Text Size: A or A

Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is the largest single cause of long term ill health and disability, impairing the quality of life for many people. CVD includes coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease.  It causes 36% of deaths (170,000 a year in England) and is the commonest cause of death in the UK.

Primary prevention for cardiovascular disease (CVD) works and evidence based interventions can dramatically reduce risk.  In order to deliver primary care prevention of CVD there is the need to identify those at risk of disease.

NHS Health Checks

NHS North Yorkshire and York have commissioned the provision of NHS Health Checks through GP Practices across the locality.  Those GP Practices signed up to offer the service will invite eligible patients to attend their surgery for a free NHS Health Check.

For health professionals requiring resources around the NHS Health Check programme, click here.

Positive healthy lifestyles

The good news is that making positive lifestyle changes can reduce the risk of developing CVD.  There are modifiable lifestyle risk factors associated with CVD which include; smoking, physical inactivity and a sedentary lifestyle, high blood pressure, raised cholesterol levels, and healthy weight.  There is considerable evidence to support the impact of adopting positive healthy lifestyles for these risk factors.  Interventions which include supporting people to discontinue smoking, make healthier food choices, increase aerobic physical activity and achieve optimal weight and weight distribution is central to CVD prevention.

Links for Patients

Activheart	NHS Choices	NHS Lifecheck

Links for Health Professionals

NHS Health Check	Heart UK CVD risk calculator - please click here to download	Resource pack for Adult Weight Management (NHS access only)