We are living longer and for good of society we should try to live healthier too
British Heart Foundation research says progress made in reducing cardiovascular disease in Scotland risks being lost.
The charity's analysis is staggering. It shows Scottish heart health has declined more quickly in the 2020s than in any other decade over the last 50 years – with the first increase in death rates among working age adults from cardiovascular disease in a generation.
In 2023 the rate stood at 68 deaths per 100,000, compared with 60 deaths just four years earlier. At the same time, there are record numbers of people dying from diabetes and obesity rates are also climbing.
It is a complex area, but clearly these trends have to be reversed. The British Heart Foundation has called for greater use of artificial intelligence to aid prevention.
It also wants increased money for research and for the NHS to improve care for those with heart conditions. We have no hesitation in echoing those demands, which will, in the end, benefit society as a whole.
But support from charities and government are only part of the solution. Each of us can do more to live better lives. As individuals we need to take more responsibility for our own health.
Better food choices are not always possible for those struggling to make ends meet. But when it is possible, a healthier diet will make a difference.
Increased exercise will also help to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. We are living longer lives and for the good of society and our own wellbeing we should try to live healthier ones too.
The announcement by John Swinney in today's Daily Record – that a universal winter fuel payment will be brought in by St Andrew's Day – is to be applauded.
Many pensioners relied on the benefit and struggled throughout the cold months without it. While some could afford to take the hit, the cut meant real hardship for the least well-off.
The UK Government has received much criticism for axing the benefit, which came at a time energy costs were going through the roof. Keir Starmer hinted at partly reinstating the payment earlier this month, only to dash people's hopes once more. This has just disappointed older voters across the country.
There have been noises that Labour may reintroduce the payment in a belated attempt to undo the damage caused by the unpopular policy. The UK Government should follow the Scottish Government's lead and bring back a universal benefit for next winter.
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