« Previous | Contents | Next »
Listen
3. HEALTHY LIFESTYLES
3.1Better Health, Better Care sets out a series of actions designed to increase healthy life expectancy in Scotland. It sees NHSScotland as having an enabling role, creating the conditions in which people have the confidence, motivation and ability to make healthy choices and providing professional services and support where these are required to support such choices.
Smoking
3.2 Smoking has long been understood to be a significant cause of cardiovascular disease, with smokers exhibiting raised levels of fibrinogen (a protein which causes blood to clot), increased blood viscosity and reduced levels of blood oxygenation. In May 2008, the Scottish Government launched Scotland's future is smoke-free, A Smoking Prevention Action Plan in order to reduce the number of smokers across Scotland. Backed by £9 million over three years, the plan includes action to restrict the display of cigarettes and other tobacco products at the point of sale and update statutory controls on the sale of tobacco products.
Alcohol
3.3 While research suggests that moderate alcohol consumption may have some health benefits, excessive alcohol consumption increases the risk of heart disease and stroke because it increases blood pressure, weight and levels of triglycerides in the blood. The Scottish Government has committed an additional £85.3 million over three years to reduce alcohol related harm and in June 2008 published a discussion document Changing Scotland's Relationship with Alcohol, which provides an opportunity to shape future alcohol policy in Scotland.
Diet and Physical Activity
3.4 In June 2008, the Scottish Government published Healthy Eating, Active Living: An action plan to improve diet, increase physical activity and tackle obesity (2008-2011). This outlined plans to spend over £56 million on diet, physical activity and promoting healthy weight and gave a particular focus to action to support children in their earliest years.
3.5 Individuals with a body mass index ( BMI) >30kg/m 2 have a two to threefold increased risk of CHD and stroke compared to individuals with a normal BMI. Central obesity, as measured by waist circumference, is an even better predictor of cardiovascular risk, with a high risk in men with a waist circumference of over 102cms and in women with a waist circumference of over 88cms. Such risk levels vary between population groups.
3.6 There is clear evidence that regular activity has both preventive and therapeutic effects on both CHD and stroke, as well as many other long-term conditions. Scotland's physical activity strategy sets out to create, improve and maintain the environments that provide opportunities for physical activity to develop; increase and maintain the skills required in the Scottish workforce to support people in becoming more active; raise awareness of the benefits of physical activity throughout the Scottish population; monitor the impact of current activity; and ensure current policy and practice are supported by best available evidence.
Health Promoting Health Service
3.7 In March 2008, the Scottish Government issued guidance ( CEL(2008)14) to NHSScotland on the Health Promoting Health Service: Action in Acute Care Settings. This regards all healthcare contacts as health improvement opportunities and describes a series of actions that have the potential to reduce the impact of CHD and stroke:
- brief interventions to support smoking cessation for all patients in maternity units and acute care settings;
- opportunistic screening and brief interventions (in accordance with SIGN 74) to tackle alcohol problems for patients attending A & E departments;
- implementation of the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiatives Award Scheme in all maternity units;
- increasing access to competitively priced fruit and vegetables through retail outlets in acute settings;
- removing all soft drinks with sugar content >0.5gms per 100mls from vending machines in hospitals; and
- attaining the healthy working lives award.
ISSUES TO CONSIDER
What further actions should we take to encourage healthy choices that can reduce the risk of CHD and stroke and cardiovascular disease more generally?
« Previous | Contents | Next »