London Drugs hosts Healthy Heart Clinic for Heart Health Month

RICHMOND, British Columbia — As part of Heart Month in Canada, London Drugs pharmacists are hoping to boost public awareness of the risk factors and are encouraging Canadians to take preventative action by attending a Healthy Heart Clinic running Feb. 6 through March 23 at 68 London Drugs locations.



Gianni Del Negro, a pharmacist at London Drugs, noted that many Canadians miss the signs of heart disease that often precede a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems. "Prevention ultimately starts with knowing your risks. Often there are no symptoms until the underlying disease has progressed, which is what makes routine screening essential," he said.



London Drugs' Healthy Heart Clinics involve a one-on-one 45 minute screening and evaluation with a Patient Care Pharmacist. They take a measurement of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, random glucose and blood pressure and assess risk factors such as family history, age, level of exercise, diet, smoking history and high blood pressure.



Next they focus on minimizing these risks. This might include a discussion of changes to diet, fitness routines or lifestyle. The appointment is collaborative and customized for each patient and pharmacists can contact physicians to recommend further medical intervention or changes to medication.



Del Negro says that when people become aware of their risk factors, especially those that are within their power to control, many become motivated to make positive changes. "Male or female, adult or senior, symptoms or not, the only way to know for sure is to get screened and use the results to make lifestyle changes," he said. "In many cases, even small changes like adding thirty minutes of moderate physical activity each day, can go a long way to reducing the risk of heart disease."