Cardiovascular disease can develop without obvious symptoms. WHO identifies tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, harmful alcohol use and obesity as important modifiable risk factors. Raised blood pressure, blood glucose and blood lipids can indicate higher risk and can be checked in primary care.
Discuss at a routine visit
- Whether your blood pressure and other risk factors should be checked.
- How smoking, diet, activity and alcohol affect your personal risk.
- Whether a symptom such as chest discomfort, sudden weakness, speech difficulty or severe breathlessness needs urgent assessment.
Call emergency services for sudden serious symptoms. Do not delay care while trying to interpret online information.