Heart Condition

 Print This Page

Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease
Most heart attacks and strokes are preventable, yet every day more people in New Zealand die from cardiovascular disease than from any other cause.

Heart Attacks, angina, strokes, transient ischaemic attacka and peripheral vascular disease are all forms of cardiovascular disease.
By knowing your personal risk of developing cardiovascular disease, you can make important changes that will both improve your health and reduce your risk. Your risk of having a heart attack or stroke can range from mild to very high, based on your risk factors. People with diabetes are at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, even before assessment of all other risk factors.

Cardiovascular Risk Assessment at ETHC

Your doctor, nurse or health professional at anyone of our ETHC clinics can assess your risk factors and estimate your risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke in the next five years.

The doctor, nurse or health professional will take you through four easy steps:

1. Risk assessment- Assess your risk of having a heart attack or stroke
2. Make a plan- Plan your goals and changes in your life that will improve your health
3. Options – Ways to tackle your risk factors, including lifestyle changes and drug therapy
4. Check-ups – Plot your progress over time

Many heart attacks and strokes are preventable. With the right information and action, you can make the choice to live a long and healthy life.

ECG

An ECG is a recording of your heart’s electrical activity. Electrode patches are attached to your skin to measure the electrical impulses given off by your heart. The result is a trace that can be read by a doctor. It can give information of previous heart attacks or problems with the heart rhythm.