Reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease

Your risk of a heart attack and stroke falls if you do not smoke, eat healthily, exercise and have blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes and kidney disease treated properly. A risk score is an estimate and must take account of your background and medical situation.

• High blood pressure, high cholesterol and early diabetes usually cause no noticeable symptoms.
• Chest pressure during activity, becoming short of breath more easily or calf pain when walking may indicate existing narrowing of the arteries.
• Do not smoke or vape, and ask for help if you cannot stop on your own.
• Eat mainly vegetables, fruit, pulses, wholegrain foods, nuts and fish, and limit salt and highly processed food.
• Make an appointment for a risk assessment if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, kidney disease or a family history of cardiovascular disease at an early age.
• For urgent GP care outside normal opening hours, call HAP 9252. Call Ambulance 912 only for an immediately life-threatening situation.