News

YORKSHIRE HEART NURSE IS HELPING HEARTS

A Yorkshire cardiac nursing sister, who helps hearts daily in her job, is putting her body to the test by running a 10k event to raise vital money for research into heart disease.

Emma Robinson, 27, will compete in the BUPA Manchester 10k on 26 May and is hoping to raise as much as she can for Heart Research UK – with the help of family, friends and the public.

Emma, of Morgan Street, Scarborough, sees every day how heart disease affects people of all ages, and she wanted to do something to support research into an illness that is still the UK’s biggest killer.

“I see a wide range of heart conditions in my job and how it affects not just the patient but their family and friends as well,” she said. “Heart disease also strikes at all ages, and problems are being picked up quicker and in a lot more younger people.”

Emma, who has been a cardiac nurse at Scarborough General Hospital since 2008 and a sister since November last year, is aiming to raise at least £500 from the Manchester event as well as increasing awareness of heart disease which leads to the deaths of up to 90,000 people a year in the UK.

Running is new to Emma, and the Manchester 10k will be her second event after running the Great North Run last year. She will be doing the Great North Run again later this year – for Heart Research UK. “Running is not something I am used to doing, but I will be trying to push myself to raise both money and awareness of heart disease,” she said.

Heart Research UK National Director, Barbara Harpham said: “We’re delighted that Emma has chosen to run on behalf of our charity, and we all appreciate the wonderful work that nurses like her do to help patients through such a debilitating illness. We hope Emma gets a lot of support in her fundraising as running 10k is a big achievement. Funding raised locally goes towards helping hearts locally.”

You can support Emma by donating via her sponsored link: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/EmmaRobinson7

For further information contact Chris Child on 0113 297 6207
You can also follow Heart Research UK on Twitter: @heartresearchuk or become a fan of our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Heart-Research-UK/10733061906

HEALTHY TIP - GIVE EM A HEARTY WHIRL

Have you got some kitchen ‘gadgets’ buried at the back of your cupboards? A report by Direct Line Group has shown that 65% of us own expensive gadgets which are hardly used and 10% of kitchen gadgets are completely forgotten about. Why not spring into action, shake off the dust and put them to good use to improve your heart health?
Food processor/Blender – Create your own vegetable soups as a healthier option to many tinned soups; try combining chopped tomatoes, onions, celery, garlic, basil and pepper. Russle up some vegetable-rich sauces for your pasta to freeze for later use or whiz up some homemade dips – try blending avocado, lemon juice, garlic powder and fresh coriander for a yummy guacamole.
Poacher – Poached eggs make a heart-healthy breakfast, lunch or snack on wholegrain toast. A large poached egg is filling and nutritious, supplying around 90-100 calories, 7 grams of high quality protein, 4-5 grams of unsaturated fat and Vitamin D.
Smoothie maker – Give yourself a colourful boost with some tasty combinations. Fruit based smoothies provide a range of vitamins and minerals but you could try a breakfast smoothie of oats, semi-skimmed milk, peanut butter, flaxseed, cinnamon and a dash of honey for a change, or check online for other great heart-healthy recipes.
Slow Cooker – An easy way to dish up healthy nutritious food, using less energy while keeping all the nutrients in the pot. Pad out lean cuts of meat with plenty of vegetables and pulses for a tasty dish that will last for several meals.
Toastie maker – Enjoy a heart-healthy toastie of wholegrain bread, mozzarella cheese and sliced tomato to reduce fat while increasing your fibre and antioxidant intake.
Griddle Pan – a great way to cook chicken, turkey and lean meat to reduce calories and fat while enhancing the flavour. Vegetables such as courgettes, onions, peppers or aubergine work just as well.
With the right ingredients, your bread or ice-cream maker can also help keep your diet balanced, varied and healthy. So, give your gadgets and your heart a new lease of life this spring and get them working for your heart’s benefit.

