Heart disease continues to be one of the leading causes of death in Canadians.
A Statistics Canada 2008 report on Morality, released on Oct. 18, 2011, identifies heart disease and stroke as two of the three leading causes of death in Canada.
The report also recognizes women over 40 as being a demographic that needs to be particularly careful of developing heart disease, especially if the following factors are part of their lives:
• smoking
• being overweight
• an inactive lifestyle combined with high stress
• high cholesterol, high blood pressure and high blood glucose levels
For those wondering about the condition of their heart and the possibility of developing heart disease, now is the time to find out by booking a one-on-one consultation with a London Drugs patient-care pharmacist at the Healthy Heart Clinic.
These clinics are available at various times including evenings and weekends.
Patient-care pharmacists will perform a test for blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose levels through a simple finger prick blood sample, and take weight and waist-hip measurements for clinic participants.
Pharmacists will assess the likelihood of developing heart disease and show ways to minimize this risk, including improvements in cardiovascular health.
Healthy Heart Clinic participants will take home a Heart Health Information Kit including a personal assessment, heart health care plan, informational pamphlets, and a coupon for a blood pressure monitor.
The 45-minute clinic is $15 per person.
Clinics will be held across Western Canada with a clinic in Westbank on Monday, May 28, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and in Kelowna on Thursday, May 31, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
