Heart Disease. The facts, where to get help, when to get help!

Before you read on, just a bit of info on the writer of this blog. I had, ten years ago, a quadruple heart bye pass, I never saw it coming, thought I was ok, but obviously not, so I write from personal experience, and pay homage later to the wonderful things which can now happen for future patients! There is help, guidance and wonderful support just waiting to be offered, if in any doubt talk to your GP. If you want to know more on Bye Pass surgery that I went through then click here

The lists here below have more detail on each group at the end of the document.

There are several types of cardiac disease, each tends to have a fancy name, all seem perplexing and strange and in a lot of cases are totally preventable

The information here is intended to prevent people becoming victims, to help victims, their families but in the main to help people live a better life, and if that means life style changes then so be it.

We all want to live as long as we can to see the Mighty Dale get promoted!!

But first,

Heart disease is one of several cardiovascular diseases, which are diseases of the heart and blood vessel system. Other cardiovascular diseases include stroke, high blood pressure, angina (chest pain), and rheumatic heart disease. … But the arteries remain damaged, which means you are more likely to have a heart attack

Understanding this will go a long way to preventing it and helping those with it live a long productive life.

So we have listed some agencies and charities BELOW which offer help and advice, BUT FOR a quick look at how you can, at any stage of your life cut down the risks go to the PREVENTION section at the bottom of the page

Heart Disease. The facts, where to get help, when to get help!

The lists here below have more detail on each group at the end of the document.

There are several types of cardiac disease, each tends to have a fancy name, all seem perplexing and strange and in a lot of cases are totally preventable

The information here is intended to prevent people becoming victims, to help victims, their families but in the main to help people live a better life, and if that means life style changes then so be it.

We all want to live as long as we can to see the Mighty Dale get promoted!!

USEFULL GROUPS

• British Heart Foundation Scroll down or click here
• Cardiomyopathy UK (The Heart Muscell Charity) Click Here

 

.Heart Support Groups

• BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION

For the British Heart Foundation Main web Pages, click HERE

We have reliable, simple information about heart and circulatory diseases, and their risk factors. Whether you’ve been diagnosed with a condition or know someone who has, we are here for you.

We have nearly 300 affiliated Heart Support Groups bringing hope and a healthier lifestyle to thousands of patients and carers across England and Wales.

These groups are open to anyone with any kind of heart condition as well as their partners and families.

Find your local group Click HERE

Booklets & guides

Cardiomyopathy Uk. (The Heart Muscell Charity

A national charity for anyone affected by cardiovascular disease. Provides information, support groups and a national charity.

An organisation which aims to increase knowledge and promote research into heart failure, and improving the care of people living with the condition.

Find out about cardiomyopathy, including the different types of cardiomyopathy, and how to manage your condition and live well.

The Main Web site can be found HERE

 

 Prevention – Coronary heart disease

There are several ways you can help reduce your risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD), such as lowering your blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

There are a number of ways you can do this, some may seem boring and predictable, but they work, it’s that simple, so live longer,

NOW See our Prevention section further down

But for now read on….

Eat a healthy, balanced diet

A low-fat, high-fibre diet is recommended, which should include plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables (five portions a day) and whole grains.

You should limit the amount of salt you eat to no more than 6g (0.2oz) a day as too much salt will increase your blood pressure. 6g of salt is about one teaspoonful.

There are two types of fat: saturated and unsaturated. You should avoid food containing saturated fats, because these will increase the levels of bad cholesterol in your blood.

Foods high in saturated fat include:

• meat pies
• sausages and fatty cuts of meat
• butter
• ghee – a type of butter often used in Indian cooking
• lard
• cream
• hard cheese
• cakes and biscuits
• foods that contain coconut or palm oil

However, a balanced diet should still include unsaturated fats, which have been shown to increase levels of good cholesterol and help reduce any blockage in your arteries.

Foods high in unsaturated fat include:

• oily fish
• avocados
• nuts and seeds
• sunflower, rapeseed, olive and vegetable oils

You should also try to avoid too much sugar in your diet, as this can increase your chances of developing diabetes, which is proven to dramatically increase your chances of developing CHD.

Read more about:

• healthy eating
• eating less saturated fat
• the facts about sugar

Why not go directly to the

British Heart Foundation Web Site HERE

for all up to date information and facts and any new developments and advice

Be more physically active

Never easy is it for some of us trained couch potatoes, this physical exercise thing!

The importance of regular exercise

People who don’t exercise are twice as likely to have a heart attack as those who exercise regularly.

The heart is a muscle and, like any other muscle, benefits from exercise. A strong heart can pump more blood around your body with less effort.

