Latest news with #BritishHeartFoundation
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
28th Armathwaite Challenge aiming to raise £100k for heart charity
A local fundraiser is looking for volunteers to join in on an epic walk for a heart charity. Plans are underway for the 28th Armathwaite Challenge which is aiming to reach a total of £100,000 for the British Heart Foundation (BHF). Over the last 27 years the Armathwaite walk has generated £80,483.55 for BHF and organiser, Geoff Fisher is hoping to reach £100,000 for the charity. The event attracts people of all ages (Image: Supplied) The 20-mile walk will set off at 8:30am Sunday, September 28 at the Border Gate Hotel carpark and walk towards Talkin Tarn. Anyone wishing to join the 20-milers can do so at the Fox and Pheasant, Armathwaite CA4 9PY where they will complete a 10-mile walk. There will be transport available to commute people back to their vehicles at the Border Gate and transport the walkers to the Fox and Pheasant Inn at Armathwaite for refreshments. Dogs are most welcome on the challenge! (Image: Supplied) Last year's Armathwaite Challenge – which was its 27th edition – helped to raise more than £7,000 for the heart foundation. Geoff Fisher said: 'Over the last 27-years with your constant help, generosity, and support of all of you, the Armathwaite walk has generated £80,483.55, together we can smash the £100K barrier if we all walk/work together to help a great charity. READ MORE: Cumbria: Crime Commissioner shares views on cannabis legalisation | News and Star 'I must mention some very special people that have helped, supported and kept me focused over these years, without these people the Armathwaite Challenge might have lost its momentum/direction years ago, a big and special thank you from me to: Mick Irving, Helen Fisher, Wendy Parry, Nicola Morgan, the four Ladies from the BHF (Hayley, Phoebe, Lucy and Margaret) and the team at Metcalfe Plant Hire.' The British Heart Foundation is one of the UK's most recognisable charities. They raise money to help work towards a world 'free from the fear of heart and circulatory diseases.' Anybody wishing to donate can do so via Geoff's Just Giving page.
NDTV
2 days ago
- Health
- NDTV
Pedal Your Way To Health: 10 Benefits Of Cycling Everyday
Across India, a silent health revolution is unfolding, on two wheels. Once seen as a modest mode of transport, the bicycle is regaining ground as a powerful tool for fitness, sustainability, and mental well-being. From CEOs to daily wagers, more Indians are embracing cycling not only for convenience but also for the health benefits of cycling. The World Health Organisation (WHO) supports active commuting, including cycling, as a means to reduce the risk of lifestyle diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Could daily cycling be your key to a healthier and more balanced life? Transformative health benefits of cycling everyday Whether you cycle to work, school, or the local market, this low-impact, high-reward activity offers numerous benefits that extend beyond fitness. Here's how cycling can transform your physical and mental health while contributing to a cleaner environment. 1. Improves cardiovascular health Cycling is an aerobic activity that gets your heart pumping and lungs working. According to the British Heart Foundation, cycling everyday reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases by up to 50%. 2. Aids weight management Just 30-60 minutes of cycling can burn between 300-600 calories, depending on intensity. It also boosts your metabolism, helping in healthy weight loss and preventing obesity-related conditions. 3. Boosts joint health Cycling is gentler on the knees and joints compared to running. It's especially beneficial for those with arthritis or recovering from injury, improving mobility without high impact. 4. Enhances mental clarity Physical activity like cycling triggers the release of endorphins, natural mood lifters. It can reduce stress, anxiety, and symptoms of depression. A Harvard Medical School study also links cycling everyday with improved cognitive function. 5. Builds muscle strength Cycling engages the legs, glutes, and core muscles, gradually increasing strength and endurance. Over time, it also enhances posture and balance. 6. Strengthens the lungs By improving breathing rhythm and oxygen intake, cycling enhances lung capacity. This is especially valuable in polluted urban areas, as it helps the body filter and process air more efficiently. 7. Improves balance and coordination Cycling everyday hones reflexes and stabilises the body, skills that are particularly useful for older adults to prevent falls and injuries. 8. Increases immunity Moderate daily exercise like cycling supports a stronger immune system. Research by the University of Bath shows that regular cyclists have lower instances of common illnesses. 9. Lowers risk of chronic illness Daily cycling reduces the risk of conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and certain cancers. The WHO recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate activity per week, which cycling easily fulfils. 10. Promotes environmental and economic health Choosing a cycle over a car helps reduce CO₂ emissions, air pollution, and fuel expenses. This supports a healthier planet and saves money in the long run, an indirect but vital health benefit. Cycling everyday isn't just about fitness, it's a holistic approach to living better. Backed by global health organisations and celebrated by people across economic backgrounds, it bridges health, affordability, and environmental responsibility. So, whether it's a short ride to the grocery store or a daily commute, every pedal stroke is a step toward a longer, stronger, and cleaner life. Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.
