The heart and circulation
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5. Heart risks
Graph of death rates
Picture 5.5 Graph of Europe-wide deaths in 1999 of people under 76 from heart disease.
A recent survey showed that the rate of heart disease in the United Kingdom is worse than the European average. Along with countries like Ireland, Romania and Finland, this is thought to be linked to diets that are high in animal fats.

France, Spain and Portugal had the lowest rates of heart disease and experts think this is because their diets include lots of vegetable and fish oils.

Look at the individuals below and identify their risk of heart problems. Make recommendations on how each one could look after their heart better.

A. Frank

Frank is a 45 year old married man with two children. He is a non-smoker but is overweight. He works as a manager in a busy garage and often works late - so he regularly eats fast-food takeaways. He makes time to play with his children but once they are in bed he mostly watches TV or reads.

Risk factor
Good points
Recommendations
B. Anil

Anil is a 16 year old young man. He regularly plays basketball and recently had a fitness check that showed he was a normal weight for his size. He has a younger sister but sadly his father died suddenly of a heart attack soon after she was born.

Risk factor
Good points
Recommendations
Photo of tennis player
Picture 5.6 Look after your heart and you too could be playing tennis in your seventies like Allan.
C. Aisha

Aisha is a 27 year old woman. She is slightly overweight and so tries to swim to keep in shape but this does not happen very often as she runs her own internet design business and works long hours. Aisha buys a lot of pre-made ready meals which suit her busy lifestyle. She does not smoke in work but enjoys a few glasses of red wine and a couple of cigarettes each night to help her to relax.

Risk factor
Good points
Recommendations
D. Allan

Allan is a 73 year old man who has been diagnosed as having high blood pressure. He lives on his own but has two sons and two daughters who visit regularly. He maintains an active lifestyle by regularly going ballroom dancing, walking and playing tennis.

Risk factor
Good points
Recommendations
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