Your heart health is important

Today there are around 7.6 million people in the UK living with heart or circulatory disease. There are also many more, but they don’t know it yet because their condition is hidden or silent, showing no symptoms.

The choices you make in your everyday life directly affect your health, especially your heart.  Some habits or conditions are known to increase your risk of developing heart related issues. These include:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Lack of physical activity
• Being overweight
• Diabetes
• Smoking

However, the good news is there are a number of ways you can take your heart health into your own hands.

By making changes to embrace a healthier lifestyle, you can help lower your risk of  cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack, stroke, heart failure and other conditions.

1. Get your blood pressure checked. One in three adults have high blood pressure in the UK, but many don’t realise as there can be no symptoms. Learn to ‘Know Your Numbers’ and the free ways to get your blood pressure checked.
2. Start new Heart Health Habits Take a look at some ideas to get you started on making some important changes to embrace a healthier lifestyle and make sure you are doing the best for your heart.
3. Download our free Health & Wellbeing app. Packed full of valuable advice and support for your fitness, nutrition, mental health and more, all created by experts.

     

If you have a query or concern about your heart health, the British Heart Foundation have a Heart Helpline where you can talk to experienced cardiac nurses. Some common reasons for calling include:

• Understanding medications and their side effects
• Recovering after a hospital stay
• Improving your diet and lifestyle
• Understanding test results
• Managing a new or existing diagnosis
• Financial concerns

The number to call is 0808 802 1234 (freephone). Open weekdays 9am to 5pm* Excluding bank holidays.