Listen to your heart this February

Your heart does a lot for you – do something for it, by taking the time to get your heart health checked.

If you haven’t had a heart health check in the last five years, see if you’re eligible for a free NHS Health Check to get your blood pressure checked and understand your risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke.

Do more for your health by staying active, eating well, and quitting smoking for good. What is good for your heart is also good for your brain and keeping your heart healthy can reduce your risk of dementia. Conditions like diabetes, chronic kidney disease, high cholesterol are all related to heart health. Even small changes today can lead to a stronger heart tomorrow.

Feel great with an NHS Health Check 

Up to 80% of heart disease and stroke cases are preventable. If you’re aged 40 to 74 years, you may be eligible for a free NHS Health Check. This 20-minute check-up focuses on your heart health and can help identify whether you’re at higher risk of conditions like heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease or stroke - often before any symptoms appear.

During the check, you'll have the chance to discuss with a health professional how to improve your health, including where you can get support to make positive lifestyle changes. 

Book your free NHS Health Check with your local GP or pop into a participating pharmacy.

Feel free by quitting smoking 

Around 1 in 4 deaths from heart disease in the UK are linked to smoking, and quitting smoking remains one of best things you can do to prevent heart disease.

Smoking damages blood vessels, raises blood pressure, and accelerates artery hardening, significantly increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Being smoke free is one of the best ways to prevent cardiovascular disease, alongside high blood pressure, diabetes, and poor diet.

The good news is that quitting smoking delivers rapid benefits - within a year, heart disease risk is halved, and continues to fall over time.

Smokers are four times more likely to quit with support. Contact our Stop Smoking Service to chat to one of our friendly advisors about tailored support for you. 

Defibrillators save lives

In London, more than 4,200 cardiac arrests happen out of hospital every year. This is a medical emergency when someone’s heart stops beating, and every second matters. According to the UK Resuscitation Council and British Heart Foundation, fewer than 1 in 10 people survive cardiac arrest outside of hospital. 

Quick access to a defibrillator can dramatically improve survival rates. 

Defibrillators are available across Richmond upon Thames, including places like railway stations, schools, places of worship, and some community centres, shops and council buildings. 

Anyone can operate a defibrillator; they are designed to be easy and safe for the public to use and can make a vital difference in an emergency.

Defibrillators come with clear step-by-step voice instructions, and many also have images showing how to use them. Find out how to use a defibrillator.

Funding for defibrillators

If you are part of a community organisation and want to fundraise to help get another defibrillator in the borough, you can apply for funding through organisations such as the British Heart Foundation and Community Heartbeat Trust.