The British Heart Foundation (http://www.bhf.org.uk/) is 50 years old this year (it began in 1961). This charity aims to bring about the conditions where people no longer die prematurely from heart disease. It plays a leading role in the fight against disease of the heart and circulation, so that it is no longer a major cause of disability and premature death.

In a similar spirit, Millie Mary Bruce (Twitter.com/millie_bruce), a self-confessed reader of ‘Bob’s Blog’ and a writer for health-related web pages and blog sites, has contributed the following of sobering, yet sound, advice.

For women and men of any age, cardiovascular disease is the ‘number one killer’. If you’re black or over 65, your risk of a heart attack is higher – but anyone, anywhere, at any time could have a cardiac event (see: http://www.webmd.com/heart/features/heart-health-myths).

Myth 1: Only older individuals need to be concerned about their heart.

Things that could provoke heart disease build up over time. Boredom, over-eating and inactivity are habits that can begin in childhood. Increasingly, doctors are seeing sufferers of strokes who are in their 20s and 30s, as well as older patients. Appearing fit and at the ideal body weight doesn’t make you safe from heart attacks – although exercising regularly and maintaining the right body weight helps. You should check your blood cholesterol and blood pressure level regularly. The optimum cholesterol quantity is under 200. The optimum blood pressure level is 120/80.

Myth 2: I’d feel sick if I had high blood pressure or high cholesterol.

High blood pressure and high cholesterol are ‘silent killers’ because they can exhibit no signs. Have your cholesterol levels and blood pressure levels analysed constantly.

Myth 3: Both men and women don’t feel the same warning signs.

Men and women can have the same signs or symptoms of heart disease. There are subtle warning signs – such as jaw achiness, nausea or vomiting, lack of breath and significant fatigue – but these are inclined to be overlooked.

Myth 4: So long as my sugar level is in check, Type ii diabetes isn’t a heart threat.

Although trying to keep your daily sugar level within a regular range (80ml -120ml) will keep you healthier, merely having excess blood sugar takes its toll on arteries.

Myth 5: My health care provider would order lab tests if I was vulnerable to heart disease.

From time to time, everyone forgets to tell their doctor about the little pains they’re feeling – so the need for heart scans can be overlooked.