For more information and advice about healthy living, contact Heart Research UK
on 0113 2976206 or email lifestyle@heartresearch.org.uk
Forward this email to a friend
Want to unsubscribe or change your details?

South Yorkshire brothers Hike for their Heart in memory of their father

Penistone brothers, Nick and Richard Green are set to take on the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge in memory of their late father, Brian, on the first anniversary of his death to raise funds for pioneering research into heart disease.

Nick, Richard and their team, “The BG Walkers”, will be attempting the challenge on 15th June this year, along with hundreds of others remembering loved ones and raising money for Yorkshire-based national charity, Heart Research UK.

And their fund-raising has already been given a boost thanks to a pledge of £1,000 sponsorship from Penistone Round Table where Nick and Richard are members.

Brian Green died last June aged 71, and had run his own joinery business in Penistone since 1968. Nick and Richard have followed in the family trade and run their own cabinet making business in Skelmanthorpe.

Hiking alongside Nick and Richard is Nick’s wife, Annie as well as John and Michelle Crossley, friends of the Green family. The group will all be walking in memory of Brian Green, who died as a result of numerous strokes caused by atrial fibrillation – an abnormal heart rhythm.

The family is looking to take on the challenge not only to commemorate the anniversary of Brian’s death but to improve their own heart health for the future.

Nick, 40, says: “I want to take on the Three Peaks challenge to raise awareness of the work Heart Research UK is doing, while commemorating the first anniversary of my father’s death.
“His death was unexpected and a shock to us all which is one of the many reasons why we want the money we raise from the event to go directly to research into heart disease. I hope that the research will lead to advanced treatments and a better understanding of heart issues not only in the UK but all over the world.”

Richard, 44, says: “I’m really looking forward to taking on the challenge in memory of my dad - we will all do him proud!”

The challenge itself is not something to be taken lightly, covering three of the highest peaks in the Yorkshire Dales in 12 hours.

The Yorkshire Three Peak Challenge is one of Heart Research UK’s longest-standing events and with no entry fee and no minimum sponsorship why not get your hiking boots on and Hike for your Heart this June?

Barbara Harpham, National Director at Heart Research UK, says: “We are so grateful to Nick and Richard for raising money to be ‘helping hearts’ all over the UK. Good luck to all of our walkers who have already signed up and remember it’s not too late so sign up today!”

If you would like to sponsor Nick and Richard please visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/thebgwalkers

If you would like to take part in this year’s Three Peaks event just follow the link here to find out more: http://www.heartresearch.org.uk/hike-your-heart-yorkshire-three-peaks-challenge-2013

Sheffield Wednesday FC put their hearts into a healthy lifestyle

Football stars from Sheffield Wednesday are to help children in some of the most deprived areas of the city to learn about healthy heart lifestyles, thanks to a grant from Yorkshire-based charity Heart Research UK and sandwich franchise SUBWAY® stores.

The players will be visiting primary schools across Sheffield as part of a new year-long healthy heart programme run by Sheffield Wednesday Community Programme and funded by a £5,200 Healthy Heart Grant from Heart Research UK and SUBWAY®.

The ‘Love Hearts’ programme aims to improve the heart health of pupils aged 10-11 in 12 primary schools across Sheffield, giving them the tools to make heart-healthy lifestyle choices through a series of interactive and fun activities and physical activity sessions. The programme will begin in the areas of Shiregreen, Heeley, and Chapeltown.

The 2011 Sheffield health census showed that the rate of obesity in 10-11 year olds in Sheffield has steadily risen to 18%, and in deprived areas this increases to 22%– thus the need for this programme has a strong prevalence.

Over 360 children will take part in the 11 week programme which will teach children how to look after their hearts through heart-themed games, cooking, dancing and fitness activities. As well as quizzes at the start and end of the programme to see how much the children have learnt through the programme.

Parent and teacher feedback forms will help look at the lifestyle changes made by the pupils as well as spreading the healthy heart message further into the community.

