There has always been a lot of debate about what food and drink can help protect against the development of heart disease. We already know there is good research to suggest that a small quantity of red wine does appear to help reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. Some new research from South Korea (http://www.nhs.uk/news/2015/03March/Pages/Coffee-can-cut-risks-of-heart-attack-claims.aspx) suggests that drinking between 3 and 5 cups of coffee a day can hep reduce the risk of developing atherosclerosis (hardening of the heart arteries) that can eventually lead to angina and heart attacks. Of course there are other well-established ways to help reduce the risk of heart disease such as losing weight, stopping smoking, controlling blood pressure and cholesterol. However this new study suggests that regular caffeine consumption may help reduce the long-term risk of developing atherosclerosis by almost 20%. We have to take these sorts of studies with a little bit of scepticism because they are observational studies and there may be other factors that influence the outcome of the final results. Heart disease, particularly hardening of the arteries leading to angina or a heart attack is one of the leading causes of death in the UK. It is therefore important to reduce your risk as much as possible by addressing any risk factors you may have.
If you have any concerns about your heart, particularly if you have a family history of heart disease, or are concerned about any symptoms such as chest pains you can make an appointment to see an experienced cardiologist – Dr. Hamaad – privately who can help alleviate your concerns by going through you history and performing tests such as ECG’s to help get to a diagnosis. Book your appointment either by phoning Spire Little Aston or BMI The Priory or by completing a booking form.
