Staff at George Eliot Hospital have been doing their bit to raise awareness of the importance of maintaining a healthy heart.
The events were held to mark the British Heart Foundation’s ‘National Wear Red Day’, on Friday 24 February. Staff from the Trust’s Coronary Care Unit wore red items of clothing and decorated their office red. Other members of staff from across the hospital wore red to take part in the Trust’s ‘Walk for Life’, a regular mile walk around the hospital site.
As part of National Heart Month, the nation’s heart charity called on the UK to brush down their red dresses and shake out their red locks to help raise awareness and money for its fight against heart disease.
This year’s event was especially important for people in Nuneaton and Bedworth as the borough was recently awarded Heart Town status by the British Heart Foundation, with work taking place over the next five years to promote healthy hearts within the local community.
Carol Davies, Sister on the Coronary Care Unit, said: “The Nuneaton area suffers from high prevalence of lifestyle behaviours that can lead directly to heart conditions, such as obesity and alcohol consumption. However, it is estimated that nationally, 42,000 deaths from cardiovascular disease could be prevented each year with a few simple changes to lifestyle.
“We’ve used ‘Red for Heart’ day to raise awareness amongst patients and staff of some of the small changes they can make and the importance of maintaining a healthy heart. Simple changes to lifestyle will not only add years to your life but life your years as you will benefit from more energy and less illness.”
