According to the British Heart Foundation, 7.4 million people in the UK are living with some form of cardiovascular disease. But it’s not all doom and gloom. Just a few small changes to your lifestyle can make a world of difference. 

What you eat, how much you move, your cholesterol and blood pressure all contribute to your risk of heart disease. That's why the team at Doctor Care Anywhere has put together a list of 5 ways to help you live a heart-healthy life. All of which you can easily make a part of your daily routine right away.

1. Get your sweat on

Exercise is one of the best and simplest ways of improving your heart health. Plus, you get a two-for-one deal because it also does wonders for your mood and stress levels. You don’t need to run a marathon. Read more on the NHS recommendations of exercise.

2. Take a load off

It’s no secret that being overweight can lead to heart problems. Reduce your risk by sticking to a healthy, balanced diet that’s low in fat and sugar. Channel your inner herbivore and nibble on fruit and vegetables. How much exactly? We’re glad you asked...

3. Get your five a day

Eat at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day. They're packed with the good stuff, like vitamins, minerals and fibre. Some easy ways to get your five a day are to add chopped fruit to cereal and vegetables in your pasta sauces and soups. Yum!

4. Fill up on fibre

Eating fibre can help lower your risk of heart disease. Your daily goal should be around 30g. So, what foods have fibre? Wholemeal bread, oats, wholegrain cereals, potatoes with their skins on and, here they are again, fruit and veg.

5. Fight this fat

Some fats are better than others. Saturated fats are the bad kind. Eating foods that are high in saturated fat can raise your cholesterol level and risk of heart disease. Next time you’re shopping, add leaner cuts of meat and low-fat dairy products to your trolley. Leave the full fat on the shelf. Remember that “fat-free” often means “packed with sugar to make it tasty instead” which doesn’t help you either.