Wear red to help fight heart disease

Added 07/02/2014

Nurse talking to patient

Every February the British Heart Foundation raises awareness of cardiovascular disease and its associated health conditions. Coronary heart disease is the UK’s biggest single killer, and the aim throughout February is to inform people of the dangers associated with an unhealthy lifestyle and offer ways to reduce the risk of developing heart conditions.

Today, 7th February, people across the UK will be wearing red and fundraising with raffles, cake sales, sponsored walks and many other fun activities to raise money and support the British Heart Foundation in its vital research. This year the campaign is called Ramp up the Red, the day is meant to be fun, but with a serious message for everyone regarding the premature deaths, disabilities and chronic ill health that result from cardiovascular disease. If there is an event going on in your area, get involved, wear red and make a donation.

Over a quarter of all deaths in the UK are caused by heart and circulatory conditions. Each year over 160,000 people die of related diseases like strokes, with the cost of early death, lost productivity, medical treatment and prescriptions around £19 billion. Almost 2.3 million people, nearly 900,000 of them women, have coronary heart disease, and each day some 200 people die from CHD. Heart attacks, or myocardial infarctions, occur in some 82,000 people a year, with a third of victims dying before reaching hospital. Survivors are often left with irreparable damage to their heart, leading to heart failure.

Lowering your personal risk from developing CHD involves reducing your blood pressure and cholesterol levels by eating a balanced and healthy diet of low fat and high fibre. Restricting salt intake and avoiding foods high in saturated fats will help. A Mediterranean style diet including oily fish is also beneficial. Regular exercise will help reduce weight, which is a risk factor for CHD, and can range from daily walking, cycling, and jogging, to fitness classes.

Travel insurance and heart conditions

If you have a heart or cardiovascular condition it is very important to declare it to your travel insurance provider to ensure that you are properly covered in the event that you need emergency medical treatment whilst you are away. Goodtogtoinsurance.com is proud to provide travel insurance for all types of heart conditions.

Find out more about travel insurance for heart conditions >>

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