Scotsman
5 days ago
- Health
- Scotsman
17 pictures of the Edinburgh Marathon 2025
First held in 1982, the annual event has sold out every year for the last 17 years, and is the second largest marathon in the UK. Thousands of runners take part every year, with the Edinburgh Marathon Festival supporting a number of charities including Macmillan Cancer Support, Alzheimer Scotland, the British Heart Foundation and the MS Society.
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Man's 'indigestion' symptoms led to a quintuple heart bypass
A nurse told Adam he was a "heart attack waiting to happen". When Adam Smith experienced what he thought were indigestion symptoms, he had no idea he was a 'heart attack waiting to happen'. The now-54 year old had been fit and well before he started experiencing chest tightness and breathlessness in late 2020. He initially put this down to indigestion, but by the following summer, he was struggling to take his dog for a walk without needing to stop and rest every few minutes. This escalated until Adam, from Todenham in Gloucestershire, realised he couldn't even push the lawnmower from one side of his garden. His wife Eve urged him to ask his GP about getting his heart checked. Tests revealed Adam's arteries were severely blocked and he needed imminent major surgery to prevent a life-threatening heart attack from occurring. Adam, who runs a construction company, said: 'It sounds ridiculous now, but at the time, I just didn't think that what was going on could be so serious. Because it was lockdown when my symptoms started, nobody was really seeing doctors face-to-face and I kept putting it all down to indigestion, even though things were getting worse and worse as the weeks went on. 'There's a small hill behind our house where I'd normally walk our dog, Walnut, but it got to the point where I could no longer manage it. At first, I just thought I was losing my fitness, but things kept getting worse. 'Eventually, I was on the phone to the GP and my wife said, 'Make sure the doctor's 100 per cent certain this isn't something to do with your heart', as there is a history of heart attacks in my family and several relatives had previously had heart bypass surgeries.' Adam was referred to the chest pain clinic at his local hospital. 'In my eyes, the nurse I saw at the clinic saved my life,' he said. 'I still get a bit emotional thinking about it. She was the one who really looked at me and saw that I was a heart attack waiting to happen, as my arteries were so blocked.' Adam had a quintuple bypass in September 2021 at the Oxford Heart Centre at John Radcliffe Hospital. He spent five days in hospital before going home to continue his recovery. Since then, he has worked hard to get his fitness back up, including taking part in the London to Brighton Bike Ride every summer, raising funds for the British Heart Foundation (BHF). Adam said: 'Recovery was a long road. At first, all I could manage was walking a few yards. But my wife and friends were amazing, they all came and walked with me – I just walked and walked myself back to fitness. 'About six weeks after the surgery, I saw an advert for the BHF's London to Brighton Bike Ride and I thought – right, I'm going to do this. I needed something to work towards and, after everything that had happened, I knew how important the charity's work is. 'Obviously, I had to go through assessments with the cardiac rehab team, but as soon as I could go back to the gym, I did, and then I started cycling.' He completed his first London to Brighton Bike Ride in 2022, and raised around £5,000. Adam said: 'The following year, a few friends wanted to take part too, so we decided to ride together as a group, and we raised another £5000 or so as a team.' On June 15 this year, Adam is set to take on the iconic 54-mile bike ride for the fourth time. He added: 'I'll be riding with friends again this year, but unfortunately just in the last few months, one of the friends who's done it with me for the last two years has been diagnosed with the heart rhythm disorder, atrial fibrillation, and will be undergoing treatment soon. My sister also very recently underwent heart bypass surgery. 'So, this year, doing the London to Brighton Bike Ride feels particularly poignant again. My plan is to keep doing it for as long as I can.' Although Adam is now on cholesterol and blood pressure medication, he exercises as much as possible to keep his cardiovascular system healthy. 'I'm still the same person as I was before the surgery, but now I do two or three yoga classes a week, I go to Pilates and I do two weight training sessions a week,' he said. 