• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Ulster's Over-40s Urgedto Undergo Heart Checks ; New Guidelines Will Increase Number of People Screened

Posted on: Wednesday, 21 December 2005, 12:00 CST

By Nigel Gouldngould@belfasttelegraph.co.uk

ALL Ulster people over the age of 40 should be tested for heart disease - the province's No 1 killer condition - campaigners urged today.Andrew Dougal, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke Association, said it was vital screening checks were carried out - even if there was no family history of heart attack or stroke.And those under the age of 40 with a history should also go for screening.He was reacting to new UK guidelines published in specialist magazine, Heart."GPs should be able to offer screening for all patients over the age of 40," he said. "If not they should come to us. We already see a lot of patients coming for screens."It is so important everyone is checked out particularly where there is a history of heart disease in the family."Heart disease is Northern Ireland's No 1 killer by far."The new guidelines recommend that adults under 40 should be screened for the disease if there is a family history of developing hardened and narrowed arteries earlier than expected.The new criteria greatly increases the number of people needing to be screened.Professor David Woods, lead author of the guidelines, said: "The promise of preventive cardiology is to reduce the risk of having a heart attack or stroke."With professional lifestyle intervention and appropriate use of proven drug treatments, it is now possible to have a major impact on the commonest cause of death in the country."For people at high risk, this will mean less disability and a longer life."All adults over 40 - even those with no history of diabetes and those not being treated for high blood pressure or cholesterol - should be screened.Blood pressure, blood cholesterol and blood sugar levels for those considered high risk should be closely monitored at all ages.The recommendations came from a collaboration of the British Cardiac Society, the British Hypertension Society, Diabetes UK, HEART UK, the Primary Care Cardiovascular Society and the Stroke Association.Ulster death rates from heart disease are worse than the UK average.A survey last year by the British Heart Foundation (BHP) revealed the premature (under 75) death rate for men and women in Northern Ireland is 34% and 33% higher respectively, than the south west of England

. Overall, 195 men in 100,000 and 65 women in 100,000 die from the coronary heart disease (CHD) in the province.

Source: Belfast Telegraph

More News in this Category