Millions unaware of heart disease risk
Millions of people in the UK are walking around unaware that they are at high risk of heart disease.
Research carried out by Oxford University has produced the staggering statistic that nearly four million people have either not yet been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease or are unaware that they are at risk of developing symptoms.
The researchers screened more than 71,000 people and found that many of them are taking their health for granted.
The study revealed that 7.9 million people have been diagnosed with heart disease or are known to be at risk of developing symptoms.
However, it estimates that a further 2.8 million men and 900,000 women at high risk have not been diagnosed, with middle aged men the most at risk.
Barbara Harpham, National Director of Heart Research UK, said: "The stark reality shown by this report is that people take the health of their heart for granted and it is not high on their agenda to check it is okay.
"Ask anyone, particularly women, what they are most likely to die of and they will probably say cancer. In fact, it is cardiovascular disease, mostly due to our unhealthy lifestyles."
This is where Westfield Health’s Advantage and Good4you Health Cash Plans can really help. As well as providing valuable cash benefits to help towards the cost of everyday healthcare, both plans also include a number of complementary services designed to support overall health and wellbeing:
Levels 4 and 5 of both plans provide a Health Screening benefit. This benefit provides money towards full health screening, heart disease screening, well-woman screening, well-man screening and more. We are increasingly being asked to take responsibility for our own health, so a benefit that enables policyholders to go and seek a health screening check, which can identify potential problems at an early stage, is a real help. Advantage and Good4you also offer access to a 24 hour, worldwide GP Telephone Consultation Service. This service puts policyholders and their resident family in touch with a fully qualified GP who can offer advice, discuss concerns, diagnose symptoms where possible and recommend next steps. We all know how important exercise and keeping fit are in order to avoid health problems and the Health Club Concession benefit offers special deals on membership at a network of UK health and fitness clubs.
But did you know how important something as simple as getting a regular dental check up can be in relation to your health? Your dentist can actually detect signs of mouth cancer during a dental check up. What’s more, according to recent research, germs in an unhealthy mouth can create thousands of blood clots, causing narrowing of the arteries – a common cause of heart attacks. It’s therefore essential that signs of gum disease are detected and treated as soon as possible. The Advantage and Good4you Plans provide a Dental benefit, giving you money back towards dental treatment – up to £195 a year on level 5 – so there really is no excuse not to visit the dentist!
The Good4you Plan is available direct, whilst Advantage is available via employers on a voluntary or corporate paid basis. Offering the Advantage Plan to employees can help companies take a proactive approach to staff healthcare, which in turn encourages employees to look after themselves. The identification of heart or general health problems at an early stage could prevent a condition deteriorating and help a company avoid long-term sickness absence.
Read more about the Advantage Plan by visiting -
http://www.westfieldhealth.com/corporate-health-plans/advantage/index.asp
Read more about the Good4You Plan by visiting -
http://www.westfieldhealth.com/individual-health-plans/health-cash-plan.asp
News story Reference -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7594640.stm
Dental & gum disease news story reference -
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/health/2777741/Gum-disease-linked-to-heart-problems.html
© Westfield Health Insurance 2012
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