'And of course I do my cycling. There's not really a single day where I'm not doing some form of exercise to try and stay as fit and healthy as I can. I will be on medication now for cholesterol and blood pressure possibly for the rest of my life, but I wake up every morning feeling grateful for the NHS, because I do believe they saved my life.' There are around 100,000 hospital admissions each year in the UK due to heart attacks - the equivalent of one every five minutes. To support Adam and his friend's fundraising efforts, see his Just Giving page here. Entries for BHF London to Brighton Bike Ride on June 15 are still open until May 31. To sign up or find out more, visit Symptoms The BHF lists 'stomach pain like indigestion', which is what Adam experienced, as a potential warning sign of heart disease. The charity says: 'A painful or burning feeling in your chest or stomach can be a sign of a heart attack or related heart problem. 'However, it can be hard to tell the difference between heart pain and indigestion. That's because the heart, the stomach and the gullet (the passage between your mouth and stomach) all lie right next to each other.' If you're not sure which one is causing your stomach pain, the BHF advises calling NHS 111 for advice. Other potential signs of heart disease include: Chest pain Arm, jaw or back pain Feeling sweaty Choking feeling Felling sick Swollen ankles Leg pain Extreme fatigue Palpitations. The NHS lists signs of a heart attack as chest pain, pain in other parts of the body, feeling lightheaded or dizzy, sweating, shortness of breath, feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting), an overwhelming feeling of anxiety (similar to a panic attack), and coughing or wheezing. If you think you or someone you know is experiencing a heart attack you should call 999.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
'My husband shouldn't have died from a heart attack at 48'
The widow of a police officer who died of a heart attack aged 48 said there was "no reason" why he should have succumbed to an unknown cardiac defect. Craig Higgins, from Sowerby Bridge, in West Yorkshire, was on duty with Greater Manchester Police when he collapsed in 2022. According to the British Heart Foundation (BHF), there has been a 23% increase in the number of 20-64-year-olds dying of heart and circulatory diseases in Yorkshire since 2019. Senior cardiac nurse Julie Ward said: "It is significant, the figures are quite shocking. It's a very complex situation, there isn't one factor that's caused it. It's multi-factor." Dawn Higgins said her husband and the father of her two children appeared fit and healthy and took regular exercise, but had developed a thickening of the heart wall, which made it more difficult for the organ to pump blood around the body. "He ran a bit, walked his dog every day, didn't have an unhealthy lifestyle. He didn't smoke or drink excessively, was not overweight. Statistically, there was no reason why he should have died." Research by the BHF also found that in Yorkshire and the Humber there had been a 17% rise in the number of people diagnosed with heart failure in recent years, from 59,320 in 2020 to 69,190. Another woman who lost her seemingly healthy and active partner is Melissa Antons, whose fiancé, Joe Banks, from Holmfirth, died aged 32 from a cardiac arrest caused by an aortic aneurysm while competing in a half-marathon in Austria last September. "He was wearing a Garmin watch on the day of the run with his heart rate on it. It all seemed fine, he was living a very healthy life. There were no indications really." According to the BHF data, there has been an 11% rise in the number of adults diagnosed with diabetes, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Melissa said she would like to see more routine screening for heart disease. "Unfortunately you only notice when it's too late, especially with young people. There's a big need for earlier diagnosis." She thinks screening should begin at the age of 30 to look at how the heart reacts to different tests, such a cycling or running. Her sentiments are echoed by Dawn. "Something that's occurred to me recently is perhaps there should be more routine testing. I don't know what age or criteria you'd have to be," she said. "For example, we've got two sons and their dad has died unexpectedly of an undiagnosed condition. They've not been tested, surely there should be some screening." The Department for Health has been approached for comment. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Anger, tears and joy after a heart attack at 22 Screening to reduce cardiac arrests in young people British Heart Foundation
