Manage Long-Term Health Conditions
Control blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol to protect your brain
How Do Other Conditions Like High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, and High Cholesterol Affect Brain Health?
Conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels can also damage the brain. These include:
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Type 2 diabetes
- High LDL cholesterol
These conditions can increase the risk of vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
What Can We Do To Reduce This Risk?
Even small changes can make a big difference:
- Get regular health checks and know your numbers.
- Take medications as prescribed.
- Eat a balanced diet and stay active.
- Reduce salt, sugar, and saturated fats.
- If you have type 2 diabetes, ensure you attend all diabetes check appointments. You should have yearly blood tests and a urine (wee) test. You should also have regular foot checks and diabetic eye tests. When newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, you should be offered a Diabetes Education Programme. If you've had type 2 diabetes for a while and not been to an education programme, you can ask your doctor or nurse to refer you to Diabetes Education Programmes Derbyshire.
What Support Is Available in Derby and Derbyshire?
Information for Professionals
- Encourage those eligible to attend NHS Health Checks and follow-up support.
- Use brief interventions to encourage lifestyle changes.
- Refer to structured education programmes for diabetes and hypertension.
- Find out more by visiting: Derbyshire Joint Strategic Needs Assessment - Cholesterol | Derbyshire Joint Strategic Needs Assessment - Hypertension | Derbyshire Joint Strategic Needs Assessment - Diabetes.