Family matters - Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland

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ADVICE & SUPPORTCHSS Advice Line …… a day in the lifeBEFORE the Line goes ‘live’ at9.30am each day our door is open forenquiries from staff. We also check tosee if any messages have been left onour answering machine or in ouremail inbox, and respond to these.Next we check news websitesfor any relevant articles. People oftencall us about news stories so weneed to be briefed! We post links tonews items on Facebook andTwitter, and answer any enquiriesposted since the previous day.The Advice Line is open from9.30am–4pm Monday to Friday toanswer enquiries by telephone,email, letter, and occasionally by fax,mobile phone text message, TextRelay call (for the Deaf), or LanguageLine call (though an interpreter).More than half of our calls areabout stroke, and the remainder areabout high blood pressure, reducingrisk factors (e.g. smoking andcholesterol), COPD, heart failure,chest pain, heart rhythm problemsand heart attack. Many callers sufferfrom anxiety, stress, or depression.We provide information andadvice based on Scottish and UKGuidelines (e.g. SIGN and NICE).We are all trained in counselling skillsand provide a listening ear with notime limit to a call. We help peopleto understand their condition,empowering them to know what toask or where to access the servicesand ongoing support they need.Our service is confidential andpeople can remain anonymous ifthey wish, which gives themconfidence to ask us things whichThe Advice Line team (from left):Edie Garlick, Elizabeth Norby(Advice Line Nurses) and LauraHastings (Lead Advice Line Nurse).they might feel embarrassed askingtheir GP. We do get calls fromhealthcare professionals and studentstoo, but the majority are frompatients and carers themselves.We send out CHSS and otherpublications, and we research andwrite factsheets for individual callerswith more unusual enquiries. Werefer people to CHSS services, andsignpost them to other organisationsfor conditions or support outwithour boundaries.A day in the life of the AdviceLine can include meetings with otherCHSS departments, networking withother organisations, and promotingour service. As Registered Nurseswe also attend study days andconferences on a regular basis tokeep up-to-date.So you can see there’s a lotmore to working on the Advice Linethan “just” answering the phone, butwhen we get a comment like thisone we know that answering thecalls is the very best part of our job:“Your Advice Line gave meinvaluable help which probablysaved my life”.Spring time is almost here!Why not Spring Clean yourlifestyle? Out with the bad oldhabits and in with new oneswhich will keep you feelinghealthy and like a springchicken all year long!1 I read in a magazine thatpeople should eat 5 portionsof fruit and vegetables everyday. Why is this and howmuch is a portion?FRUIT and vegetables are a goodsource of essential vitamins andminerals. They contain lots of specialnutrients called antioxidants that helpprotect the cells in your body fromdamage and illness. As a roughguide, fruit and vegetables shouldmake up about a third of everythingyou eat each day.One portion would be forexample one banana, two plums, acouple of broccoli florets, onecarrot, a handful of strawberries ortwo tablespoons of peas. Dried,canned and frozen fruit andvegetables count too, and beans,pulses, and fruit juice counts as aserving once a day. Potatoes don’tcount as they are a carbohydrate.See Factsheet F24 HealthyEating14
ADVICE & SUPPORT… answering your lifestyle questions2 I know I should take moreexercise but I’m not really a‘gym type’. What do yousuggest?EXERCISE doesn’t just mean going tothe gym – any increase in your levelof activity has benefits for your health.Regular physical activity helpslower cholesterol and bloodpressure, helps control diabetes andkeep weight down, strengthensmuscles and bones, reduces theeffects of aging and keeps youindependent longer, gives you asense of wellbeing, reduces stressand depression, improves balance,keeps you supple and helps yousleep better.Choose an activity you will enjoyand that has all weather options, forexample walking, housework,gardening, dancing or playing with thegrandchildren. The Advice Line nurseshave details of lots of organisationsoffering local classes for older peopleor people with disabilities.If you have not exercised for awhile or you have a medicalcondition, you should check withyour GP before starting any newphysical activity.Start off gently and don’t pushyourself, just listen to your body andyou will find you are gradually ableto increase what you can do. It isrecommended that we all aim to bemoderately physically active for atleast 30 minutes each day, but thisdoes not have to be all in one go.You can divide your activity intothree 10 minute sessions or two 15minute sessions.3 I have high blood pressureand the doctor saidreducing my salt intakewould help. How much saltis too much?THE Departmentof Healthrecommends thatpeople should eatno more than 6gof salt per day,which is about half the level mostpeople in the UK eat every day.You can reduce your salt intakeby gradually reducing the amount ofsalt you add while cooking, or at thetable, until your taste buds get usedto having less. Use herbs, spices,ginger, chilli, garlic or lemon juice toadd flavour to your meals instead.It’s not just obvious foods likecrisps or nuts which have a high saltcontent. Even some brands ofwholemeal bread, low fat yoghurtsand ice cream can contain hidden salt,so check the labels before buying.Avoid processed foods such asready meals, fast or conveniencefoods, many canned foods, bacon,sausages, ham, cheese, pizzas,sachet soups, and stock cubes.Look out for reduced or low saltversions of the everyday foods youbuy. Fresh meat (especially chicken),fish, fruit, vegetables, home madesoup and sauces are all full ofnutrients and low in salt, so muchbetter for your blood pressure.See Factsheet F2 Salt, and<strong>Heart</strong> Series booklet H4 Livingwith High Blood Pressure4 Is it all right to just cut backon my cigarettes or do Ihave to try and give upsmoking altogether?ANY smoking increases your bloodpressure and speeds up your heart,increases your likelihood of having astroke or developing heart disease,damages your lungs causing chroniclung disease, and increases your riskof developing many cancers fromthe poisons in your blood. The goodnews is from the moment you stopsmoking, the risks starts to decline!It’s not easy to stop smoking andmost ex-smokers had to try manytimes before they succeeded.Fortunately there are medicationsand support available which can helpyou stop for good:• Nicotine replacement therapies(NRT) from your GP or localPharmacy in the form of nicotinechewing gum, a skin patch,lozenges, a nasal spray or an‘inhalator’.• A course of tablets prescribed byyour GP for you to take for a fewweeks, either Bupropion (Zyban),or Varenicline (Champix).• Stop Smoking groups areavailable in most areas.• Your GP can refer you to a StopSmoking Advisor for individualface-to-face support.• Telephone support fromSmokeline (<strong>Scotland</strong>’s national stopsmoking helpline): 0800 84 84 84.For more information abouthealthy living or chest, heart orstroke issues, call the Advice Linenurses in confidence on:0845 077 600or email: adviceline@chss.org.ukFor information about any chest, heart or stroke issues, or to discuss anything in confidence with one ofour nurses please call the Advice Line on 0845 077 6000 between 09.30am-12.30 and 1.30pm-4.00pmor email adviceline@chss.org.uk15
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