February, the month we all think of romantic notions of hearts and flowers. However, how often do we actually spend thinking about our physical heart and its health?

Our hearts are the most vital organ in our body, keeping blood, oxygen and nutrients constantly flowing to all of our muscles and organs. Made up of 3 layers, 4 chambers and 4 valves, the heart is a complex, amazing organ and something we often take for granted.

Every 3 minutes, 1 person in Britain dies from heart disease, making us one of the world’s worst countries for this condition. There are two separate heart conditions – Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) and Cardiovascular Disease (CVD).

• CHD is the term used for any condition that affects heart function.
• CVD refers to both coronary heart disease and diseases of the circulation, such as stroke (when a clot blocks blood supply to the brain). Stroke is the country’s third biggest killer, claiming 70,000 lives each year.

Unfortunately, people can have few or no symptoms of even advanced heart disease. So, it is often when someone has a heart attack or stroke that they realise something is wrong, which is what happened to my mum. Luckily thanks to the amazing medical staff and medical advances my mum survived her aortic rupture and continues to battle further heart problems every day. However, there are risk factors you can be aware of.

Risk Factors

• Age: over 65 are higher risk
• Sex: men are higher risk
• A family history of heart disease
• Ethnic origin
• Smoking
• Alcohol
• Drug abuse
• High cholesterol levels
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Lack of exercise and obesity
• Diabetes
• Previous medical history

If you have been diagnosed with a heart condition, all is not lost as there is so much that can be done with modern medical advances and technology, such as bypass surgery, transplants, pacemakers and medicines to name a few, as well as lifestyle changes you can make.

Lifestyle changes

• Keep your blood pressure no higher than 140 over 90 Hg
• Control your salt intake
• Stop smoking
• Both men and women should drink no more than 14 units of alcohol a week
• Lose weight if you are overweight
• Eat a healthy diet full of plenty of fruit and vegetables of a rainbow of colours, and high fibre and unrefined carbohydrates (wholegrain cereals). Keep fatty, sugary foods to a minimum.
• 3 or 4 moderate intensity exercise sessions a week for around 30 minutes a time

If you have any concerns about your heart or blood pressure, visit your local GP and take action. The earlier it is diagnosed the more that can be done. Visit www.bhf.org.uk and www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Healthyhearts for more information.