Simple steps you can take to boost your heart health

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).

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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.

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 getting up at the same time every morning helps your body get into a routine and helps regulate everything, including 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.”

To improve your sleep quality this summer, Giblin recommends avoiding caffeine in the evenings or watching screens an hour before bed, and says that ensuring your bedroom is dark and comfortable can make all the difference.

Commit to moderate exercise