Taking care of your heart may be the key to a longer, healthier life.
But trading indulgence for nourishment can be a challenge.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the UK and US – responsible for a quarter of deaths each year.
Cardiologist Dr. Ameet Bakhai has devised a lifestyle quiz to indicate whether you are taking good care of your heart.
From your favorite potato to how much you exercise, the eight-question quiz will determine the effect your lifestyle choices have on your heart.
Cardiologist Dr. Ameet Bakhai has designed a lifestyle quiz to help indicate whether you are taking care of your heart
For each question, choose which of the answers A, B, and C best applies to you.
Dr. Bakhai, of Spire Bushey Hospital in North London, who advised Healthspan on this Love your heart supplement range, said: ‘Heart problems can often get progressively worse, until one day you have a more complicated problem – which could have been avoided if we had heeded the warning signs.
“Heart problems may be related to other things – you might think that you can’t run up two flights of stairs more of a lung condition or a lack of fitness or weight gain, but there’s a lot of overlap with coronary artery disease or heart valve problems or irregular heart rhythms.
“So taking care of your heart health is essential and should be planned every year as a New Year’s resolution.”
How many servings of fruit and vegetables do you eat per day?
A. 0-2 servings – I don’t really like them
B. 3-4 servings – although I could probably eat more if I tried
C. 5 or more servings a day – 1 can’t get enough
Which of the following do you eat the most?
A. Chips – delicious, especially with mayonnaise
B. Roasted potatoes – although I only have one or two and they are made with olive oil instead of meat drippings
C. Boiled or baked potatoes – and I often have super healthy sweet potatoes too
How often do you eat fresh fish?
A. I have fried, battered fish and chips every week – I never buy fresh fish – it’s too hard to prepare
B. Once or twice a week – usually pre-packaged cod or other white fish – I would like to cook more exotic fish meals but don’t know how
C. At least three times a week, especially oily fish such as fresh sardines, mackerel or salmon. I always grill, poach or bake the fish and never fry
When do you add salt to your food?
A. Bringing out the flavor is essential both during cooking and at the table
B. Only when cooking – I try to eat less
C. Hardly – I use fresh herbs for flavor and check the labels for the salt content of purchased foods
From your favorite potato, whether fried, roasted or baked, to how much you exercise, the quiz will determine the effect your lifestyle choices have on your heart
How much exercise do you take per week?
A. Sometimes I get up at work and walk around when it’s quiet
B. I have joined a gym and go occasionally; I also try to walk or cycle on weekends (when I have the energy)
C. At least 30 minutes of vigorous exercise five times a week, often every day
How many units of alcohol do you drink per week?
A. Um, what is a unit? Is half a bottle of wine every night okay?
B. 15 or more – But I plan to cut back
C. No more than 1 or 2 units a few nights a week
How much overweight are you?
A. More than a rock – being cuddly suits my warm, bubbly personality!
B. Less than a stone – and I’m trying to get rid of it because I feel so tired all the time
C. I am not overweight – I eat healthy, exercise regularly and always watch my weight.
How much do you smoke?
A. At least 20 cigarettes a day – my grandfather smoked all his life and lived to be 92, so why worry?
B. I switched to vaping as a less risky option and am trying to cut down
C. I don’t smoke at all – and also avoid secondhand smoke
Results
Usually if
Your diet and lifestyle are not heart healthy at all. Check out the C options to see where things can go wrong.
If you have not had your blood pressure checked in the past two years, please contact your practice to ask how you can manage this during the current restrictions.
Usually Bs
You know you could do better – and are already making improvements.
Healthy eating and exercise can lower your cholesterol levels, reduce elevated blood pressure, help you maintain a healthy weight and even prevent diabetes, and help keep your heart healthy.
Mostly Cs
You are taking the right steps to stay fit and healthy.
Keep it up so that your risk of developing high blood pressure, diabetes, elevated cholesterol, coronary heart disease and stroke in the years to come is significantly lower than average.
