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One step at a time
Helen Tither16/ 6/2008
AS a busy working mum, Paula Banda has little time left to think about her own health.
At work, for the Grown Up Patients Congenital Heart Patients Association (GUCH) she dedicates all her time and energy to campaigning for those less fortunate than herself.
At home, she has 13-year-old son Sam to take care of - plus her rather energetic Manchester Dogs Home find, Zac, to think about.
So, gradually, the 53-year-old former nurse began to take less and less time to look after her own health. Until a recent health check up forced her to rethink her priorities.
Stark warning
With a family history of heart disease, Paula has been routinely asked for cholesterol check-ups. Three months ago, a standard check-up revealed her cholesterol levels had jumped from 5 on her last test to 8.8 - a worrying increase.
Added to the fact she was found to have developed high blood pressure, and the doctor had a stark health warning for her.
"He told me I had a 30 per cent extra chance of heart attack or stroke before I am 65," she says. "I've always been monitoring my cholesterol because my mum died of heart disease. But this was very high.
"Added to my high blood pressure, and the fact that I was overweight and smoking - and it was a clear indicator that something could go wrong.
"I was very very shocked, it really gave me a jolt. I've got a 13 year old son at home and I want to be around to see him grow up."
Her doctor's dire warning about her health made Paula stop and think about what she had been doing - and how she could do something to change her future.
Action
The first step, as advised by her GP, was to tackle those cholesterol levels. This is monitored by doctors as a possible sign of heart disease developing. A fat manufactured by the liver from fatty foods we eat, cholesterol is a vital part of our body's normal function and is carried around in the blood.
However, too much present in the blood puts you at risk of arterial disease. The amount of cholesterol present in the blood ranges from about 3.6 to 7.8 mmol/litre.
General health advice suggests a safe level of below 5mmol/litre. High cholesterol levels can cause narrowing of the arteries, heart attacks and strokes.
In many cases, a GP will advise people with no history of heart disease to reduce their cholesterol levels first by switching to a low-fat diet and increasing exercise. In Paula's case, more serious action was suggested.
Her doctor has placed her on statins - cholesterol-lowering drugs. Once mainly used for people who had already developed heart disease, they are increasingly being used in cases like Paula's, to prevent a problem from arising in the first place.
Taking a tablet every day, possibly for the rest of her life, has been a lifestyle change for Paula to get used to. But one, she says, she is happy to follow.
Whole package
"I might have to take these tablets for the rest of my life and that does take some getting used to," she admits as we meet for her lifestyle makeover at the five-star Lowry Hotel in Salford. "But they don't have any bad effects on my health. And I'm seeing them as just part of the changes I need to make."
Like other patients in her position, Paula has been warned that taking statins alone may not be enough to reduce her risks of heart disease or stroke. And that they must be part of a whole package of healthy lifestyle changes.
"It's made me stop and think about my life and what I could change," she says. "I've been leading a very busy, stressful lifestyle. That has meant I've been getting in later and later from work, not cooking properly and taking as much care of my weight as I should.
"I've not been finding time for exercise and I have been smoking more and more. I was really ashamed of what I had let happen, as a former nurse I should know better.
"But in the three months since then I have made several small changes, one at a time. I'm going for more exercise by walking the dog and eating more healthily by cutting out pastries and cakes. I've already lost a stone.
"The next step is cutting out smoking. It's been a wake-up call - but taking statins is just one of the ways I am improving my overall health now and trying to cut my risks of heart disease."
THE EXPERT
Dr Ivan Benett, of the Alexandra Practice in Whalley Range, says Paula is right to take an overall look at her health at this stage and make a number of changes.
“There are a number of health factors to take into account that might increase your risks of heart attack or stroke – your cholesterol level, blood pressure, your diet, and whether or not you smoke,” he says. “If your GP decides all those factors add together to give you a risk of heart attack greater than 15 per cent in the next ten years you need to act on each of those risk factors.
“The biggest thing to tackle is smoking. Then, if you are prescribed statins, they are designed to tackle your cholesterol level. But they are not magic pills, it’s about making a whole lifestyle change.”
At the moment the department of health is bringing in a scheme to assess the health of everybody over 40, to check for problems like developing heart disease. With the aim of moving to a more preventative type of medicine.
Consequently, the number of people taking statins to help lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease developing could increase.
“Virtually everybody who takes statins can make a big difference to their risks of heart disease, as long as they take other factors into account too. Although, of course, it still comes down to individual choice, your GP’s assessment and what is right for you.”
THE MAKEOVER
While Paula is making a big effort to makeover her health, she still has little time to treat herself when it comes to her wardrobe. So, to reward her for her hard work so far, she was treated to a makeover from our I Love Me team of fashion and beauty experts at a special pampering session at The Lowry Hotel.
Hair stylist Andrew Bam of barn//it at Harvey Nichols, updated her locks with some funky curls, while Laura Mercier make-up artist Emma Ekbo gave her a fresh-faced new look using light summer tones to bring out the warm peach tones in her skin.
Then, our lucky volunteer, was treated to some retail therapy from Arndale Centre style advisor Debs Hatfield. All our I Love Me makeover volunteers receive £100 to spend at the shopping centre with the help of Debs.
For Paula, Debs’ aim was to get her out of her beige and brown comfort zone – and into some fresh new colours to match her more energetic new lifestyle.
“Paula told me she only owns one dress and likes to wear trousers all the time. She also favours the same colours of neutral tones and beiges,” says Debs.
“I wanted to show her she has a lovely figure and could show it off more. We persuaded her to try a dress which looked lovely on her – and got her in some bright summer tones of hot pink to flatter her new glowing complexion.”
THE VERDICT
“The makeover has been really good,” says Paula. “You don’t tend to look at yourself when you’re busy.
“I really needed to change my look and lighten up – I had stopped wearing make up all together. It was great to get all this expert advice. I can’t believe they got me in a dress, that will take some getting used to. But I love this bright new colour.”
CREDITS
Clothes: All supplied by Evans at Manchester Arndale.
Styling: Debs Hatfield, style advisor at Manchester Arndale. The Retail Therapy service is free to Arndale customers offering expert advice and help choosing outfits from all the shopping centre’s retail outlets – whatever your age, shape or size. Call 0161 817 3697 to make an appointment
Hair: Andrew Barn at barn//it in Urban Retreat at Harvey Nichols. Tel: 0161 828 8856.
Make-up: Emma Ekbo for Laura Mercier at Harvey Nichols
Venue: The Lowry Hotel. Tel: 0161 827 4000
Pictures: Lee Boswell
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