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 Cardiovascular disease (heart, stroke and blood vessel disease) is the leading cause of death in New Zealand.
One person dies from heart disease every ninety minutes in New Zealand.
The good news is that there are often many ways your Primary care team can work with you to assist you to make lifestyle changes that can help improve your health and lower your Cardio vascular risk.
Visit your primary healthcare care team and get your heart checked.
General practices affiliated to Harbour Health can screen you for Cardio Vascular disease risk if you are in the following eligible groups:
Males aged 45 to 74
Females aged 55 to 74
10 years earlier for Maori, Pacific Island or Indian people
What is a cardio Vascular Risk assessment?
A Cardio vascular risk assessment assesses your risk of whether you are likely to develop angina or have a heart attack in the next 5 years, by looking at the following risk factors for Cardio vascular disease:
- Age
- Gender
- Blood pressure
- Cholesterol level
- Diabetic status
- Smoking status
The assessment also looks at your ethnicity, family history of heart disease, and physical activity levels.
Many heart attacks and strokes can be prevented by reducing your risk factors.
By being aware of your personal risk factors your primary healthcare team will be able to work with you to improve your health and reduce your risk of heart disease.
These changes could include such things as medication and /or lifestyle advice.
Harbour Health also offers patient education group sessions for people who have a higher risk of Cardio Vascular disease.
Your Harbour Health practice can refer you to these groups and to other community programmes such as Green Prescription, to help you to become more active.
Contact your Harbour Health General Practice to find out more about this programme.
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