By Julie Morgan

Published at 15:45, Wednesday, 03 February 2010

COPELAND residents are being urged to build healthy hearts in the month of St Valentine’s.

Put a smile on your plate: And eat healthily

Across the UK someone has a heart attack every two minutes and 2.7 million people have coronary heart disease.

Cumbria NHS are encouraging locals to follow three tips to a healthier lifestyle: stop smoking, eat healthily and be active, to help reduce this risk.

Dr Rebecca Wagstaff is NHS Cumbria’s deputy director of public health. She said: “Coronary heart disease is the UK’s biggest health killer and in 2007 it caused over 1,000 deaths in Cumbria alone. Although deaths from heart disease in under-75s have fallen by 27 per cent since 1996, it’s still a huge problem.

“The main causes of heart disease are smoking, lack of exercise and a fatty diet. These are all lifestyle issues which with a little bit of effort or help we can alter, so it’s important that people take the threat seriously and do their bit to keep their heart healthy now. If you’re unsure how to make those changes speak to your GP or a specialist service or visit NHS Choices online at www.nhs.uk for advice and tips.’’

1. Don’t smoke: Smokers are twice as likely to have a heart attack and are at a higher risk of developing heart disease than non smokers. Smoking increases blood pressure and damages the lining of the arteries leading to a build-up of fatty deposits.

Within a year of stopping smoking, the risk of heart attack falls to about half that of a smoker.

Anyone who wishes to quit smoking can get help from NHS Cumbria’s Stop Smoking Service on 01900 324222 or by texting ‘QUIT’ to 82540 to arrange an appointment. Stop smoking help and advice is also available form participating pharmacies across Cumbria.

2. Eat healthily: People should aim to make sure their diet is healthy with fruit and vegetables making up a third, starchy foods such as wholemeal bread, wholemeal pasta, potatoes and rice should make up another third, with the remainder including a moderate amount of dairy foods, meat, fish and pulses as well as small amounts of food containing fat and sugars.

3. Be active: Try to do at least 30 minutes of physical activity at least five times a week. This can be broken down into smaller 10 minutes segments at a time.

Activities can range from a brisk walk to more vigorous exercise such as running and dancing.

Published by http://www.whitehaven-news.co.uk