A Healthy Heart

It’s that time of year when we think about who sets our heart a flutter, or who we will give our heart to. There are heart-covered cards in the shops, and heart-shaped boxes of chocolates. The heart is centre stage on February 14th. But to misquote a popular saying, ‘a heart is for life, not just for Valentine’s Day!’

Your heart works hard. It’s essential to pump nutrient and oxygen-rich blood to your whole body, as well as carry metabolic waste products away.

Most people think heart disease only affects older people but this isn’t true.

The way you live in while you’re young impacts your heart health in later life. Plaque can begin accumulating in your arteries in your teens and twenties. It comprises of fatty deposits, made up of waste products produced by the body’s cells. If plaque goes unchecked it can thicken the blood vessel walls, clog arteries and take a toll on your heart.

It’s commonly thought at heart disease is primarily a problem which affects men, but it’s also the second leading cause of death for women (after Alzheimer’s) in the U.K., and about two in ten of the deaths caused by coronary artery disease occur in adults, whether male and female, who are under 65 years old. This means that whatever sex you are, making heart-healthy choices when you’re young will reduce your risk of heart disease as you age.

Ways to reduce the risk of heart disease include:

• Eating a healthy diet

• Regular exercise

• Maintaining a healthy weight

• Avoiding smoking (or giving up)

• Avoiding excess alcohol

• Managing stress levels

It’s also important to keep up with regular wellness examinations including monitoring blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Most pharmacists can carry out these checks.

One myth about heart disease is that all fat is bad for you, but while certain types of fats like saturated and trans fats are linked to heart disease, other types of fats can actually lower your risk of problems.

Hence you should include some unsaturated fats in your diet, as they are beneficial in lowering cholesterol levels. Unsaturated fats are found in fresh nuts, olive oil, and low-fat dairy products, as fish rich in omega-3 fatty acid-rich, such as salmon.

Genes also play a role when it comes to heart health. It’s true that some people will always be more at risk of heart disease because of genes they’ve inherited from their parents. But just because you have a genetic predisposition to heart disease does not mean that its inevitable you will succumb. However, if you engage in harmful behaviours, such as smoking, excessive drinking avoiding exercise, and eating an unhealthy diet, you will definitely put yourself more at risk. Poor lifestyle choices can increase your cholesterol levels, cause high blood pressure, and even result in type 2 diabetes. All of these have the potential to increase your risk for contracting heart disease, so if you know you have genetic risk factors, it’s even more important to maintain a healthy weight, keep your blood pressure under control, and stay active.

This Valentine’s Day, ask yourself if whoever you choose to give your heart to, will be getting a healthy one!

By Jamie Maxfield

Sudoku

How to play Sudoku

Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 box, contains the numbers 1 through to 9 with no repetition.

You don’t need to be a genius. These puzzles use logic alone. Watch out! Sudoku is highly addictive.

DR SAMIR B PATEL • DR JAMIE NIGHTINGALE DR BHAVINI MUIR • DR THAMARA GUNASEKERA

40 STATION ROAD •BRIGHTLINGSEA •COLCHESTER •ESSEX •CO7 0DT

Tel: (01206) 302522 •Email: colne.medicalcentref81116@nhs.net www.colnemedicalcentre.nhs.uk • facebook.com/Colnemedical

Colorectal Cancer Awareness

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) estimates that in 2020 colorectal cancer was the third most commonly diagnosed cancer type in the world with almost 2 million new cases.

You can reduce your risk of developing colorectal cancer by adopting healthier lifestyle habits. Recognised risk factors for colorectal cancer include obesity, low levels of physical activity, a poor diet and tobacco smoking. Alcohol consumption is also a known risk factor.

Increasing intake of fruit and vegetables and reducing intake of red and processed meat can reduce risk of colorectal cancer. Similarly, introducing more physical activity into your daily routine, quitting smoking, and reducing alcohol consumption can also reduce your risk of developing this disease as well as many others.

Symptoms of colorectal cancer include:

- A persistent change in your bowel habits such as diarrhoea or constipation or a change in the consistency of your stool.

- Rectal bleeding or blood in stool.

- Persistent abdominal discomfort such as cramps, gas, or pain.

- A feeling that your bowel doesn’t empty completely.

- Weakness or fatigue.

If you notice any persistent symptoms that worry you, please contact your GP.

Staffing

The practice is pleased to welcome Dr Sabeen Ahmed and Dr Syeda Batool as salaried GPs. Dr Ahmed was previously a registrar at the surgery so patients may already know her. Dr Batool joins us from West Mersea and has taken on Dr Maria Osuji’s list as she is sadly leaving the practice.

We have a new Healthcare Assistant, Tracy Manning, who joined us in October and Student Nurse Chloe Double has completed her training and started as a Practice Nurse with us in January. She will be visiting our housebound patients in the community one day a week to carry out routine health checks.

Katie Pirie Practice Manager

New showrooms now open at Bypass Nurseries, Capel St Mary and Glasswells, Ipswich