Cardiovascular disease
​
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a general term for conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels. CVD includes all heart and circulatory diseases; encompassing angina, heart attacks, coronary heart disease, congenital heart disease, strokes, hypertension and vascular dementia.
Elevated low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, obesity and high blood pressure are all risk factors for CVD, which is responsible for 30% of all deaths annually in England. A recent study from the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine has highlighted that only 50% of people in England, that are at risk from CVD, have actually received lifestyle and diet support (1). Whilst some of these results can be attributed to poor recording in patients notes, it demonstrates a window of opportunity that may be being missed in many patients.
There is strong evidence showing nutritional interventions, support to stop smoking and exercise can reduce your risk by lowering blood pressure, lowering problematic cholesterol and losing weight. Making these changes as early as possible is crucial for your health, as it is the sustained high levels over long periods from our 20's and 30's that can really impact on disease progression in later years.
​
If you haven't had a test recently then, prior to consultations, it would be helpful to have your cholesterol measured so that we can tract your progress. Cholesterol tests can be requested on the NHS once you reach 40 or can be purchased through pharmacies. For women over 40 testing is strongly recommended as the journey through perimenopause can result in an increase in LDL cholesterol. Blood pressure and weight can be measured in clinic, but only if you feel comfortable to do this.
Any body type can have high cholesterol and high blood pressure and it is therefore always a good idea to be regularly tested.
​
Please see our prices tab for details of the types of appointments we offer.
​
​
Helpful sites to visit:
https://www.bloodpressureuk.org
​
​
(1) Lemp J M, Nuthanapati M P, Barnighausen T W et al. Use of lifestyle interventions in primary care for individuals with newly diagnosed hypertension, hyperlipidaemia or obesity: a retrospective cohort study. J R Soc Med 2022; https://doi.org/10.1177/01410768221077381
​