In the UK, an estimated 1 million people with diabetes use injectable therapies, and these patients are increasingly being managed in primary care. As a result, more primary care nurses are taking responsibility for the initiation and continuing management of injectable therapies, including advising on and reviewing an individual patient’s injection technique.
Back to Basics: Treatments for heart failure
A really useful reference for your practice, this handy Back to Basics tells you all you need to know about heart failure treatments.
Heart failure guidelines: Causing confusion in primary care
Chronic heart failure (CHF) continues to be a leading cause of death and readmission to hospital in the UK. Since the availability of specialist CHF services is variable, many patients rely on practice nurses to review their care. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines have proved very helpful, but are now a cause for confusion as new evidence changes the management of heart failure.
Travel advice for people with heart disease
More people than ever are making trips overseas. Many of us have long-term conditions that we manage with lifestyle choices and medication or medical devices. You may have high blood pressure, angina, a previous heart attack, heart failure or another heart condition. This leaflet will help remind you of some of the advice given to you in a pre-travel consultation with your practice nurse or travel nurse.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease under the microscope
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is currently the most common cause of abnormal liver function tests. Current advice is simply to monitor patients’ liver function, but is this really correct? And how do we identify and manage people at risk of developing NAFLD?
Is sugar the new villain? Putting the evidence on trial
For years dieters have been trying to avoid fat, and low-fat products have been promoted as the healthier option. But there is now a great deal of publicity around sugar and its toxic effects on our health, including claims that it is the ‘new tobacco’. The sweet white stuff is being blamed for the obesity epidemic and with it diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. So what is the evidence behind the hype, and what should we as health professionals be advising patients?
Obesity: The harsh reality and new solutions
Practice nurses are in the frontline of the fight against obesity, yet they face a moving target. Around 10 years ago, the ‘centre ground’ of the battle comprised patients with around 10 kg to lose; today, it is 20 kg. This has profound implications for weight management and a range of related conditions, but recent research is highlighting new solutions for this group of patients.
Why and when to test for potassium
The World Health Organization has recommended that everyone should be eating more foods that contain potassium, and we routinely measure this electrolyte as part of the standard U&Es blood test. But why is potassium important for our health, and why do we need to worry if a patient’s levels are too high or too low?
Finding the right words to talk about weight
Excess body weight is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer and a range of other debilitating health conditions, and is the third leading cause of death in high-income countries like the UK. Since practice nurses may have long-term, regular contact with patients, they may be well placed to motivate and support individuals in losing weight. It can, however, be difficult for nurses to find the right words to discuss this very sensitive subject with patients.
NHS Health Check: A systematic approach to CVD prevention
The NHS Health Check offers 15 million people aged 40-74 years in England an assessment of cardiovascular risk, together with preventive interventions, once every five years. The programme has aroused some controversy, but there is an urgent need to take action now to reduce preventable, premature death and disability caused by vascular disease.
Using NOACs for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation
Warfarin is highly effective in preventing strokes in people with atrial fibrillation (AF), but has its limitations. Only half of patients who could benefit actually receive warfarin, resulting in an estimated 7000 avoidable strokes each year.
Editorial
I was listening to the radio the other morning as the news was breaking that polyunsaturated fats seem to be no better for your heart than good old butter. My friend Mike Knapton from the British Heart Foundation was interviewed and in his radio clip he said: “Choose something for taste and texture!” Now I would bet my life savings, if I had any, that he was edited, and that he would have gone on to advise moderation in all things and that it is important to reduce the amount of fat in the diet.
