British Heart Foundation Takes South Asian Women To Heart
(10 February 2003)

This is more than four times the number of deaths caused by breast cancer and more than any other single cause of death. Worryingly, the statistics show that the CHD death rate among women from South Asian communities is around 50% higher (at 20%) than the UK average for women (at 14%). Coronary heart disease comes in two main forms: heart attack and angina. Angina is caused by a narrowing of the blood vessels to the heart muscle. A heart attack results when one of those blood vessels is entirely blocked by a blood clot.

Dr. Sandy Gupta, Consultant Cardiologist at Whipps Cross and St. Bartholomews Hospitals in London, who is supporting the campaign, says: “Heart disease is the major health issue for South Asian women. That’s why it is vital that women of all ages improve their awareness of heart disease and take positive action to improve their heart health. It’s never too late. I encourage women to contact the BHF for practical information which is available in many Asian languages and support to help them protect their hearts from problems in the future.”

The BHF charity is now making an urgent call for more effective heart health education among women from all communities and cultures in the UK, and encouraging women to take a greater responsibility for their own heart health.

Awareness amongst women of the risk factors for CHD (i.e. high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, lack of physical activity, smoking, a poor diet, as well as family history) is currently very low. For example, the BHF estimates that only 8% of women recognise high cholesterol and a mere 5% recognise high blood pressure as major risk factors.

The latest BHF statistics show very few South Asian women living in the UK are adopting heart healthy lifestyles:

• Only 11% of South Asian women eat vegetables on six or more days of the week (recommended levels are five portions of fruit and vegetables every day). Bangladeshi women have the highest fat and lowest levels of fruit consumption and Pakistani women have the lowest vegetable consumption.
• Levels of diabetes are at least three times as high in South Asian women as in the general population.
• Only 7% of South Asian women meet current recommended physical activity levels (30 minutes of brisk walking, cycling or swimming at least five times a week)
• Statistics show South Asian women are more likely than other women to have central obesity (when fat is centred around the waist), placing an extra strain on the body and heart.
• South Asian women are much more likely to have low levels of protective HDL cholesterol.

Actress, Nina Wadia, from the BBC’s popular comedy sketch show “Goodness Gracious Me,” who backs the new campaign, said: “I’m supporting the British Heart Foundation’s ‘Take Note of Your Heart’ campaign to encourage women to think about their own hearts this Valentine’s Day. South Asian women need to be more aware of heart health as we are 50% more likely to develop heart disease than other women. Keep your heart healthy by getting to know the risk factors for heart disease and making small but significant changes to your lifestyle.”

As part of the campaign, the BHF is also launching a new ‘Women and Health’ website. Alternatively, people can call the campaign hotline on 0870 909 0111 for a free information pack.

The BHF also provides the following educational resources:

• ‘A Taste Of Asian Low Fat Foods’– written for people who want to follow a low fat Asian diet, but keep to the traditional eating plan.
• Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation cards and posters in eight languages.
• Living To Prevent Heart Disease – a video in four languages.
• Asian Quitline (a BHF funded project) includes:
  Bengali Quitline (0800 002 244)
  GujaratiQuitline (0800 002 255)
  Hindi Quitline (0800 002 266)
  Punjabi Quitline (0800 002 277)
  Urdu Quitline (0800 002 288)
  For local smoking cessation services please visit www.asianquitline.org

ABOUT THE BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION

The British Heart Foundation is a major national charity that plays a leading role in the fight against heart and circulatory disease, the UK’s biggest killer. It is the largest independent funder of heart research in this country. The Foundation also plays an important role in funding education, both of the public and of health professionals, and in providing life-saving cardiac equipment and support for rehabilitation and patient care.

Click here to visit the 'Women and Health' website.
Click here to visit the British Heart Foundation website.

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