The society's president, cardiologist Cristina Gavina, wants people to be able to have their blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar checked at health centres or pharmacies. The aim is to pick up warning signs before someone has a heart attack or stroke.

As RTP reported, the cardiologists want these checks to become a routine requirement. This is still a proposal, not a new rule already in force.

There is a reason for looking at more than one measurement. Blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar each tell part of the story, and someone may have an elevated reading without feeling unwell. Finding that out earlier gives them the chance to discuss what it means with a healthcare professional, instead of discovering a problem after a serious event.

The proposal comes as Portugal marks World Heart Day on Tuesday, 29 September. Cardiovascular diseases cause around 30,000 deaths a year in the country. For the Society of Cardiology, that figure makes prevention as important a subject as the treatment people receive when they become ill.

Portugal's call also comes at a time when heart checks are being discussed across Europe. In an RTP report, the European Commission proposed more regular cardiovascular health checks, including measurements of blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. Its proposal suggests checks at least every five years for adults aged 35 to 64, with more frequent follow-up where the risk is higher. That is a European proposal, separate from the Portuguese cardiologists' call.

Both put attention on people who may feel perfectly healthy. A check at a pharmacy would not replace seeing a doctor. It could, however, make it easier to learn that a result needs further assessment.

Gavina and the society want these measurements to become something people think about earlier in life, while there is still an opportunity to understand and address their risk.

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