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Keeping your heart healthy

Please note that this section provides guidance only; it should not be used as a substitute for answering specific questions about your health. If you are concerned about any health issues, please contact your GP.

There are many things you can do to keep your heart healthy and prevent heart disease. Taking exercise, ensuring you have a healthy and balanced diet and giving up smoking all help.

At Barts and The London Heart Attack Centre we consider preventing heart attacks as important as treating them when they happen. Our aim is to reduce the number of people admitted (and re-admitted) to hospital with heart conditions by offering a range of healthy-living and educational programmes.

Heart attacks in many people are caused by various lifestyle habits that damage the lining of the blood vessels. These blood vessels supply oxygen and fuel to the heart muscle. Even though in most cases we can fix an artery that gets blocked suddenly, the underlying causes remain unless active measures are taken. The main factors which can lead to a heart attack are smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, lack of exercise, poor diet, obesity and excess alcohol.

If you want to give up smoking, there are a number of ways you can get support. You can find out more  by visiting NHS Live Well

We also have access to specialists in blood pressure, cholesterol, electrical disturbances of the heart, and a special preventative cardiology clinic for those concerned about family members; giving our patients a full range of expertise.

For more information about healthy eating please visit the British Heart Foundation.