H E A RT H E A LT H ▲ T R A E H OF THE MATTER A MAJOR CAUSE OF PREMATURE DEATH, HEART DISEASE CAN BE AVOIDED BY TAKING A FEW SIMPLE STEPS S hockingly, heart disease is responsible for a quarter of all deaths in the UK - it is our biggest killer. Often thought of as a male disease, with one in seven men in Britain dying from the condition, it also kills one in 10 women. And yet that needn't be the case. The good news is that cardiac problems can be avoided with some relatively simple lifestyle changes. Stopping smoking, keeping blood pressure in check, being more active and eating healthily have all been shown to reduce the risk of developing heart disease. Eating too many sugary foods, for example, can lead to weight gain and dental cavities - two things that could spell bad news for your heart health. So cutting back on the sweet treats is a good place to start. Reducing a high salt intake, which can > www.athomemagazine.co.uk FEBRUARY 2018 | 089