World Heart Day 29th September
Each year the World Heart Federation boosts awareness of the importance of heart health, and the world’s biggest killer, cardiovascular disease.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) describes a wide range of conditions that affect the heart and/or blood vessels. CVD is often used to describe coronary heart disease (inc. angina & heart attack) as well as stroke.
Global statistics:
- Two out of three families are affected by CVD
- CVD claims 17.3 million lives each year
- 31% of global deaths are due to CVD
- The number of people with uncontrolled high blood pressure has risen from 6 million in 1980 to 1 billion in 2008
- At least 80% of CVD related deaths are preventable simply by addressing behavioural risk factors
Annual UK statistics:
- Every 7 minutes someone will have a heart attack
- Every 12 minutes someone will have a stroke
- 1.2 million men and 900,000 women are living with chronic angina
- 200,000 new cases of angina
- 1 million men and nearly 500,000 women are living with the after effects of a heart attack
- 800,000 people are living with heart failure
Overall, CVD is estimated to cost the UK economy 19 billion – 46% direct healthcare costs, 34% productivity losses and 20% informal care of people with CVD.
There are two unchangeable risk factors when it comes to developing CVD, those being, becoming older and having a family history of the disease. However, all remaining risk factors are within your control and can therefore be minimised.
These include:
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Smoking
Contact your GP for advice on quitting smoking
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Diabetes
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Lack of physical exercise
Do at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity exercise each week. Combine this with weight bearing exercises twice a week
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Being overweight or obese
Calculate your BMI here. Please read our Heart Health fact file for more information on eating a healthy and balanced diet to reduce your risk of developing heart disease
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Having high cholesterol or high blood pressure
High blood pressure fact file information and advice
High cholesterol fact file information and advice
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Excessive alcohol intake
Drink no more than 14 units of alcohol per week, spread over at least 3 days with 2 consecutive alcohol free days.
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Anxiety, depression and social isolation
Depression, anxiety and stress fact file information and advice
Please be aware that the above link is not aimed at those who have clinical diagnosis, but simply an aid to lifting and lightening mood.
CVD cannot be cured but treatment and positive lifestyle changes can reduce symptoms and greatly reduce the risk of further complications. Minimising your risk of CVD is vital if you want to live a full, happy and healthy life.
Our full range of employee nutrition services provide an end-to-end campaign aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of your employees, and therefore your business.
Give us a call on 07810 716758, give us a call to find out more.
