It is vitally important that we take all steps possible to look after our hearts, to limit and managing risk factors and control existing heart conditions as much as possible.
According to recent report, UK heart health has seen a worrying decline since the early 2020s.
There has been an 18% increase in cardiovascular deaths among working-age adults since 2019.
The number of people diagnosed with heart failure has risen by 21% since 2020, reaching a record high of 785,000.
Diagnoses of this irregular heart rhythm (AF) have increased by 10%.
Both diabetes and obesity, which are major risk factors for heart disease, have also seen a rise.
With this in mind, our Senior Practice Nurse Amanda Kidd put together an awareness stand at our Chapel St Leonards surgery.
The stand shares important information and also has useful handouts that may be handy for you, or a loved one.
Ways we can better support heart health include:
Staying active:
Activities like brisk walking and cycling, which can help lower blood pressure and improve cholesterol levels.
Using weights or resistance bands can strengthen your muscles and take the strain off your heart.
Yoga and similar exercises can help prevent injury and improve flexibility.
Eating well:
Increasing your intake of fibre-rich foods like wholegrains, beans, and lentils is linked to a lower risk of heart disease.
Opting for unsaturated fats from sources like olive and rapeseed oils, rather than saturated fats from butter or lard.
Aiming for two portions of fish per week, including one oily fish like salmon or mackerel.
Choosing lean sources of protein such as chicken, turkey, and fish over processed meats.
Common risk factors for cardiovascular disease include:
Smoking
High blood pressure and cholesterol
Being overweight or obese
Diabetes
Stress
For more information on heart health, click below:
https://www.nhs.uk/health-assessment-tools/calculate-your-heart-agehttps://
www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronary-heart-disease/prevention/https://
www.nhs.uk/conditions/heart-failure/living-with/
