One of the most important ways for older men to reduce heart disease risk

This Morning: Dr Chris discusses heart disease

“Most people build up habits over their lifetime that can contribute to a higher risk of heart disease,” said Dr Pratsides, so the first port of call is lifestyle changes.

“Having a balanced diet is one of the most important ways men can reduce their risk of heart disease,” the doctor revealed.

“Small changes like eating more vegetables, cutting down on sugar, saturated fats and alcohol can go a long way.”

Making these adjustments may reduce a person’s risk of obesity which, in itself, means there is less of a burden on the heart muscle.

“Physical activity is another important lifestyle change that has a major impact,” added Dr Pratsides.

“Building a habit of regular exercise can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.”

Physical activity is said to reduce stress levels, blood pressure, and improve insulin sensitivity.

Exercise can even “help with male issues like erectile dysfunction”, added Dr Pratsides.

The GP doctor added: “If you’re worried about heart disease, the most important thing you can do is take action.

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“Make an appointment with your GP, discuss your concerns and they can suggest a course of action that will set you on the right path.”

Heart disease

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) explained: “Heart disease is when your coronary arteries become narrowed by a build-up of fatty material within their walls.”

Symptoms of heart disease can include:

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Pain travelling through the body
• Feeling faint
• Nausea.

There are certain health conditions that increase your risk of heart disease, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol.

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Lifestyle factors that contribute to the development of the disease include being overweight and smoking.

While there are factors you can control when mitigating your risk of heart disease, increasing age and a family history of the condition, which both raise your risk, can not be modified.

Dr Luke Pratsides is the GP and Head of Medical at Numan.

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