Millions of Britons may be unaware they have a heart condition, as a new poll reveals a lack of awareness about coronary heart disease (CHD). The survey, conducted by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and YouGov, found that only 2% of people fear CHD, despite it being the UK's single biggest killer, responsible for around 74,000 deaths annually.
One in ten adults admitted they did not know how to look after their hearts, while many were more worried about dementia or cancer. Dr Mike Knapton, associate medical director at the BHF, said: 'Your heart is the most vital organ in the body, but all too often we take it for granted. Despite being a largely preventable condition, coronary heart disease is still the UK's single biggest killer, causing unnecessary heartache for thousands of families.'
Risk factors for CHD include smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes. However, symptoms can be absent until a heart attack or heart failure occurs. Gail Sullivan, from Oxted in Surrey, lost her 43-year-old son Daniel to the disease. She said: 'There were no signs of that. You wouldn't look at him and say, “Oh gosh, Dan, you look really ill”. You would never have been able to tell.'
The BHF has issued ten tips to prevent heart disease, including eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and avoiding smoking. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) is urging countries to reduce salt intake by 30% by 2025 to save millions of lives from heart disease and stroke.
