Killer heart disease must be tackled
Tan Parsons ALMOST 1,000 people in London will lose a parent to coronary heart disease this month, the British Heart Foundation has revealed. The shocking prediction was unveiled on Monday at the launch of National Heart Month at the charity's headquarter
Tan Parsons
ALMOST 1,000 people in London will lose a parent to coronary heart disease this month, the British Heart Foundation has revealed.
The shocking prediction was unveiled on Monday at the launch of National Heart Month at the charity's headquarters in Hampstead Road, Mornington Crescent.
On average, nine fathers and eight mothers die every day from coronary heart disease, while nearly 100 people under 45 die every month from the disease in Britain, says fresh research.
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BHF boss Betty McBride said: "These figures show just how devastating heart disease is to families every day across Britain. But together we could prevent many of these deaths.
"During National Heart Month, we are asking for the public's support for our Red For Heart campaign so we can continue to fight heart and circulatory disease - Britain's biggest killer - through pioneering research and education.
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"We rely on the public's support and we urgently need their help."
There is also a stark gender gap - with men under 45 more than four times as likely to die from heart disease as women, figures reveal.
On average, 79 men under 45 die each month compared to 18 women. Of these, 54 are fathers and 14 are mothers, estimates BHF.
Each year, heart disease claims more than 90,000 lives in Britain.
Ms McBride has cited the statistics as a wake-up call to the nation and is urging the public to pay more attention to the state of their hearts.
The Red For Heart campaign involves people wearing red clothing or hosting red-themed events during their normal day at work, school, university or at home.
Heart patient Robert Smith, 48, lost his father to a heart attack at the age of eight and is calling for the public to support the campaign.
He said: "To lose my dad at such a young age was devastating. It felt like my family had been ripped apart.
"Three years ago, I suffered a heart attack myself.
"Luckily, I received excellent treatment and I'm still here today.
"I've been so fortunate that the research the BHF has done has helped to dramatically improve the chances of people like me surviving. This month, I'll be going Red For Heart in memory of my father and to help keep more families together."
o To find out more about how to look after your heart and how to support the Red for Heart campaign, visit www.bhf.org.uk/red.
