Smoking: Incidence & Impact
Cigarette smoking is the most important preventable cause of premature death in Australia and other developed countries.
Cigarette smokers have a higher risk of developing a number of chronic disorders, including the build-up of fatty deposits in arteries, some cancers (especially lung cancer) and related lung problems such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Atherosclerosis, the hardening and thickening of the arteries caused by the build-up of fatty substances in the arteries, is a major contributing factor to the number of deaths from smoking. There is significant evidence that cigarette smoking is a major cause of coronary heart disease, which leads to heart attack.
Physical Activity: Impact & Importance
Physical inactivity is probably the most common ‘risk factor’ for heart disease in developed countries like Australia. As few as only 3 or 4 in every 10 men, and 2 or 3 in every 10 women are active enough to provide themselves some protection against coronary heart disease (CHD).
Obesity: Prevention & Management
Treatments for obesity depend on the extent of the problem and may involve a combination of diet, exercise and behaviour modification.
Only in severe cases, should surgery or pharmaceutical treatments be recommended.
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High Blood Pressure: Causes & Diagnosis
Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the artery walls as it circulates around the body, driven by the heart.
With every heartbeat, blood pressure rises to a peak, called the ‘systolic pressure’. Between beats, pressure falls. This is the ‘diastolic pressure’.
Health Checks: Cholesterol
Blood cholesterol level measurement starts by taking a small sample of blood, often just a drop from a finger prick, for assessment. Ideally it follows an overnight fast (no food or drink consumed, other than water, after the evening meal). For practical reasons, it is preferable to perform the test in the early morning, to minimise the inconvenience of having skipped breakfast.The following table illustrates the normal range for total blood cholesterol levels.
| Total blood cholesterol | Rating |
|---|---|
| Under 4.0 mmol/L | Low total cholesterol. |
| 4.0 to 5.49 mmol/L | Normal levels. Recheck every 1 to 2 years. |
| 5.5 to 6.49 mmol/L | Moderately elevated levels. See your doctor within 2 months for a measurement of HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. |
| Over 6.5 mmol/L | High levels. See your doctor within a month for measurement of HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. |
If fasting cholesterol is over 5.5mmol/L a measurement of HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels may be recommended.
The ‘Lipid Management Guidelines’ developed in 2001 by several leading medical organisations, under the umbrella of the National Heart Foundation of Australia, outline target levels for HDL- and LDL-cholesterol. These levels are:
- Total cholesterol – 4.0 mmol/L
- HDL cholesterol – 1.0 mmol/L
- LDL cholesterol – 2.5 mmol/L
Blood cholesterol level measurement starts by taking a small sample of blood, often just a drop from a finger prick, for assessment. Ideally it follows an overnight fast (no food or drink consumed, other than water, after the evening meal). For practical reasons, it is preferable to perform the test in the early morning, to minimise the inconvenience of having skipped breakfast.
The following table illustrates the normal range for total blood cholesterol levels.
| Total blood cholesterol | Rating |
|---|---|
| Under 4.0 mmol/L | Low total cholesterol. |
| 4.0 to 5.49 mmol/L | Normal levels. Recheck every 1 to 2 years. |
| 5.5 to 6.49 mmol/L | Moderately elevated levels. See your doctor within 2 months for a measurement of HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. |
| Over 6.5 mmol/L | High levels. See your doctor within a month for measurement of HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. |
If fasting cholesterol is over 5.5mmol/L a measurement of HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels may be recommended.
The ‘Lipid Management Guidelines’ developed in 2001 by several leading medical organisations, under the umbrella of the National Heart Foundation of Australia, outline target levels for HDL- and LDL-cholesterol. These levels are:
- Total cholesterol – 4.0 mmol/L
- HDL cholesterol – 1.0 mmol/L
- LDL cholesterol – 2.5 mmol/L
Cholesterol: Management
Treatment of elevated blood cholesterol levels is driven primarily by a patient’s overall risk of cardiovascular disease, rather than simply by cholesterol levels alone. In other words, your doctor will also take into account factors such as your blood pressure, your use of tobacco and whether your weight is in the healthy range for your height.
Cholesterol: Causes & Diagnosis
Cholesterol is a type of fat that is found naturally in the body and is essential to many of the functions in the body. A certain amount of cholesterol in the body is normal and healthy, but when that level rises it can pose an increased risk to heart and blood vessel (e.g. artery) disease.
Diabetes: Prevention & Management
Management of diabetes aims to keep blood glucose levels near normal at all times and generally includes dietary control, exercise, home blood glucose testing and, in some cases, oral medication and/or insulin.
Effective management can only be achieved by personally taking care of your diabetes. Follow your doctor’s advice closely every day to help prevent the other health problems that diabetes can cause. Continue Reading
Diabetes: Causes & Diagnosis
Diabetes is the fastest growing non-infectious disease in the world. Alarmingly, for every person who has diabetes, there’s another person who has the disease and doesn’t know it yet. Continue Reading
Health Checks: Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is measured using an inflatable cuff placed firmly around the upper arm. The cuff is inflated, building up pressure on the vessels in the arm, and then deflated eventually allowing the blood in the arm to resume its normal flow. The point at which blood flow resumed is how your doctor knows what your blood pressure is
