Cardiovascular disease including heart attacks and strokes is the leading cause of death in the UK today. It places enormous an burden on healthcare resources and will become an increasingly important issue as the average age of the population increases. The good news is that cardiovascular disease can in most instances be prevented or arrested in its earliest stages but for many the realisation that they are in danger comes too late.

Heart disease and strokes can be silent killers; two-thirds of all heart attacks occur without warning and one-third of these will result in sudden death.

Awareness of conventional risk factors, though important, is not enough. For many this knowledge is simply not compelling enough to promote necessary lifestyle choices or medical intervention - they prefer to live in denial. Moreover, a significant number of individuals with advanced cardiovascular disease may have few if any risk factors.

At HealthVision Xi, we can show you how your lifestyle or heredity factors actually change your risk of Heart Disease and Stroke. A major benefit of this is that actually seeing the effects of your current lifestyle and habits can strengthen the resolve to do something about it!

This simple, painless and fast procedure provides a 'window' to the condition of major arteries and the coronary circulation. Early changes in the arterial lining can reveal the presence of cardiovascular disease before it produces symptoms. Armed with this information, it is possible to undertake clear lifestyle choices or to seek preventative therapy in the form of lipid lowering medication or anti-hypertensives.

One of the consequences of cardiovascular disease is a weakening of the wall of the largest artery in the body - the abdominal aorta. This can result in a ballooning or swelling known as an aneurysm. It is condition which resembles the bulging inner tube of an old bicycle tyre and can be life threatening. It usually causes no symptoms unless it ruptures (bursts). When the aortic diameter exceeds 5 cm, the risk of rupture (a frequently fatal occurence) becomes highly significant and frequent monitoring becomes essential until the aneurysm reaches a size which warrants surgical removal.

The routine cardiac screening offered by HealthVision Xi is primarily looking for heart failure and any structural changes. Early diagnosis and correct medication can significantly influence the prognosis for a normal quality and duration of life. Detection and follow-up assessment of heart failure is key to successful management. We can work in co-operation with GPs for effective community based monitoring of patients.