On Tuesday 26 January Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns had his cholesterol tested at a Westminster reception hosted by Heart UK and pledged his support for their vision to prevent premature deaths caused by high cholesterol and cardio-vascular disease (CVD).
CVD is the number one cause of death in the UK. In 2008, the most recent year for which the data is available, 191,000 people died from heart and circulatory diseases. Moreover, there are around 124,000 heart attacks and 150,000 strokes suffered annually in the UK, 2.7 million living with coronary heart disease and around 60 per cent of adults living with high cholesterol. The cost of CVD to the economy is estimated at £30 billion a year.
Heart UK campaigns for improved identification and standards of care for CVD, and offers information, support and guidance to those living with the condition. Its parliamentary reception was held to launch its cholesterol plan for government which calls for the prioritisation of the CVD Outcomes Strategy, better management of patients with or at risk of CVD, including a ring-fenced funding for Familial Hypercholesterolaemia, an inherited form of a condition which leads to exceptionally high cholesterol levels.
Following the reception, Conor said: “I was pleased to be able to support Heart UK today in the work that they are doing to encourage everyone to understand and take responsibility for their cholesterol level and for their cardio-vascular health in general.
"Despite improvements in recent years, too many people continue to suffer from preventable conditions like heart disease. By empowering people to take responsibility for their cholesterol level and their heart health, Heart UK are helping to improve the nation’s wellbeing and prevent thousands of needless deaths a year. I fully support the work they are doing.”