Healthy heart support

Why is heart health important?

Your heart works hard every day. Like every other muscle in your body, it needs exercise and nutrients to keep it working well, help keep your risk of CHD low and help prevent heart conditions such as angina, strokes and heart attacks.

What is a risk factor?

A risk factor is something that increases your chances of getting a health condition. So, the more risk factors you have for CHD, the greater your risk of developing heart problems.

There are two types of risk factor: non-modifiable and modifiable. Non-modifiable risk factors can't be changed and include things like age, gender, ethnicity and family history. Modifiable risk factors, however, are things you have control over. These include:

What else can I do to take care of my heart?

As well as managing the risk factors associated with CHD, there are a few other lifestyle tweaks you can make to help look after your heart. These include restricting the amount of alcohol you drink and taking steps to manage your stress levels.