How to show your heart a little love...

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

- CAMILLA FOSTER

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.”

To improve your sleep quality this summer, Regina 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.

Get your heart rate up with some moderate exercise

“Exercise is very good for your heart, so try to find an activity that you enjoy, because the more you do something that you enjoy, the more likely you'll do it more often,” says Regina. “Try to do 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week.

“Moderate means that you're slightly breathless, but you're still able to talk.