Quality of life and self-monitoring: CVD prevention in practice. The role of patient organizations in CVD prevention

摘要

Engaged patients with a good knowledge of their own disease are open to prevention and are also active in managing their own disease. However, high blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors are frequently viewed not as a disease but merely as one of the trappings of age. As there is no mental trauma, there is less motivation for self-help measures than for symptomatic diseases. Patients' organizations and/or self-help groups are for many patients a refuge where they can learn more about dealing with their own disease and become experts in their own cases. From the point of view of prevention, these institutions may not be in a position to provide similarly effective services of this kind, even if blood pressure is a risk factor highly suitable for self-monitoring.