New research has revealed a surprising factor that could dramatically reduce the risk of ‘cardiovascular events’ in individuals with high blood pressure. Scientists from the University of Ottawa delved into data from 124,583 patients with hypertension in Canada, focusing on the first language spoken by each person.
Although it may seem unrelated, experts were keen to investigate how language barriers might affect the medical care received from doctors. Interestingly, they found that Canadian patients who did not speak English or French as their preferred language had a 36% lower chance of experiencing a ‘major adverse cardiovascular event’ (MACE) when treated by a doctor fluent in their own language.
MACE events include heart attacks, heart failure, or strokes due to heart disease, which ranks among the top killers globally. Lead author, nephrology resident Michael Reaume, said: “If there was a new medication that decreased the risk of major adverse cardiovascular event by 36% or all-cause mortality by 28%, this medication would immediately be offered to our patients.
“We need to start thinking about language barriers in our healthcare systems in a similar way. This starts by collecting preferred language for all patients systematically.
“This information is critical as it allows us to match patients to healthcare providers who have proficiency in their preferred language, while also identifying patients who would benefit from professional interpretation services.”
Following the study’s revelations, experts are now pushing for fair access to medical education and the provision of ‘language-concordant care’, which they argue could lead to a significant reduction in cardiovascular incidents. However, it is essential to acknowledge that language barriers are not the sole risk factor for these health issues.
NHS advice stresses that various lifestyle choices including smoking, regular alcohol consumption and diet may play a part too. “Coronary heart disease is the term that describes what happens when your heart’s blood supply is blocked or interrupted by a build-up of fatty substances in the coronary arteries,” the health body’s advice reads.
“Over time, the walls of your arteries can become furred up with fatty deposits. This process is known as atherosclerosis and the fatty deposits are called atheroma. Atherosclerosis can be caused by lifestyle factors, such as smoking and regularly drinking excessive amounts of alcohol.
“You’re also more at risk of getting atherosclerosis if you have conditions like high cholesterol, high blood pressure (hypertension) or diabetes.”
The NHS’ full list of potential heart attack symptoms is detailed below:
- Chest pain – a feeling of pressure, heaviness, tightness or squeezing across your chest
- Feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting)
- An overwhelming feeling of anxiety (similar to a panic attack)
- Shortness of breath
- Pain in other parts of the body – it can feel as if the pain is spreading from your chest to your arms (usually the left arm, but it can affect both arms), jaw, neck, back and tummy
- Feeling lightheaded or dizzy
- Sweating
- Coughing or wheezing
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
