Healthy living, healthy heart

Healthy living, healthy heart

Information for African Caribbean communities

2

About this presentation

Healthy Living, Healthy Heart - Information for African Caribbean Communities

We’re going to look at

What cardiovascular disease (CVD) isWhy it’s a particular problem for African Caribbean people That’s people with a West Indian background who are descended from black Africans

What makes it more likelyHow to make it less likely

What is cardiovascular disease?

Healthy Living, Healthy Heart - Information for African Caribbean Communities 3

01 Is also called ‘heart and circulatory disease’

02 Means all diseases of the heart and circulation

03 Includes coronary heart disease, like

angina or heart attacks, and strokes

04 Is the most common cause of death in the UK,

causing more than 1 in every 3 deaths

What is coronary heart disease?

ARTERY WALL


How fatty deposits build up

Your heart needs a constant blood supply

Fatty deposits can clog up your arteries

That leads to angina, chest painor discomfort

In England, Black Caribbean womenare more likely to have angina than anyother black / minority ethnic group

01020304

FATTY DEPOSITS RESTRICTINGBLOOD FLOW THROUGH

THE ARTERY

BLOODWITHIN THE

ARTERY

ATHEROMA(FATTY DEPOSITS

BUILDING UP)

What is a heart attack?


A piece of fat breaks

off and forms a blood

clot that blocks your

coronary arteryBlood stops reaching your heart, which permanently

damages it

In England, Black Caribbean men are more likely to have heart attacks than any other black or minority ethnic group

A heart attack happens when

You can lose consciousness or even die

What should I do?


IF YOU SPOT

ANY OF THESE

SYMPTOMS,

CALL 999

Chest pain or discomfort• Spreading to your arms, neck,

jaw, stomach or back• Like indigestion but making you

feel generally unwell

A dull pain, ache or ‘heavy’feeling in your chest

Feeling sick, sweaty,breathless, lightheaded, dizzyor generally unwell

What is a stroke?


A blood clot blocks the blood supply to your brain

A stroke is when…

The way your body and mind works is effected

Brain cells are damaged or destroyed

African Caribbean people are twice as likely to have a stroke as people of European origin


Facial weakness – can you smile? Has your eye or mouth drooped?

What is a stroke?

Arm weakness – can youraise both arms?

speech problems – can you speak clearly and can others understand what you’re saying?

Time to call 999

IF YOU THINK THAT

YOU OR ANYONEELSE IS

HAVING ASTROKE, YOU

NEEDTO ACT FaST


What are the CVD risk factors?Risks you can

manage…Risks you

can’t…01

Smoking

02

High blood pressure

03

High cholesterol

04

Not exercising

05

Being overweight or obese

06

Having diabetes

07

Your income and job

08

How you deal with stress

A family history

of heart disease

Ethnic Background

Aging


How can I reduce my CVD risk?Get a health check

Take ACTION!The gp will prescribeyou any

treatmentyou need. There’s alot you cando yourself.

Blood tests for cholesterol

and sometimes glucose

Height, weight and blood pressure measurements


Stop smoking

Smoking damages your heart and clogs your arteries

Cigarettes contain harmful chemicals

AROUND 1 IN 4

34-55 YEAR OLD

AFRICAN CARIBBEAN

PEOPLE SMOKE

Blood clots are more likely if you smoke

Passive smoking makes heart disease more likely

Stopping can have your riskof heart disease in a year


African Caribbean people are more at risk than any other UK ethnic group

Manage your blood pressure

Do more physical activity01 Keep to a healthy weight02 Cut down on salt03 Drink less alcohol04 Eat more fruit and veg05 Stop smoking06


Replace saturated fatswith healthier fats

Reduce your cholesterol levelsEating too much saturated fat’s the most common cause of cholesterol problems

Eat less fatty or

sugary food

Drink less alcohol

Exercise regularly


30 minutes of light exercise a day, 5 days a week, will help:

Keep physically active

Lower your blood pressure

and cholesterol levels

Reduce the riskof diabetes

Relieve stress

Keep your weight down


Keep physically activeWhen you exercise,

make sure you:

Start slowly and then gradually build up

Warm up and cool down properly

Stop exercising and talk to your GPif you start feeling unwell

Get medical advice if you’ve had anyserious health problems

01020304


Keep to a healthy weight…

01

African Caribbean men tend to be more obese than other UK ethnic minority groups0

2Staying trim helps deal with diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol problems

Weight in stones

Hei

ght i

n fe

et a

nd in

ches H

eight in metres


…and know your body shape

Your health is at risk if you have a waist size of:

Your health is at high risk if you have a waist size of:

Men Over 94 cm (37 inches) Over 102 cm (40 inches)

Women Over 80cm (about 31.5 inches) Over 88cm (about 34.5 inches)

01 Eat healthily

02 Exercise more

03 Aim for slow, steady weight loss

To lose weight

African Caribbean women tend to put on weight around the waist

Reducing your waist size can help you stay healthy


Avoid diabetesAfrican Caribbean people are more likely to have problems with diabetes

It usually develops gradually after the age of 40

Exercise regularly, eat a healthy, balanced diet and keep an eye on your weight and body shape

It happens when your body’s having problems producing or using insulin

It can increase the amount of sugar in your blood to dangerous levels

01020304


Know your family history

Families can pass on bad lifestyle habits, and genesmight also play a role

You’re at particular risk if several family members have had heart problems

If a close relative

developed CVD at a

young age,

you might be

at risk too

Tell your doctor and takea look at your own lifestyle


Cut down on salt, as African Caribbean people are particularly sensitive to the problems it causes

Eat at least five portions of fresh, frozen, chilled, canned, dried, cooked or raw fruit and veg a day

Eat less fatty food, and in particular cut down on saturated and trans fats

Eat at least two portions of fish a week, with one being oily fish

Eat healthilyA healthy, balanced diet can help protect your heart

01020304

TRY TO


Keep an eye on your drinking

1 unit of alcohol = Half a pint (300ml) of beer, bitter, lager or cider(3.5% alcohol by volume)

A pub measure (25ml) of spirits such as gin, vodka, whiskey or rum

A small glass (100ml) of wine (10% alcohol by volume)

or

or03

Don’t binge drink – it can double your CVD risk

04

Keep track of your drinking at bhf.org.uk/alcohol

01

Only drink 3 to 4 units a day if you’re a man

02

Only drink 2 to 3 units a day if you’re a woman

To drink healthily, make sure you:


Deal with stress the right way

IT’S IMPORTANTTO LEARN HOW TO RELAX

AND DEAL WITH

STRESS EFFECTIVELY

Stress can encourage people to smoke, drink too much, eat unhealthily ornot exercise

These can all make heart disease more likely


Other ways we can help youWe’re the nation’s heart charity

Visit our website at bhf.org.uk or call our Heart Helpline on 0300 330 3311

Find out more about reducing your risks at bhf.org.uk/africancaribbean

Order our publications by calling 0870 600 6566, emailing [email protected] or visiting bhf.org.uk/publications

Join Heart Matters by visiting [email protected]

Healthy living, healthy heart

Documents