Any aerobic exercise, such as walking, swimming and dancing, makes your heart work harder and keeps it healthy.

Combining a healthy diet with regular exercise is the best way of maintaining a healthy weight. Having a healthy weight reduces your chances of developing high blood pressure.

Regular exercise will make your heart and blood circulatory system more efficient, lower your cholesterol level, and also keep your blood pressure at a healthy level.

Read more about fitness and exercise.

Keep to a healthy weight

Your GP or practice nurse can tell you what your ideal weight is in relation to your height and build. Alternatively, find out what your body mass index (BMI) is by using our BMI calculator. This will scare you !, but remember there is a way to sort it.

Read more about losing weight.

Give up smoking

If you smoke, giving up will reduce your risk of developing CHD. Simple, no facts needed.

Smoking is a major risk factor for developing atherosclerosis (furring of the arteries). It also causes the majority of cases of coronary thrombosis in people under the age of 50.

Research has shown you’re up to four times more likely to successfully give up smoking if you use NHS support together with stop-smoking medicines, such as patches or gum.

Ask your doctor about this or visit NHS Smokefree.

Read more about stopping smoking.

Reduce your alcohol consumption

“There is a section under welfare under the heading Alcohol Abuse and support, which you should read, click here

If you drink, don’t exceed the maximum recommended limits.

• men and women are advised not to regularly drink more than 14 units a week
• spread your drinking over three days or more if you drink as much as 14 units a week

Always avoid binge drinking, as this increases the risk of a heart attack.

Read more about drinking and alcohol.

Keep your blood pressure under control

You can keep your blood pressure under control by eating a healthy diet low in saturated fat, exercising regularly and, if required, taking the appropriate medication to lower your blood pressure.

Your target blood pressure should be below 140/85mmHg. If you have high blood pressure, ask your GP to check your blood pressure regularly.

Read more about high blood pressure.

Keep your diabetes under control

You have a greater risk of developing CHD if you are diabetic. If you have diabetes, being physically active and controlling your weight and blood pressure will help manage your blood sugar level.

If you’re diabetic, your target blood pressure level should be below 130/80mmHg.

Read more about diabetes.

Take any prescribed medication

If you have CHD, you may be prescribed medication to help relieve your symptoms and stop further problems developing.

If you don’t have CHD but have high cholesterol, high blood pressure or a history of family heart disease, your doctor may prescribe medication to prevent you developing heart-related problems.

If you’re prescribed medication, it’s vital you take it and follow the correct dosage. Don’t stop taking your medication without consulting your doctor first, as doing so is likely to make your symptoms worse and put your health at risk.

So we have listed some agencies and charities which offer help and advice BUT FOR a quick look at how you can, at any stage of your life cut down the risks go to the PREVENTION section at the bottom of the page

Prevention – Coronary heart disease

There are several ways you can help reduce your risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD), such as lowering your blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

There are a number of ways you can do this, some may seem boring and predictable, but they work, it’s that simple, so live longer,

Remember, Coronary Heart disease is the UK’s single biggest killer, but in many cases it is preventable.

Click on the live blue links below, and start now in preventing heart disease and managing the disease if you already have it

OR better still,

go directly to the

British Heart Foundation Web Site HERE

for all up to date information and facts and any new developments and advice

• Call time on alcohol
• High blood pressure
• Lowering cholesterol
• Managing diabetes
• Take time out
• Time to eat well
• Time to get moving
• Time to quit

Heart health

• Air pollution information sheet
• Everyday triumphs booklet – for people with a mental health problem
• Heart age calculator
• How your heart works poster
• Keep your heart healthy booklet

Healthy eating and drinking

• Cut down on salt booklet
• Cut the saturated fat wallchart
• Eating well booklet (also in British Sign Language)
• Facts not fads – your simple guide to healthy weight loss
• Fats and oils information sheet
• Healthy eating on our website
• Plant sterols and stanols information sheet
• Ten minutes to change your life – Call time on alcohol
• Ten minutes to change your life – Time to eat well
• This label could change your life booklet

Physical activity

• Get active, stay active booklet 
• Get up and go – case study films about physical activity for over 65s
• Interactive calories burned calculator
• Physical activity on our website 
• Stay active in British Sign Language
• Ten minutes to change your life – Time to get moving

Smoking

• Ten minutes to change your life – Time to quit
• Shisha facts on our website
• Smoking in British Sign Language
• Watch Lisa beat smoking and improve her health (also in Bengali, Gujurati, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu and BSL).

Stress

• More about stress on the our website
• Ten minutes to change your life – Take time out

To order resources for you or someone else, call the BHF Orderline on 0300 200 2222 or email orderline@bhf.org.uk.

 

This sign post list will be added to in the near future