24 hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Assessment
All patients should have risk factors relevant to cardiovascular disease assessed. These factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking and obesity.
However, it is recognised that blood pressure taken in the GP practice may not truly reflect blood pressure levels experienced during the course of a normal day. Southern Independent are now pleased to offer patients with suspected high blood pressure a 24 hour ambulatory BP assessment service to assist with accurate detection and diagnosis.
Call us on 01722 415444, for more information and book an appointment.
May 2013
Heart News - Atherosclerosis - not just a modern disease
Atherosclerosis is a disease which causes narrowing of the arteries due to fatty deposits.
A very significant amount of time and resources are spent in preventing, diagnosing and treating atherosclerosis and its effect, especially on cardiovascular disease. It had been thought this condition was essentially due to our modern lifestyle.
However, a recent study published in the The Lancet has shown significant amounts of atherosclerosis in mummified remains between 500 and 5000 years old from Egypt, Peru, south-west America and the Aleutian Island of Alaska.
Although there is incontrovertible evidence that high blood pressure, smoking and obesity are linked to cardiovascular disease, other factors yet to be recognised may also play a part, so we shouldn't blame modern life entirely for the prevalence of cardiovascular disease. It appears this may be an inherent component of ageing rather than being characteristic of any specific diet or lifestyle.
It is, however, really important to recognise high blood pressure and regularly assess other risk factors, which may include high cholesterol.
All patients should have these aspects assessed as part of a routine health prevention programme. All registered patients receive this as part of their annual health review.
We are pleased to offer a number of alternative health checks to non registered patients which all include a cardiovascular risk assessment.
May 2013
Measles Epidemic
There has been widespread publicity recently regarding the very significant increase in the number of cases of measles.
Although Southern Independent recommends all children are immunised with MMR, it recognises that some parents remain concerned about the safety of this vaccination, despite the evidence being very reassuring that it is completely safe.
We do have supplies of single measles and single rubella vaccines and encourage anyone unwilling to immunise their child with MMR to consider the single measles and rubella vaccinations. Please note that mumps vaccine is currently unavailable in the UK as a single vaccination.
Call us on 01722 415444, for more information and book an appointment.
April 2013
WHITEHALL STUDY LINKS STRESS AT WORK AND HEART ATTACK RISK
High pressure jobs which cause chronic stress at work can dramatically increase the risk of a heart attack.
This is a conclusion from scientific studies which uncovered the biological mechanism that shows how work stress causes ill health. This indicates the strongest evidence yet of the link between work related stress and heart disease. The Whitehall Study II followed 10,308 civil servants aged 35-55 6,895men (67%) and 3,413 women (33%) who were examined since the mid 1980s. Workers under the age of 50 who were identified as chronically stressed were 68 per cent more likely to suffer a heart attack or angina.
Stress was measured by questions on working conditions and blood tests for stress hormones and heart rate variability. Between 5 and 10 per cent of the group were judged to be chronically stressed, with physical effects being more pronounced on weekdays - suggesting the link with work.
Men and women with low job control, either self reported or independently assessed, had a higher risk of newly reported coronary heart disease during follow up. Job control assessed on two occasions three years apart, although inter correlated, had cumulative effects on newly reported disease. Subjects with low job control on both occasions had twice the risk for a subsequent coronary event as compared with subjects with high job control at both occasions. This association could not be explained by employment grade, negative affectivity, or classic coronary risk factors. Job demands and social support at work were not related to the risk of coronary heart disease.
One of the conclusions is that low control in the work environment is associated with an increased risk of future coronary heart disease among men and women employed who were involved in the Whitehall Study II. The cumulative effect of low job control assessed on two occasions indicates that giving employees more variety in tasks and a stronger say in decisions about work may decrease the risk of coronary heart disease.
Key messages
- The risk of heart disease is associated with both objective and perceived low job control.
- Increase in job control over time decreases the risk of coronary heart disease. This suggests that policies giving people a stronger say in decisions about their work or providing them with more variety in work tasks may contribute to better cardiovascular health
The Southern Independent Medical Practice is the only independent private general practice between London and Cardiff and offers business owner/managers a full medical service which includes an annual comprehensive preventative HealthPlan screening programme to clients and their employees.
