How to show your heart a little love...

PRIORITISE SLEEP, MOVE YOUR BODY, AND KNOW YOUR NUMBERS, SAY THE EXPERTS. BY CAMILLA FOSTER

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THE start of the 2020s has been “the worst start to a decade for heart health for half a century”, according to the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

A new analysis by the heart health charity found that cardiovascular deaths in working age adults have risen by 18% since 2019, from 18,693 to 21,975 in 2023, averaging 420 a week.

In addition, BHF’s new figures show that since 2020 there has been a 21% rise in the number of people diagnosed with heart failure in the UK, to a record high of 785,000 in March 2024 from 650,000 in March 2020.

Commenting on these figures, Dr Charmaine Griffiths, chief executive of the BHF, says: “It's been the worst start to a decade for heart health for half a century, but we're entering an era of immense scientific opportunity that can turn this tide.

“By driving a research revolution, we can reverse this worrying trend and save more lives than ever before.”

Preventative measures are key to tackling this issue, so what can we do this summer to boost our heart health? We spoke to some experts to find out...

Prioritise sleep

“One thing that people often don’t think about, when it comes to heart health, is sleep,” notes Regina Giblin, senior cardiac nurse at BHF. “Going to bed at the same time every night and setting your alarm for the same time every morning helps your body get into a routine and helps regulate everything, including your blood pressure and heart rate.

“Bad sleep usually leads to bad habits because you're trying to get your energy up, so you'll often go for sugary foods and things like that.”