February was heart month and we wanted to reflect on all the great heart resources that can be used throughout the year!
- Canada’s Heart and Stroke 2019 Report, (Dis)connected: how unseen links are putting us at risk.
This new report reveals new research showing the complex links between heart conditions, stroke, and vascular cognitive impairment. It reveals how “cognitive function is much more closely connected to heart function than previously understood. The impact of these multiple conditions on the already overloaded health system, and on people’s lives, is profound.”
- C-CHANGE, Canadian Guideline for the Prevention and Management of Cardiovascular Disease in Primary Care, 2018 Update
The goal of the Canadian Cardiovascular Harmonized National Guidelines Endeavour (C-CHANGE) is for all Canadian health care practitioners to have easy access to a comprehensive and usable set of harmonized guidelines.
- Cardiovascular System Clinical Guidelines
British Columbia Health has nine clinical practice guidelines for health professionals on topic such as primary prevention of cardiovascular disease, ambulatory ECG monitoring, atrial fibrillation, stroke, hypertension, and warfarin therapy.
- Choosing Wisely Canada, Cardiology, Five Things Physicians and Patients Should Question
We know you’re aware of Canada’s Choosing Wisely initiative, but it’s always a good time to review the recommendations. Specific to Cardiology, Choosing Wisely Canada recommends:
- Don’t perform stress cardiac imaging or advanced non-invasive imaging in the initial evaluation of patients without cardiac symptoms unless high-risk markers are present.
- Don’t perform annual stress cardiac imaging or advanced non-invasive imaging as part of routine follow-up in asymptomatic patients.
- Don’t perform stress cardiac imaging or advanced non-invasive imaging as a pre-operative assessment in patients scheduled to undergo low-risk non-cardiac surgery.
- Don’t perform echocardiography as routine follow-up for mild, asymptomatic native valve disease in adult patients with no change in signs or symptoms.
- Don’t order annual electrocardiograms (ECGs) for low-risk patients without symptoms.
- Million Hearts
Million Hearts 2022 is an initiative in the United States to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes in five years. This initiative features many resources for providers, as well as for patients.
- Social Media Hasthags
Throughout #HeartMonth there were many trending hashtags across social media, some featured general heart health, such as #HeartMonth, #HeartandStroke and #HeartDisease, while others focused on specific heart health days, such as #ValveDiseaseDay (February 22) and #WearRedCanada (February 13). Women’s heart health had specific hashtags including #HerHeartMatters and #FightTheLadyKiller.
These are great to follow in real time, but are also informative to follow retrospectively to identify new resources and infographics, and as you plan your heart health intitiatives.
Resources for Patients
We know that healthcare providers are always looking for evidence based, high quality, easy to access resources to recommend to patients – and to use themselves!
- Canada’s Heart and Stroke Foundation, Get Healthy
With sections on healthy eating, healthy weight, reducing stress, staying active, recipes, and more – these resources aren’t just to ensure a healthy heart, but can be recommended for any patients looking to embrace a more healthful lifestyle.
- Make the Call, Don’t Miss a Beat
Health providers know that heart disease is the leading cause of death for women. This American campaign empowers women and their families to learn the seven most common signs of a heart attack and to call 911 as soon as symptoms arise.
Canada’s Heart and Stroke Foundation also has lost of easy to understand images and resources on heart disease and signs of a heart attack, as well as resources specific to women and heart disease.
- Participation: Everything gets better when you get active!
With an emphasis on living better, not just weight loss, this resource has engaging graphics and easy to read resources on motivation, goal setting, obstacle, sleeping better, forming good habit, and much more.
- Heart Matters Magazine
A publication of the British Heart Foundation, this magazine features heart healthy information on wellbeing, activity, nutrition, and research.
