Blog

02 March 2018

Coronary Heart Disease is the UK's biggest killer and has a devastating effect on families as well as placing extra cost an presssure on an already stretched healthcare system. 

Heart attacks and strokes account for more than a quarter of all deaths in the UK, so while breast cancer quite rightly has featured in many campaigns targeted at women, the biggest killer is still heart disease.

Raised blood cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart and other cardiovascular diseases and increases the chance of someone having a heart attack or stroke.

About HEART UK

HEART UK – The Cholesterol Charity – is the only charity in the UK dedicated to supporting people with raised cholesterol and other blood fats and also supporting the healthcare professionals treating these conditions. The charity’s aim is to prevent avoidable and early deaths caused by high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease. HEART UK are committed to raising awareness about the risks of high cholesterol, lobbying for better detection of those at risk and supporting healthcare professional training.

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is an essential fat, small amounts of which are found in foods like full-fat dairy products, egg yolks, shellfish, liver and kidneys. But most of our cholesterol is made by the liver.

Why is cholesterol needed?

Cholesterol is essential to make hormones and other messenger chemicals – for example it’s a building block of vitamin D, needed to help with growth and the repair of cells, and for digestion. Too much however can be unhealthy for the arteries and heart.

What’s the difference between ‘bad’ and ‘good’ cholesterol? Cholesterol travels around your blood, packaged up in protein particles called lipoproteins. An excess of LDL (low density lipoprotein), aka ‘bad’ cholesterol, increases your risk of heart disease. HDL (high density lipoprotein), aka ‘good’ cholesterol meanwhile picks up excess cholesterol from tissues and arteries and ferries it back to your liver for disposal. Your balance of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ cholesterol is one factor in your risk of heart disease.

A healthy lifestyle

For the majority of adults, un- healthy cholesterol levels are a result of a modern day diet and lifestyle – of an increasingly

sedentary way of life, eating too much saturated fat and factors such as smoking and increasing waistlines. Eating better, such as following a Mediterranean diet which is low in saturated fat and high in fruit and vegetables, in addition to more physical activity, can help bring choles- terol levels down. Medicines such as statins are sometimes needed but are not a replacement for these important changes to the way someone lives, but an additional help when the risk of a heart attack and stroke is high.

Inherited high cholesterol

For anyone with the inherited form of high cholesterol – Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (often shorted to FH), medicines

Is cholesterol putting you at risk?

such as statins are a life-long need from an early age to manage very high cholesterol and prevent very early death.

Cholesterol can be at extreme and dangerous levels if left untreated, even if people with FH eat a healthy diet, are slim and active. Individuals of any age can be affected by FH, as the gene is passed down from parent to child. If identified early and properly treated, people with FH can live to a healthy old age. But early identification is absolutely key.

• You can support HEART UK by donating unwanted clothing via www.icollectclothes.co.uk online or booking a collection by calling 0344 879 4417.

Beth’s story:

“When I was three my father died from a heart attack. He was only 34 years old. Then, at the age of about seven, I began developing migraines, and because of my father’s early death, my older sister and I were taken to have our blood tested.

“Both my sister and I had high cholesterol, mine was very high. Even at this young age my cholesterol levels were about 10.

“With less knowledge and support about cholesterol around at that time, my mum found it difficult to manage our cholesterol levels, especially when we were teenagers. Through lack of information and help, I began to resent going for treatment and found that as I got into my 20s no matter how strict I was with what I ate, I could not lower my cholesterol.

“At times I ignored the fact that I had high cholesterol but as I began to reach 30 and nearing the age of my father’s death, I went and got a referral to a specialist who explained that I had Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH).

“I spoke to HEART UK who gave me hope that FH was a diagnosis and not a death sentence.

“I am still careful with my diet and ensure I exercise and live a healthy normal life. Everyone should be aware of what they eat and the only difference is that I have to take statins to control my cholesterol.

“Cholesterol is a hidden killer, you may not know you have it and if you do, it is very easy to ignore because there are no warning symptoms.”

• HEART UK offers free and impartial advice on ways to manage cholesterol; check out our website, our wide range of literature, email or call our Cholesterol Helpline.
We also have information on what food to eat to effectively lower cholesterol as well as tips on what to avoid and lots of useful recipes. We receive no Government funding and rely on the generosity of people like you to help support our vital lifesaving work. We are delighted that we partner with Intersecond (i-collect) who help us raise funds through donated clothing. For further information, or to make a donation please visit our website – www.heartuk.org.uk. 

23 February 2018

Ingatestone, Essex – Remus Horse Sanctuary are asking for donations to help one of their ponies – Sparkey who has had problems with his mouth, teeth and now nostrils, with diastema and periodontal disease – and will need ongoing veterinary care, medication and possibly surgery.

For some time, the staff at the charity noticed Sparkey’s breath smelling quite badly and on an examination by the vet and diastema was found.

Diastema is a gap between two teeth that allows food to build up. As the food rots down, it causes infection in the gap, known as periodontal disease.

When the food in this gap was cleared, a small piece of wood was found in the gap and further examinations found that the wood had gone through his gum piercing his nostril.

Having endoscoped his nostril it was clear that this piece of wood had been there for a long time causing massive distortion to his nostril. It is not easy to extract a horse’s tooth due to their design and the roots being deep set so Sparkey had to undergo three sessions under sedation to finally be able to remove the tooth.

Sue Burton, Founder of the Sanctuary said: “We have spent many hours with our vet clearing food that had gone through the hole in Sparkey’s nostrils, and now we are trying to sort the hole out.

“It’s too early at this stage to say whether the hole will heal or not and we now have to wait and see. But for now it is packed to prevent any more food going up through the hole into the nostril.”

Sparkey arrived at Remus four years ago when his owners were no longer able to provide him with what he needed to live with his laminitis and metabolic syndrome problems.

Sue said: “Dear little Sparkey has been through so much and we still don’t know how this is going to turn out, but he has remained his usual cheery self and within minutes of the sedation wearing off he’s back to himself and calling for company and food.He is only 12 years old, so we want to give him every chance possible, but this of course has already cost veterinary care into thousands of pounds with more vet visits and possibly surgery to come.”

This year, Remus Sanctuary is celebrating its 35th Anniversary.

● For further information, call Sue Burton on tel: 01277 356191 or visit https://www.remussanctuary.org

Horse