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28th September 2015

Heart campaign cuts number of devastating strokes

More than 700 people in the Bradford area are now on vital stroke preventive medicine thanks to an innovative health campaign.

This means that the risk of stroke has fallen by up to 75 per cent in these patients, avoiding nearly 30 devastating strokes per year.

The new figures have been released by clinicians behind the Bradford’s Healthy Hearts campaign to tie in with World Heart Day - September 29.

The campaign is the brainchild of NHS Bradford Districts Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and was launched in October last year. It is aimed at reducing the risk of stroke and heart attack in people who are in risk groups and is being developed over three years targeting three main areas:

  • Vascular disease – including patients with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and peripheral arterial disease
  • Atrial fibrillation (AF) – a condition which triggers abnormalities in the rhythm of the heart
  • Heart failure

All the CCG’s 41 GP practices are involved in the campaign which has also seen a reduction of 10% in strokes, heart attacks and deaths from cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Over 1000 new patients have also been diagnosed with high blood pressure and are now receiving the appropriate treatment and support.

Dr Youssef Beaini, Clinical Lead Cardiovascular Disease for NHS Bradford Districts CCG said: “To see these results in just a few months since the Bradford’s Healthy Hearts campaign was launched is really encouraging.

“The focus is on improving care for those who have or who are at risk of developing cardiovascular disease and we know that as the campaign develops further we are going to be able to help more people avoid suffering a devastating stroke.”

He added: “The time around World Heart Day is the ideal opportunity for us to highlight heart disease and heart conditions. Atrial Fibrillation for example can dramatically increase the risk of stroke, and sometimes people are unaware they have it. However a simple pulse check can detect irregularities and then the prescription of anti-coagulants can greatly reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack. If people believe they are at risk, they should contact their GP.”

 

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