Healthy Heart
Keeping your heart healthy, whatever your age, is the most important thing you can do to help prevent and manage heart disease. Continue reading to see how you can prevent heart disease happening to you and your family. For further information visit the British Heart Foundation
Drink less Alcohol
(M = 3-4 units / F = 2 - 3 units per day)
Beer = 2 units / Cider = 3 units
Red wine = 1.5 units / White wine = 2.1 units
Bottled beer = 1.7 u / Can of beer = 2 units
Alcohopop = 1.5 unit / 25ml shot = 1 unit
Gin, Vodka, Whiskey, Rum, Tequila, and Sambuca = 1.4 units
HDL Cholesterol (good)/LDL Cholesterol (bad)
(Cholesterol reading should not read more than 4 combined)
Cholesterol is a fatty substance which is an important factor in our blood. Blood carries nutrients around the body so that your organs work properly i.e. heart and lungs.
Active 150mins a week
An activity in this reference, should make you feel warmer, breath harder and make your heart beat faster. E.g. Jogging, brisk walking, swimming, exercise classes or team sports. This will keep your heart strong, help lower cholesterol and blood pressure. It will also reduce the chances of getting Coronary heart disease.
Quit Smoking
Acrolein is a chemical in cigarettes that lowers the HDL, which in turns causes high cholesterol
Fruit and veg
Must have at least 5 portions a day (combined). Each portion is approx, 80g or 3oz
Low Salt
(6g or 2.4g sodium)
Also known as sodium, formula is:
SALT = SODIUM x 2.5
Low SF
(M = 30g / F= 20g)
This is produced in the liver but also found in foods (check labels). 5g per 100g is high and1.5g or less per 100g is low.
Blood pressure
(140/90mmHg)
How hard is blood flowing through your arteries. High BP puts extra strain on arteries and over time can damage them. It also enlargers the heart which could lead to heart failure. You may get double vision, nose bleeds, out of breath quickly or get headaches that last for a long time.
Oxygen from blood
If the arteries that supply the heart get blocked or clogged, it can lead to a heart attack or ongoing angina. The pain is a dull heavy or light pain in the chest, which can spread to the left arm, neck, jaw or back.