9 February 2010
During February, as shops line their shelves with love hearts, chocolates and red roses, it's hard not to think about matters of the heart.
But experts at Epsom, St Helier and Sutton hospitals are encouraging people to think about their hearts in a different way this Valentine's Day, and to make sure your heart is a healthy one.
The Trust's leading heart expert, consultant cardiologist, Dr Richard Bogle said: "As Valentine's Day approaches, we want local people to think about how healthy their hearts are.
"The consequences of not looking after your heart are incredibly serious, so it's vital that we all take some small steps to make sure our most vital muscle is fit and well. Figures show that someone in the UK has a heart attack every two minutes and one in three of those people will die within 24 hours.
"The good news is that there are some simple lifestyle changes that can make a great difference to your heart and to your health in general.
"There are three key ways that you can help to protect your heart. They are: don't smoke, be active and eat healthily."
Dr Bogle's top tips for a healthy heart this Valentine's Day are:
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Eat breakfast every day (research shows that the risk of developing diabetes goes up by 30 per cent in people who don't eat breakfast, and you are more likely to develop heart disease if you have diabetes);
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Switch to non-fat and low-fat dairy products;
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Eat more fruits and vegetables;
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Eat whole wheat and whole-grain breads and pastas and choose brown or wild rice (if you have trouble moving to whole-grain pasta, try one which is a blend of whole grain and refined flours);
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Avoid pre-packaged foods and meals which are high in salt, sugar and fats;
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Exercise regularly - a 30 minute walk or two 15 minute walks every day will help to keep your heart in shape.
Finally, a little dark chocolate and a modest intake of red wine is okay as both of these are rich in antioxidants which may be protective in preventing heart disease
Every year, the Trust sees more than 1,000 people at its chest pain clinic with suspected heart disease.
Dr Bogle said: "Sadly, coronary heart disease is a common condition, but we're doing all that we can to treat and prevent heart disease.
"We've recently appointed a full-time consultant cardiologist who will focus on patients with heart failure and we've appointed two specialist British Heart Foundation coordinators to further improve the care we give to patients with atrial fibrillation (the most common heart rhythm problem in the UK). We've also have four 'heart failure' nurses working in the hospital and the local community to support and monitor patients.
For more information about keeping your heart healthy, visit the national NHS website, NHS Choices. If you need help or advice about stopping smoking, visit the NHS Smokefree website or ask your GP for help with quitting.
