Red Eye launches heart month
Tuesday February 2nd, 2010
The London Eye turned red last night along with major landmarks around Britain as campaigners launched a major drive against heart disease.
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Quo rocker Rick Parfitt was in London to launch National Heart Month,
which aims to highlight the threat of heart disease.
Nottingham Castle and the Eden Project in Cornwall were among other landmarks to glow red for the occasion.
By February 26th, the British Heart Foundation is hoping the public will take part in National Wear Red Day.
Mr Parfitt said: "I've had a quadruple heart bypass and as a heart patient I want to do my bit to help others.
"My operation gave me a future I can look forward to and I am thankful for the pioneering research the charity does to give heart patients the best possible treatment and care."
The launch came as British researchers warned of the rising threat from heart disease world-wide.
Dr Simon Capewell, of Liverpool University, UK, turned his attention to the USA - warning that the country will lose 200,000 people to heart disease this year through factors that could easily be avoided.
"Healthier food" and stopping smoking would save tens of thousands of lives, he argues in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization.
Dr Shanthi Mendis, of WHO, said: "By avoiding tobacco, eating a healthy diet and engaging in regular physical activity, people can dramatically reduce their risk of developing heart disease, stroke or diabetes.
"Lifestyle choices directly determine the health of many of the world's people. Worldwide, nearly one billion adults are overweight and, if no action is taken, this figure will surpass 1.5 billion by 2015."
Tags: Diet & Food | Fitness | Heart Health | North America | UK News | World Health
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