PHE releases action plan to prevent CVD
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) causes over a quarter of all deaths in the UK and costs the NHS almost £9 billion each year.
It affects 7 million people in the UK and is a major cause of death and disability. To reduce the impact of this disease, Public Health England (PHE) has released an action plan outlining the initiatives it is planning to prevent CVD in the coming year.
CVD is an umbrella term that describes a family of diseases that result from atherosclerosis (furring or hardening of artery walls) and include coronary heart disease, stroke and peripheral arterial disease.
There are several factors that increase the risk of CVD, some that non-modifiable such as age, gender and ethnicity. However, there are other risk factors that are modifiable and include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, an unhealthy diet, and being inactive. Environmental factors also play a part such as housing, poverty and pollution.
For example, premature death rates from CVD in the most deprived 10% of the population are almost twice as high in the least deprived 10%.
The lifestyle risk factors for CVD are shared with those for high blood pressure and diabetes, highlighting what you do on a daily basis can affect your future health.