Show your heart some love, women of Bucks!

Focusing on women, the public health initiative aims to draw attention to some startling facts around heart health in women and raise awareness of the warning signs of a heart attack and other heart related health issues.

Did you know:

• Coronary heart disease (CHD) kills more than twice as many women as breast cancer in the UK every year – it is also one of the main causes of death in women worldwide
• 32,000 women are admitted to hospital following a heart attack each year in the UK - an average of 88 women per day or 4 per hour
• Many women who are having a heart attack delay seeking medical help for longer than men, because they often don’t know the symptoms - In a 2017 survey conducted by Heart Research UK, 4,000 women were questioned on their awareness of their heart health. 73% of respondents did not know that an overwhelming feeling of anxiety can be a symptom of a heart attack

There are lots of ways to keep your heart healthy. Simple lifestyle changes such as increasing your physical activity and eating more fruits and vegetables can have a big impact and lower the risk of heart disease. Knowing the signs and symptoms of a heart attack can also make a difference as early intervention can limit the damage done to the heart.

One of the easiest ways to check your heart health is to keep an eye on your blood pressure. You don’t need to see your GP to do this. It can be done at the free health kiosks at Aylesbury Library, High Wycombe Library, Burnham Library and Health on the High Street venue in the Friars Square shopping centre in Aylesbury. Just pop in and follow the easy instructions or ask a member of staff to help you if you are unsure.

Throughout March a series of pop-up events will be taking place across the county. The first took place at High Wycombe Library last Friday (8 March), coinciding with International Women’s Day and was attended by several female councillors who volunteered to have their blood pressure checked. Members of the Public Health team were on hand to give information and advice about how to keep your heart healthy and how to spot the warning signs of heart disease and heart attacks. Other similar events are planned at Chesham Market on 13 March and at Aylesbury Library on 20 March with women invited to go along.

Angela Macpherson, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing said: “With busy lives and a variety of different responsibilities, we know that women can sometimes put themselves last when it comes to looking after their own health and wellbeing. This campaign encourages them to shift that mindset and prioritise their heart health, ensuring they know what to look out for and helping them to feel empowered to seek medical help when needed.”

Angela added: “Please help us spread the word, we want to make sure all women know how important it is to Love Your Heart.”

To find out more on keeping your heart healthy, visit the website.