Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Review
Review Timescale
Patients with heart disease, peripheral arterial disease, or who have had a stroke, should have an annual review with one of the practice nurses around their birthday month. Unless their condition has been stable for a number of years this will normally be followed up in an appointment with your GP when your test results are back.
Our nurse-led cardiovascular risk reduction review appointments generally last around 20 minutes, so when you book, please make sure to tell the receptionist the type of appointment you need.
Review Forms
It would help the practice conduct a more thorough and efficient review if you complete the appropriate form(s) for your condition(s) 1 - 2 weeks before your appointment.
Please note if you have a combination of cardiovascular disease AND one or more of: asthma, COPD, rheumatoid arthritis, epilepsy or diabetes; you should fill this form in instead.
What will happen during your appointment?
The nurses will check your blood pressure, take blood to test cholesterol, blood sugar, and kidney function levels, and review lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, exercise level, and weight management.
The nurses also check the your urine for early signs of poor kidney function, so please bring a sample with you when you attend the clinic (sample containers are always available from the Practice).
Blood Pressure Readings
If you take blood pressure readings at home you can record them on this form: (Word | PDF) and either hand them in to the Practice, or submit them to us online here. Once submitted these readings will be forwarded to your usual GP.
Many of these checks are also incorporated into the 6 monthly checks for patients with high blood pressure, and the practice nurses try to offer healthy lifestyle advice whenever appropriate during other consultations.
Risk Factors
If you are worried that you may be at risk of developing heart or stroke disease, please see one of the GPs or nurses in a routine appointment to discuss your risk factors (such as any family history of these conditions). They will also review your records to see if you need any tests such as a blood pressure or cholesterol check. Please make your appointment for this issue on its own – a professional assessment can not be done at the end of a consultation where another problem has already been addressed.
One of the biggest risk factors for heart and stroke disease is smoking. If you are a smoker and are thinking about quitting NHS Inform has information about the services that are available.
Links
For more information on heart disease, stroke disease, high blood pressure and cholesterol you can check out the following websites:
