Heart Month in February aims to raise awareness about
cardiovascular disease in Canada. As a leading cause of death, it’s crucial to emphasize prevention, early detection, and better healthcare access, particularly for at-risk groups.
February is Heart Month, which is a means to focus attention on ways we can raise awareness about heart health and disease. At some point, most Canadians will be affected by heart disease either directly or indirectly through family and friends. It continues to be a leading cause of death for men and women, and certain populations who are at greater risk. While some risk factors are biological (e.g., age, sex, family history), other influences are social, economic, geographic, or environmental in nature.
For example, Canadians living in rural and remote areas of Canada experience cardiovascular problems more frequently, in-part due reduced access to healthcare and preventative care. Additionally, Indigenous Peoples – particularly from First Nations – carry a significantly higher burden of cardiovascular disease compared to the overall Canadian population, often compounded by the history of colonialism and limited access to healthcare. Knowing who is at greatest risk allows healthcare providers to ensure the right people receive testing and treatment at the right time to determine the presence or absence of disease.
Every year, the Canadian Cardiovascular Society rigorously reviews the literature to develop national evidence-based guidelines which support Canadian care providers in the prevention, detection, and management of various cardiovascular conditions. Many of these national guidelines recommend systematic screening and detection of cardiovascular disease for certain populations. For example, people over 40 years old with high blood pressure or diabetes should have their cholesterol checked.
Another heart condition known as heart valve disease (where one of four valves cannot open or close properly to allow or prevent blood flow) can be detected through a stethoscope check that is used to assess the presence of a heart murmur. Once that murmur is detected, a prompt referral for further testing can prevent damage to the heart.
There are many reasons that these tests are not completed. We need to work on reducing all of these barriers.
Systematic screening has shown success in other areas, such as cancer prevention. For instance, colorectal cancer screening programs initiated in 2007 led to a 15% reduction in cancer incidence rates for Canadians aged 50-64 and a 23% reduction for those over 65.1 Applying similar principles to cardiovascular conditions could enhance prevention, detection, and management across Canada, potentially reducing hospital admissions and improving resource allocation.
Join us in taking action! This Heart Month, we encourage you to:
- Try a new activity that promotes heart health
- Understand your personal risk factors
- Seek testing if heart issues are suspected
By focusing on prevention and early detection, we can strengthen Canada’s fight against cardiovascular disease and improve overall heart health for all Canadians.
