Those in the south west of England are least likely to die prematurely from
CHD
Deaths from coronary heart disease (CHD) fell by 3,000 last year across the
UK, with people living in the south of the country the least likely to die
early from a heart attack.
Statistics from the British Heart Foundation (BHF) have shown that women are
80 per cent and men 50 per cent less likely to die prematurely from CHD in the
south west of England than their counterparts in Scotland.
But premature death rates are falling across the UK, with the biggest fall
in the North for women and in Scotland for men.
The number of people consuming above the recommended daily intake of alcohol
(3 units) is lowest in London and the east of England, and highest in the North
East and North West.
The UK’s death rate is not falling as fast as in some other countries. The
death rate for men aged 35 to 74 fell by 39 per cent between 1988 and 1998 in
the UK, while in Denmark it fell by 49 per cent, and by 45 per cent in Norway
and Austria. For women, there was a 38 per cent fall in the UK compared with 52
per cent in Australia. Only Ireland and Finland have a higher CHD death rate
than the UK among developed countries.
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Sir Charles George, BHF medical director, said the falling death rate was
good news, but added: "Levels of smoking have only decreased a little
since the 1990s, and levels of physical inactivity and obesity are at an
all-time high.
"People should be aware that we can do much to prevent deaths from CHD,
but one of the only ways to avoid a CHD life sentence is to change your
lifestyle."
