By Ryan Goodwin, Sport & Health Editor
Almost three quarters of Scots have someone in their family with factors that put them at greater risk of heart disease, according to new statistics released ahead of British Heart Foundation Scotland’s (BHF) ‘Wear it. Beat it.’ campaign, which aims to get everyone wearing red to fight heart disease on Friday 5 February.
The BHF Scotland poll revealed over half of Scots (53%) fear that a loved one could be struck down with a potentially life-threatening heart attack or stroke in the future – almost half of which (48%) have already lost someone or know a loved one affected by heart disease.
Despite this, over two fifths (41%) of Scots said although they might worry about a loved one’s health they’re too afraid to talk to them about it.
Almost three quarters of people polled in Scotland (71%) said they know someone in their family with one of the major risk factors for heart disease. Half (50%) knew someone with high blood pressure, a third (33%) knew someone with high cholesterol while over a third (36%) knew someone who is overweight or obese.
Yet almost half (45%) of Scots say they’re reluctant to talk about health issues with loved ones for fear of upsetting someone.
Around 710,000 people are living with heart and circulatory disease in Scotland.
BHF Scotland’s ‘Wear it. Beat it.’ campaign aims to raise £1million this year to help fund new life saving research in the fight against heart disease, and are calling on everyone to wear red and hold a fundraising event to help save more lives and protect more families from the devastation of heart disease.
Since 2009 the campaign has raised over £6million towards new cardiovascular science. Last year more than an incredible 23,000 people took part in “Wear it. Beat it.” and BHF Scotland is calling for even people to get involved this year to help raise £1 million for life saving research.
Sign up online at www.bhf.org.uk/red or call 0300 330 0645 and get your free fundraising pack full of fun ideas about how to get involved.} else {
