Measurements to Reduce CVD Risk
Diet
- Some scientific studies have linked a diet high in saturated fats to an increased risk of CVD
- It is worth noting that there are other studies that are inconclusive on the link between dietary saturated fat and CVD risk
- Studies that investigate the connection between diet and CVD can be used to educate members of the public on their consumption of certain foods
- Food labels now exist on most food packaging making consumers aware of what they are eating
- Traffic light warning labels (Red = high, Orange = medium, Green = low) also exist on many food labels to warn consumers of high levels of sugar, saturated fat, and salt
- People are able to make informed choices about their diets
- Obesity has been linked to an increase in CVD events
- Healthcare professionals can use a number of measures to identify obesity in patients
- Waste-to-hip ratio is the circumference of the waist in cm divided by the circumference of the hips in cm
- For women the ratio should be less than 0.86
- For men the ratio should be less than 1.0
- BMI is a value derived from dividing an individual's mass in kg by the square of their height (m2)
- A BMI of less than 18.5 indicates that the person is underweight
- 18.5 - 24.9 is considered normal
- 25 - 29.9 is considered overweight
- A person with a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese
- Waste-to-hip ratio is the circumference of the waist in cm divided by the circumference of the hips in cm
- Obese individuals can make lifestyle choices to reduce their weight to a healthy range
Smoking
- Smoking has been linked to CVD by many research studies
- The research has led to changes in the way cigarettes are advertised
- Health warnings now exist on all packets
- TV and media portray smoking as an unhealthy lifestyle choice
- Free materials, including prescriptions, are available to support individuals to stop smoking
Exercise
- Inactivity has been linked to increased risk of CVD
- There are many campaigns and initiatives to encourage all people to partake in more exercise
- Increased hours of physical education in schools
- Targeted encouragement at different groups of people, such as teenagers
