A report in the International Journal of Clinical Practice has recently suggested that nearly 4 million people in the UK are at risk of heart disease unawares. Heart disease is one of the biggest killers in the UK and this news has re-enforced recent calls for national screening tests.

Although advances in medications for heart problems should suggest a lower risk to the population, the fact is that our ever worsening lifestyle choices are outstripping any progress being made in science. Coronary heart disease is now recognised as being one of the most common killers and is augmented by the increase in obesity, by the continual presence of smoking, and by people becoming less and less active. This doesn’t even take into account any hereditary aspect of heart problems.

If you are over-weight, eat poorly or smoke heavily you are more at risk than most people and should get a regular check. Even if you’re not aware of any heart problems and feel healthy it is always better to get checked out just in case. It’s a little known fact that for most people by the time they find out it’s too late.

You can find out more on this topic from our recent article ‘How to Keep a Healthy Heart‘.

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It has been reported that a drug prescribed over 300,000 times in 2 years to reduce cholesterol levels could have a higher cancer risk. The BBC reported that:

“A New England Journal of Medicine study linked Inergy, a combination of two drugs, to a 50% rise in cancer cases.”

Despite the warning people are still being encouraged to continue using Inergy and to consult your doctor with any worries. The initial study done in Oslo was on such a small scale that further testing is required, with some experts suggesting that the results were probably an “anomaly”.

The British Heart Foundation have supported this stance with Dr Mike Knapton, from the charity, saying:

“There is no suggestion that statins increase the risk of cancer.

“The data from the big trials are encouraging but the evidence is not yet conclusive, because many of the patients studied have been followed-up for a relatively short period of time so far.”

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Following on from our recent article regarding heart disease is a chilling declaration in the Daily Telegraph that in the UK:

“one hundred thousand people are living undiagnosed with an inherited condition that means they could suffer a fatal heart attack at any time.”

The article reports on a hereditary disorder called Familial Hypercholesterolaemia that causes extremely high cholesterol levels in the body, a major indicator for coronary heart disease and heart attacks.

The most worrying thing is that despite it being the most common hereditary disorder in the UK, very few people have even heard of it. And it’s not just adults who are at risk:

“Children as young as eight with the condition may be prescribed statins for the rest of their lives to control their cholesterol levels and all offspring of affected patients should be tested by the age of 10 at the latest, the guideline is expected to say.

Familial Hypercholesterolaemia is the most common inherited disorder in the UK, affecting one in 500 people, yet there is no co-ordinated screening programme to detect it.”

The NHS have come under heavy criticism with only 15,000 people having so far been diagnosed, with calls coming for a National Screening test.

This re-emphasises the need to be vigilant when it comes to you and your familes health, especially for those with a family history.

If you wish to find out more about preventing heart disease and reducing cholesterol then take a look at our recent article ‘How to Keep a Healthy Heart’.

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Anyone concerned about heart disease should keep a regular check on their eyes, with a certain type of eye damage giving crucial early clues to the onset of the disease.  According to a new study people with a type of eye damage known as retinopathy were nearly twice as likely to die of heart disease related deaths than those without it.

It goes without saying that people showing signs of such eye damage - especially if over-weight - may be getting a first warning of the need to lower cholesterol and blood pressure. If that’s you then we have provided some tips below to help get you started. Just remember - this is just a reference and if you have any heart worries it is extremely important that you see your GP straight away.

Tips to lower cholesterol and blood pressure:

1. See Your GP to see about appropriate medication.
2. Weight Control - The more you weigh the higher your BP is likely to be
3. Exercise Regularly - A fit heart will pump blood with less pressure. Just 10 weeks of regular aerobic exercise can reduce BP significantly.
4. Healthy Diet - eat plenty of fresh or frozen fruit and vegetables and reduce your consumption of dairy, red meats and biscuits etc
5. Reduce Salt - should be a maximum of 6g per day for adults
6. Reduce Caffeine - drink less tea and coffee
7. Reduce Alcohol - Stick to the recommended allowances or less and avoid binge drinking. Recommended allowance  is 3-4 units per day for men and 2-3 units for women.
8. Stop Smoking  - one of the biggest causes of heart disease and cancer.
9. Reduce Stress - increased stress can increase BP - especially if you counter stress with food, drink and cigarettes
10. Use Alternative Therapies - there are many effective natural remedies and supplements available to help reduce blood pressure and cholesterol.
11. Monitor Your Progress  - Blood pressure can be checked regularly without the need to see your GP by using blood pressure monitors to keep a track of your progress.

This is not an exhaustive list but will definitely go a long way to getting you on the right road. Again we re-iterate - if you are concerned about your heart then see your GP straight away.

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