Vascular disease care goals decrease heart attack risks
Your arteries are major blood vessels that bring blood to your heart. When your heart doesn't get enough blood, you can have a heart attack. That's why diseases caused by hardening and narrowing of the arteries are a leading cause of illness and death in the United States.
Vascular disease means your arteries or veins may not be working as well as they once did. Vascular disease includes a range of conditions, such as peripheral arterial disease (PAD), atherosclerosis or peripheral vascular disease (PVD), that affect the vascular or blood vessel systems of your body.
Have a blood pressure rate of less than 130/80.
Two or more medicines are often needed to control blood
pressure. If you have high
blood pressure, you may not notice it until you have
a heart attack or stroke. So it is important to have your
blood pressure checked regularly. Blood pressure may change
over time, and your doctor may need to change or add new
medicine to keep it in control.
Have an LDL cholesterol level of less than 100.
To lower the LDL (low-density lipoprotein or "bad")
cholesterol
in your blood, your doctor may have you take statins.
Stay or become tobacco-free. Smoking
damages your vascular system, causing poor circulation.
It also increases the "bad" cholesterol in your
blood.
Take aspirin daily. One aspirin
a day helps prevent blood clots that can block the flow
of blood and lead to heart attack or stroke. Before you
start taking aspirin, be sure to ask your doctor it is safe
for you.
What to expect at your next clinic visit
When the four vascular disease care goals become part of your
care plan, you may notice some changes at your next doctor's appointment.
If you've met the blood pressure and cholesterol
level goals, your doctor will want to see you at
least once a year to check on your vascular health. You
will be encouraged to regularly check your blood pressure
at home and call your doctor if your blood pressure goes
up. Blood pressure may rise over time, and your doctor may
need to change your medicine to keep it in control.
If your blood pressure or cholesterol treatment
has changed, your doctor will need to see you more
often, until you've met your blood pressure and cholesterol
level goals. To make sure you return more than once a year
for vascular disease care, your doctor may limit your prescription
refills to 6 months or less.
How is Allina doing?
Percentage of Allina Medical Clinic patients with vascular disease, ages 18 to 75 years, who have attained all four treatment goals
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