Pharmacist dispels common heart health myths

It’s time for Canadians to put matters of the heart first.

February is Hearth Month and, as a pharmacist, I am here to help Canadians navigate their health and part of that includes helping our community take care of their heart health.

This is always a priority, however, this time of year 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. New survey data from Shoppers Drug Mart reveals many Canadians have neglected 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 have never checked it at all. What Canadians don’t know is putting them at risk.

Getting active treatment of hypertension can result in a reduction in stroke incidence by approximately 35% to 40%, including a reduction in incidence of coronary heart disease by 8% to 14%. It’s time for Kelowna residents to prioritize their heart health.

Here are the top three myths around heart health I hear from patients, and the truths about each:

1. Men are at a higher risk of hypertension than women throughout their lives.

False. Older women are at risk, as those over age 60 are at higher risk for developing hypertension than men. Many women don’t realize they are at risk, which means it often goes undiagnosed. Factors including pregnancy and menopause can increase the risk of women developing high blood pressure.

2. Healthy people don’t need to get their blood pressure checked.

False. Even if you are in good health, you should check your blood pressure once a year. Most people don’t realize how common hypertension is. It affects nearly one-in-four Canadians. By checking your blood pressure regularly, you and your pharmacist or healthcare provider can identify ways to meet your blood pressure targets that may require support through lifestyle or medication changes.

3. 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 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 before they become dangerous.

For more advice and information on managing your heart health, speak to your local pharmacist. As your local frontline healthcare professionals, they can support patients with hypertension to better manage their condition and understand the importance of maintaining heart health.

Nathan Klaassen is the pharmacist and owner of Shoppers Drug Mart in Kelowna.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.