An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a quick and non-invasive way of recording the heart’s electrical activity. One of its many uses is in the diagnosis of myocardial infarction, angina, and rhythm disturbances. Although the ECG is a simple and easy test to perform, it is vital to obtain the best possible recording because of its importance.
Keeping it in the Family: Reducing Risk in Relatives of Patients with Premature Heart Disease
In this article, we look at how a primary prevention team introduced a systematic approach to target people who had premature coronary heart disease in their family and offer them a comprehensive cardiovascular disease risk assessment.Based on the findings from the EUROACTION study, the next step was to involve their partners based on the recognition that they often share risk factors due to lifestyle.
Choosing the Right Pharmacotherapy to Help Patients Stop Smoking
Most smokers want to stop smoking and intend to stop at some point, according to research. Nearly half of all smokers expect not to be smoking in a year’s time, but only two to three in every hundred actually stop smoking permanently each year. It is widely recognised that healthcare professionals have an important role to play in helping patients to stop smoking, but what is the best way to achieve this?
C-reactive Protein (CRP): an Emerging Marker of Cardiovascular Risk
The major risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) include high blood pressure, dyslipidaemia,diabetes, and smoking, all of which can be managed with lifestyle and therapeutic interventions. C-reactive protein is emerging as a useful new risk marker.
How to Use Brief Motivational Interviewing
Helping people to change risky behaviour is notoriously difficult, but brief motivational interviewing has been found to be helpful. In this article, we look at the research supporting this patient-directed counselling style and how to use it in clinical practice.
Hitting the spot: injection technique using an insulin pen
This article provides a simple guide to the do’s and don’ts of insulin injection technique, taking you through the steps that patients need to go through to inject their insulin correctly.
Helping patients on insulin to travel safely
People with diabetes need to plan carefully for holidays, especially if they are treated with insulin. Although much of the advice will be the same as for the general population, these patients are more vulnerable and will need to take particular care in looking after themselves to avoid any ill health while away from home.
A practical guide to starting patients with type 2 diabetes on insulin
The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is rising and people are developing the condition at an earlier age. Type 2 diabetes becomes progressively more difficult to control over time, so many people need to start on insulin therapy as the pancreas is no longer able to meet the body’s insulin requirements on its own. In this article,we look at the practical issues involved in helping a patient to start on insulin therapy for their diabetes.
Editorial: Optimising insulin treatment in primary care
Everyone with diabetes deserves the highest standards of personalised diabetes care,no matter where,when or by whom this care is delivered.
Back to Basics: Glucose metabolism
The year of care for diabetes: what can it achieve?
The Year of Care for diabetes project has its roots in the recent movement to put patient empowerment at the top of the health agenda.It reflects recent government publications,including Choosing Health: Making healthy choices easier and Our health, Our care, Our say. In this article we look at the development of the project, its aims and what it will mean in practice.
Blood glucose monitoring for people on insulin
This article will examine the issues surrounding blood glucose monitoring for people treated with insulin.It will look at the practical skills required for patients to test accurately,the roles of the individual patient and the healthcare professional in successful monitoring,and the equipment required.The aim of the article is to ensure that monitoring justifies the expense and time involved by achieving good glycaemic control.
