Knowing your personal risk factors for cardiovascular disease will assist you in developing a healthier lifestyle, and minimize your likelihood of experiencing a stroke or heart attack. You can learn more about your personal risk factors by attending a London Drugs Heart Health Clinic.

During the clinic, our heart health computer program will help assess your risk of developing heart disease. Based on your personal heart-health profile, the pharmacist can help you develop a lifestyle plan to reduce your risk factors.

Risk factors for heart disease

Factors that increase the risk of heart disease include:

• being a smoker
• being overweight
• leading an inactive lifestyle
• having high cholesterol levels
• having high blood pressure
• having high blood glucose
• having a high level of stress
• ongoing excessive  alcohol consumption
• being a male 45 or over, or a female 55 or over
• being of African, south Asian or First Nations heritage
• having a family history of heart attack or stroke before age 65, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure or angina (chest pain)

If you have one or more of these risk factors, you should plan to attend one of our friendly Heart Health Clinics, to be held in March, April and May. To arrange an appointment, simply book with your London Drugs pharmacist. Please note that a finger-prick blood sample will be necessary. A nominal fee will be charged for participation in the clinic.

Smoking and Heart Disease

Many health professionals consider smoking to be the greatest risk factor for heart disease. Smoking and/or exposure to secondhand smoke has many negative health effects that increase your risk of developing heart disease and stroke. Smoking contributes to the build-up of artery-blocking plaque, increases the risk of blood clots, reduces the amount of oxygen in your blood, increases your blood pressure and forces your heart to work harder. Smoking also nearly doubles your risk of having a stroke.

There is good news, however. Once you give up smoking and avoid exposure to second-hand smoke, you will immediately reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. The sooner you become smoke-free, the sooner your body begins to recover.

The Heart & Stroke Foundation notes the following benefits after becoming smoke-free:

• Within 48 hours, your chances of having a heart attack start to go down and your sense of smell and taste begin to improve.
• Within a year, your risk of suffering a smoking-related heart attack is cut in half.
• Within 15 years, your risk of having a heart attack is the same as someone who never smoked at all.

Since the chemicals in cigarette and cigar smoke are addictive, smoking is very hard to give up. Attending a London Drugs Smoking Cessation Clinic will assist you in identifying your smoking patterns and to develop a program that will help you achieve your goal of quitting the habit.

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