Cardiovascular

Q Risk

Understanding Q risk is important in preventing future cardiovascular problems. If your Q risk is 10% or higher it is now advised that patients are offered the option of starting a statin medication to lower their cholesterol in addition to being encouraged to make lifestyle changes wherever possible.

Many people are aware that having high cholesterol is a risk factor for cardiovascular conditions such as heart disease and stroke. However it is not the only factor. Other risk factors include;

  • Age
  • Gender
  • smoking
  • High blood pressure
  • Diabetes
  • Family history of heart disease
  • poor diet
  • Alcohol
  • Being overweight
  • Lack of exercise
  • Ethnic origin

It is possible to use a calculator called a ‘Q risk’ calculator to combine these different risk factors and give a % chance of developing cardiovascular disease within the next 10 years. Q risks are expressed as:

  • Low risk: Q risk is less than 10%, meaning there is less than a one in 10 chance of developing cardiovascular disease such as a heart attack or a stroke within the next 10 years.
  • Moderate risk: A Q risk of 10-20%, meaning there is  a one to two in 10 chance of developing cardiovascular disease such as a heart attack or a stroke within the next 10 years.
  • High risk: Q risk of 20% or higher, meaning there is  at least a  two in 10 chance of developing cardiovascular disease such as a heart attack or a stroke within the next 10 years.

If you have been sent this link by your Clinician it means they are concerned your Q risk is 10% or more.

How can you lower Q risk?

You can reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular disease by making adjustments to your lifestyle.

  • Eating a healthy and balanced diet (low salt, low fat, low sugar, 5 fruit/veg a day)
  • Maintain a healthy weight (BMI 19-25)
  • Keep active – doing regular physical activity (at least 30 mins a day for 5 days /week)
  • Stopping smoking if you smoke
  • Moderating alcohol consumption (<14 units /week and alcohol -free days)

How can statins help?

Statins are a group of medications which can help to lower cholesterol. By lowering cholesterol and other harmful fast they can help to reduce the chance of a patient  developing cardiovascular disease including having a heart attack or stroke by up to 28%.

Statins need to be taken every day, usually for the rest of a patient’s life, to be effective. Most people tolerate statins much better than we are sometimes led to believe! In a small number of patients they can cause headaches, nausea, tiredness and in a very small number of patients muscle or liver problems. Not everyone can take a statin, patients with liver disease, who are pregnant or are breast feeding should not take a statin. They can also interact with other medications and also grapefruit juice.

Patients who take a statin need a routine blood test 3 months and 12 months after starting treatment, they will then continue to have annual reviews.

Even if you take a statin it is still important to make sure you are following a healthy lifestyle.

If after reading this you would like to start a statin please contact the surgery.