Dr Anna Rolleston The Cardiac Clinic

Ladies, heart disease is not just a men's health issue.

More women had heart attacks last year than men. Women have a higher incidence of high blood pressure – which leads to the development of heart disease and the onset of stroke – compared to men. Women tend to have more of an anxiety aspect to their personalities than men and this has a link to heart disease. Ladies, please look after your hearts.

Stress is a cause of heart-related issues.

Stress is a very potent stimulus for your cardiovascular system. It can over-ride many good things that you do in your life to keep your heart healthy – like eating well and exercising. Stress doesn't necessarily mean a huge event that causes major stress at a certain point in time. It could be low level stress that you live with for a number of years. Learn how to manage your stress. You'll never get rid of stress but if you can balance it well by having time out, breathing, relaxing and getting away from stress, your heart will be happier for it.

Speaking of happy, happy people are healthier.

Sounds like a corny quote doesn't it? But like most corny quotes, the meaning is true. There is a whole heap of research that says happier people live longer and have fewer health issues. Think about what makes you happy – do you do that on a regular basis? What are your hobbies? What do you do every week that makes you happy? If you find it hard to answer these questions, spend some time finding the answers and reap the rewards.

Eat, sleep and exercise.

Most of us do the first two every day, but miss the last one. Exercise or activity should be a normal and regular part of our everyday lives. We are built to move, our bodies are a mass of muscles and joints and functions that allow us to move. Just like any machine left standing idle, our bodies stop working properly when they are not active. It's the age old problem – how do you fit exercise into your life? Make it a priority, then it will become ‘just what you do every day'.