Whelehans Health Blog

We often hear people say they have “poor circulation”. There are many different causes of poor circulation and many conditions that can lead to poor circulation. Symptoms of these conditions can include “cold hands”, pins and needles in hands and feet, numbness, varicose veins, leg cramps, a heavy feeling in the limbs and swollen ankles. Serious and even life threatening conditions that can occur include leg ulcers, gangrene, kidney failure and brain aneurisms. We have 100,000 miles of blood vessels in a complex network throughout our body.

Poor circulation is medically referred to as Vascular Disease. Vascular Disease includes any condition that affects your circulatory system including diseases of arteries, veins and lymph vessels as well as blood disorders that affect circulation. These include Peripheral Artery Disease, Renal Artery Disease, Varicose Veins, Venous Blood Clots, Aneurysm, Raynaud’s Disease, Peripheral Venous Disease and Erectile Dysfunction. Check www.whelehans.ie for more information on these articles or you can ask a Whelehans member of staff for a free copy of an article on any of these conditions.

Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis occurs when arteries become clogged up by fatty substances, such as cholesterol. These substances are called plaques or atheromas. This build up of plaque is the root cause of various vascular diseases such as varicose veins, erectile dysfunction and Raynauds Disease. It also causes cardiovascular conditions such as angina, heart attack, stroke and peripheral vascular disease.

Causes

Certain factors increase the risk of atherosclerosis. These are mainly lifestyle related and include: Read More 

What is our BPro Cardio Screen Service?

Whelehans now has a cardiovascular health check called BPro Cardio Screen. This test measures the stiffness of your arteries to help identify risk of blockages and your risk of cardiovascular disease and circulation problems. BPRo is placed like a watch on your wrist and is completely pain free. A pulse wave reads and calculates a wave signal that indicates the elasticity of large, small, and peripheral artery walls as well as tests for stress, central blood pressure, heart rate, and more. It is now only €35 (was €50); it only takes about 15 minutes to get checked. Our next clinic is Thursday February 25^th from 9am to 5pm. Book by calling Whelehans at 04493 34591.

Note: BPro Cardio Screen is not meant as a substitute for proper medical assessment with your doctor

Eamonn Brady is a pharmacist and the owner of Whelehans Pharmacy, Pearse St, Mullingar. If you have any health questions e-mail them to info@whelehans.ie

This concludes my article last week on statins. While statins are not the only cholesterol lowering drug on the market, they are the most effective once tolerated.

How effective are statins?

A study published in the British Medical Journal in 2003 showed that on average, statins reduce LDL cholesterol by 1.8mmol/litre. This resulted in a 60% reduction in the risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attacks, clots and sudden cardiac death and a 17% reduction in the risk of stroke.

Which statin is best?                                

Studies show there is no major benefit of one statin over another.

Who should be prescribed statins?

Over 20% of Irish adults are at risk of coronary heart disease due to high cholesterol. There is some controversy on who should be prescribed statins. The general guideline for people who have no previous heart problems is that they should be used if cholesterol is high (over 6mmol/litre) and there is a cardiovascular risk of greater than 20% (can be worked out by your doctor). For those who have already suffered a cardiovascular event such as a stroke, statins are recommended if total cholesterol is over 3.5mmol/l. Guidelines state that they should be considered in all diabetic patients over 40.

Side effects

Like all medication, statins can cause side effects. The most serious side effect of statins is a muscle complaint called myalgia, characterised by muscle pain and weakness. If it occurs the statin should be stopped as it can lead to a potentially fatal condition called rhabdomyolysis. It is estimated that one in 1000 people using statins may suffer from myalgia and one in 10,000 may suffer from rhabdomyolysis. You should report to your doctor immediately if you suffer from muscle pain, tenderness or weakness while taking a statin. Muscle problems are reversible once the statin is stopped quickly.

Statins can also raise liver enzymes which can lead to liver problems. Doctors must do a liver function test for those starting statins. Current guidelines are to get a liver function test before starting a statin, 3 months after starting and again after 12 months.

Gastrointestinal effects (nausea, indigestion, constipation, diarrhoea and flatulence) are the most common side effects of statins. Headache, dizziness and rash occur less frequently. Sleep disturbance can occur, although it seems to be more of a problem with simvastatin and atorvastatin. The good news is that the majority of people who take statins have no problems and they are proven to save lives by preventing heart disease. All statins now have equally effective but less expensive generics available. Always ask your pharmacist for the generic version.

What is our BPro Cardio Screen Service?

Whelehans now has a cardiovascular health check called BPro Cardio Screen. This test measures the stiffness of your arteries to help identify risk of blockages and your risk of cardiovascular disease and circulation problems. Screening takes a couple of minutes. BPRo is placed like a watch on your wrist and is completely pain free. A pulse wave reads and calculates a wave signal that indicates the elasticity of large, small, and peripheral artery walls as well as tests for stress, central blood pressure, heart rate, and more. It is now only €35 (was €50); it only take about 15 minutes to get checked. Our next clinic is Thursday February 25^th from 9am to 5pm. Book by calling Whelehans at 04493 34591. Separately we can also check your cholesterol level in Whelehans. It only takes a few minute; call to bopok your appointment

Disclaimer: Please ensure you consult with your healthcare professional before making any changes recommended. BPro Cardio is not an alternative to proper medical assessment; it can indicate an increased risk of cardiovascular events but is not a diagnosis.