm – find out what happens during a blood pressure test. Your pulse should be taken too.

You will either have a blood test before or at the check. You may also have a small sample of blood taken from your finger during the appointment to check your cholesterol level and possibly also your blood sugar level.

The health conditions picked up by the NHS Health Check are, when added together, the biggest cause of preventable deaths in the UK, with around 7 million people affected by them.

In its first 5 years, the NHS Health Check is estimated to have prevented 2,500 heart attacks or strokes. This is the result of people receiving treatment after their Health Check.

The latest research suggests that:

for every 30 to 40 people having an NHS Health Check, 1 person is diagnosed with high blood pressure
for every 80 to 200 people having a Health Check, 1 person is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes
for every 6 to 10 people having an NHS Health Check, 1 person is identified as being at high risk of cardiovascular disease

Key CVD Support websites and resources

West Yorkshire Healthy Hearts aims to help reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke for people at highest risk.

West Yorkshire Harrogate Healthy Hearts

Humber, Coast and Vale Healthy Hearts

British Heart Foundation offers information and support for patients and professionals for the prevention and management of CVD

Welcome to British Heart Foundation - BHF

Managing cholesterol

HEART UK - The Cholesterol Charity

Diabetes support prevention and management

Diabetes UK - Know diabetes. Fight diabetes. | Diabetes UK

Know your numbers and managing blood pressure for professionals

Blood Pressure UK

Prevention support to lose weight, get active, quit smoking, drink less

Better Health - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Managing stress and taking care of your mental health

Every Mind Matters - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

This guide explains how AF is diagnosed and treated, and treatments to reduce your risk of a stroke.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and stroke | Stroke Association

This guide explains what high blood pressure is and how it increases your risk of stroke

High blood pressure and stroke | Stroke Association