Taking steps towards better heart health

February is National Heart Month – why not get involved to help raise awareness and build a healthier future for yourself?

According to the British Heart Foundation, someone dies from cardiovascular disease (CVD) every 3 minutes in the UK. That’s 460 people per day, 130 of whom are under 75 years old. While the death rate associated with the disease has reduced significantly over the past 50 years, there is certainly still some way to go.

There are approximately 8 million individuals living with CVD across the nation. The underlying cause of the condition is the formation of atheroma plaques in the walls of the blood vessels. Several risk factors can increase the chance of this occurring, including:

Non-modifiable risk factors:

• Age – especially for the over 50s
• Gender – men have a higher risk of developing CVD, although women who do have CVD experience worse outcomes
• Family history of CVD – premature CVD death in the family is associated with a higher chance of lifetime CVD
• Ethnic background – those of South Asian or sub-Saharan African origin are at greatest risk

Modifiable risk factors:

• Smoking
• Low high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or ‘good’ cholesterol
• High non-HDL, or ‘bad’ cholesterol
• Sedentary lifestyle and lack of physical activity
• Unhealthy diet
• Excessive alcohol intake
• Being overweight or obese

There are also various comorbidities associated with CVD, which can increase the likelihood of the disease developing. These include diabetes, chronic kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, mental health problems like schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress disorder, and periodontitis.

Walking boots on!

To spread the message that healthy habits can help us all reduce our risk of CVD, this year’s national campaign is focusing on easy ways to get active. Walking has been found to significantly lower the risk of heart and blood vessel issues, even in people with high blood pressure. Research shows a 22% reduction in risk of heart failure, a 9% reduction in risk of heart attack, and a 24% reduction in the risk of stroke. Each additional 1,000 steps per day, up to 10,000 steps, delivers a 17% reduction in overall risk.

Even better news is that many health benefits are gained even before we hit the widely cited 10,000 daily steps target. A 2025 study reported that 7,000 steps per day offers meaningful health advantages – which is great for those with limited time or ability to walk long distances.

Why not take on a walking challenge for National Heart Month?

>Since you’re here, why not read about Sleep apnoea affects millions, but few know they have it? 

Main image credit: Unsplash