Have a Heart says council chairman

The week, which runs from February 8-14, aims to educate people about the causes of heart disease as not enough people know enough about it, according to the Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke charity.

“The problem,” said the charity’s Director of Health Promotion, Anne Madden, “is that some of the risks for heart disease are already being laid down during the teenage years, and young people can’t leave it until middle age before changing their lifestyles.”

Although death rates from heart disease have fallen, it still claims around nine lives every day in Northern Ireland. Many of the survivors are left with lasting effects, including loss of employment and self-esteem.

NICHS’s Chief Executive, Andrew Dougal, said: “We are concerned that people in their 40s and 50s are dying without warning from their first heart attack. I personally know of two men in that age range who lost their lives last year. People need to acquaint themselves with the warning signs and risk factors.

“Research in Scotland has shown that people are affected by narrowing of the arteries as early as the teenage years. With the prevalence of junk food and lack of regular exercise, it’s likely that the same heart disease ‘time bomb’ is building up here as well. The only way to avoid it is improved knowledge, a better diet and more exercise.”

Money raised during Have a Heart Week will help the charity’s health promotion work and contribute to its research budget. It is spending 500,000 on research in the current year.

More information and advice about heart disease can be found at www.nichsa.com or by phoning the charity’s help line 08457 697299 (charged at local rate from anywhere in Northern Ireland).