Cardiovascular Risk Management Program

You must be rostered to a primary care physician of the Plantagenet Family Health Team to access the Cardiovascular Risk Management Program.

Heart health depends on several modifiable risk factors and the Plantagenet family health team wants to help you take your heart health in hand because it is never too late to act!

What are the risk factors?

Hypertension, one of the cardiovascular risk factors also known as high blood pressure, affects one in five Canadians and is often called the silent killer because you may not know it is there. The Plantagenet Family Health Team has developed a cardiovascular risk management program based on best practice guidelines that provides clients with the tools to manage or prevent high blood pressure. By identifying and providing clients with the skills necessary to manage their risk factors and all other risk factors such as diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, clients will be able to reduce the risk of developing further cardiovascular complications.

Know your numbers when it comes to your blood pressure:

<140/90 – Normal Range

<130/80 – Normal range for clients with diabetes or kidney disease

<150/90 – Normal range for people 80 years of age and over

High cholesterol depends on genetics or poor diet or a combination of both. Your health care provider can determine your cholesterol levels by doing a blood test. If your “bad” cholesterol is high, your doctor will suggest to meet with a dietitian ( active link ) to improve your diet. Medication may also be recommended.

Smoking cessation happens to be one of the best actions you can do for your health. See our smoking cessation program. ( active link )

Diabetes is a disease that prevents the body to properly use sugar. This increases the blood sugar. Our diabetes program ( active link ) will help for the screening and treatment of diabetes.

Abdominal obesity is a risk factor for heart disease. Good nutrition and exercise are important in order to lose weight. Your health care providers can referred you to the dietitian who will guide you with weight loss. ( active link )

Where do you find yourself?

With the help of a tape measure, measure your waist circumference halfway between the top of your hipbone and the bottom of your ribcage, without sucking in your abdomen.

Waist Circumference Measurement Risk of suffering from CVD and Diabetes
Normal Range of Waistline Men: less than 94 cm (37 in)

Women: less than à 80 cm (32 in)

Least
Abdominal Heaviness Men: between 94 and 102 cm (37 and 40 in)

Women: between 80 and 88 cm (32 and 35 in)

Increased
Abdominal Obesity Men: more than or equal to 102 cm (40 in)

Women: more than or equal to 88 cm (35 in)

High

Insufficient physical activity plays a big role in the health of your heart and in maintaining a healthy weight.

See the Public Health Agency for Canada for recommendations by age group:

Children 5-11 years old

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/hp-ps/hl-mvs/pa-ap/05paap-eng.php

Youth 12-17 years old

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/hp-ps/hl-mvs/pa-ap/06paap-eng.php

Adults 18-64 years old

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/hp-ps/hl-mvs/pa-ap/07paap-eng.php

Older Adults 65 years old and older

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/hp-ps/hl-mvs/pa-ap/08paap-eng.php

The program offers:

Patients can be referred by their health care provider or they can self-refer to this program. For patients to have their blood pressure checked they can:

For more information, please visit the resources below:

Heart and Stroke Foundation

http://www.heartandstroke.com

Eat Right Ontario

http://www.eatrightontario.ca/en

Canada’s Food Guide

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide-aliment

Hypertension Canada

http://www.hypertension.ca

Sodium 101

http://www.sodium101.ca

5/30 Wellness Health and Challenge

http://www.healthchallenge.ca