Checking in on heart health for Heart Month

Peter Shalvardjian

This month, put matters of the heart first by checking in on your heart health. As a pharmacist, helping our community take care of their heart health is always a priority, but this month serves as an important reminder for the most common heart health issue that often goes undetected – hypertension, also known as high blood pressure. 

Hypertension is a silent killer. Yet, new survey data from Shoppers Drug Mart reveals many Canadians have been neglecting their heart health. The survey found one-in-five Canadians haven’t had their blood pressure checked in the last 18 months and 13 per cent never have it checked at all. What Canadians don’t know is putting them at risk. 

It’s time for Miltonians to prioritize our heart health. Here are the top myths around heart health I hear from patients and the truths about each:

• Hypertension or high blood pressure is not that serious.

FALSE. Hypertension is responsible for up to 50 per cent of deaths due to heart disease and stroke and is a leading cause of kidney disease and failure, making it crucial for Canadians to prioritize their heart health. In fact, getting active treatment of hypertension can be a lifesaving first step that can result in a reduction in stroke incidence by approximately 35 to 40 per cent and reduction in incidence of coronary heart disease by eight to 14 per cent. 

1. It’s easy to tell if you have hypertension. 

FALSE. You may think hypertension shows obvious signs and symptoms, but many of my patients are surprised to learn that it often presents no symptoms until it has reached a severe or life-threatening stage. That’s why it’s so important to prioritize your heart health and get your blood pressure checked regularly to help identify any potential issues.  

1. Diet is the only thing I need to change to improve my heart health. 

FALSE. Maintaining a healthy heart takes more than simply eating your greens. Getting regular physical activity – ideally 30 to 60 minutes most days of the week—is another important part of heart health. For women, not getting enough physical activity is a higher risk factor for hypertension, whereas not having a healthy diet leads to a greater risk of hypertension in men. If you’re ready to quit smoking, your pharmacist can help you choose a smoking cessation aid that’s right for you as smoking is another risk factor for hypertension.

For more advice and information on managing your heart health, speak to your local pharmacist. They can support patients with hypertension to better manage their condition, and they are your local frontline healthcare professional to help you understand, manage, and maintain your heart health.