Wednesday midfield player Michail Antonio (pictured above) was one of the first players to get involved when he paid a visit to Carfield Primary School in Meersbrook, Sheffield and met youngsters taking part in the activities.

He said: “I think this project is very important because it is getting kids fit and getting them involved in sport. Health is the way forward in life because being healthy provides you with opportunities that you wouldn’t be able to do if you lived an unhealthy lifestyle.”

Andrea Hudson, Funding Officer, Sheffield Wednesday Community Programme, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Heart Research UK by delivering a practical and creative Healthy Heart project. We aim to engage pupils with lifestyle messages they will never forget and with the help of professional football players from Sheffield Wednesday I’m sure it will be a great success. We would once again like to thank Heart Research UK for this wonderful opportunity.”

Barbara Harpham, National Director at Heart Research UK, says: “Everyone in Sheffield knows Sheffield Wednesday and it’s great to see local role models getting involved in helping to spread the Healthy Heart message. Children need to be educated about the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle and projects like this are great way of making it fun and interactive.

“Good habits learnt by children could last them a lifetime, so that’s why it is important to educate them at an early age about getting more exercise, eating a healthy diet and not smoking.”

Manaaz Akhtar, Head of Marketing for SUBWAY® stores in the UK and Ireland, says: “The SUBWAY® brand is delighted that through our partnership with Heart Research UK, the HRUK and SUBWAY® Healthy Heart Grant scheme is available. SUBWAY® stores in Yorkshire have enjoyed fundraising, and it’s great to see initiatives such as this come to fruition as a result of the money generously donated by our customers in store.”
-ENDS-
For further information contact Faye Keatley on 0113 297 6205
You can also follow Heart Research UK on Twitter: http://twitter.com/heartresearchuk or become a fan of our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Heart-Research-UK/10733061906

Healthy Tip: Less Salt Please

Do you tend to add salt when cooking or at the dinner table? Do you rely on ready made food and eat out a lot? You may be getting far more salt than you bargained for or that is good for you. Every March, Consensus Action on Salt & Health (CASH) holds its Salt Awareness Week to get people to reign in their salt intake and bring it below 6 grams a day (less than a teaspoon), because of its role in high blood pressure, stomach cancer, osteoporosis and kidney disease.

This year, they’ve lifted the lid off the salty habits of chefs and others in the catering industry, urging them to cut out salt and choose healthier, tastier ways of flavouring food. Their survey of nearly 700 restaurant meals revealed that 50% were high in salt and, even more shockingly, some meals could provide your daily salt intake in one go.

Too many pinches at home

use pepper, spices, herbs, vinegar and lemon juice to flavour your dishes and banish salt from the table. Sea salt and Lo-salt aren’t any better, they still make you ‘used to’ a salty taste.
Spot the salt when shopping. Whether it’s bread, cheese, bacon, tins of beans, soups, ready made meals or biscuits and cakes, there can be a lot of salt hidden away. In fact, 75% of the salt you eat comes from bought food:

High is more than 1.5g salt per 100g (0.6g sodium)
Low is 0.3g salt or less per 100g (0.1g sodium).

Less salty eating out

54% of customers surveyed by CASH found meals were too salty when eating out. Ask the chef to go easy on the salt and check the restaurant’s website beforehand for the worst salty dishes to avoid.
Go for normal size portions rather than larger ones.
Cut down on the sauces (barbecue, tomato, soy sauce etc..) and gravy.
Choose a vegetable or chicken topping rather than pepperoni and ham pizzas.
Pasta dishes made with sauces based on tomatoes, vegetable or chicken can be lower in salt than ones based on cheese or bacon.
Why not try chicken, egg, mozzarella, avocado or roasted peppers rather than ham or cheddar cheeses at the sandwich bar.

A little pinch here and there soon adds up to an extra burden on your heart and body, so become salt-aware, shake off those salty habits at home and demand a lesser salt load when eating out. Don’t swim in salt, give your salt taste buds a rest and enjoy the other flavours of a heart-healthier diet.