With February designated ‘National Heart Month’, Guernsey Chest and Heart LBG is calling on everyone to prioritise their heart health in the hope of reversing a worrying trend.
More than a third of people seen last year had raised blood pressure and/or high cholesterol, said the charity.
It offers free health screening checks to anyone aged between 25 and 70, if they are not already being treated for an existing condition.
During 2025 2,247 people took advantage of the free service – more than double the number who were screened in 2024.
The charity’s annual data showed that 32.8% of those screened last year had stage two hypertension, with systolic blood pressure over 140mm/Hg. Meanwhile, 27.9% of screenings revealed high cholesterol, which can lead to plaque buildup in arteries.
Both of these conditions increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes and other circulatory diseases.
While the local figures are in line with UK national averages, Caroline Ogier who is the Chest and Heart clinic’s Centre Manager warned this is not a good thing.
She said healthier lifestyles are readily available as part of island life.
Ms Ogier also said younger people should be checked out so they can make those lifestyle changes if needed.
“It is really encouraging that we are seeing more people but most of our clients are over 50 who often come to us because they’ve just celebrated a milestone birthday or have noticed something’s not quite right,” she said. “We want to encourage more younger people to get checked before any symptoms develop, especially men aged 25 to 45, who are often less likely to visit their GP. Earlier monitoring can make a real difference when it comes to prevention.”
According to recent data from Public Health, circulatory and respiratory diseases are two of the Bailiwick’s leading causes of mortality.
Director of Public Health Dr Nicola Brink MBE said this something that everyone should be concerned about.
“We know from our own data how important it is to support people to reduce their cardiovascular risk,” she said.
“The very valuable work being done by Guernsey Chest and Heart is so important in helping islanders to live healthier lives.
“I am very grateful for the support we receive from Guernsey Chest and Heart in this area. Focusing on heart health and knowing your ABCD is so important.”
ABCD
The Chest and Heart uses the ‘ABCD’ approach to cardiovascular detection and prevention.
It focuses on ‘simple but vital checks’ that can make a real difference to long-term health.
By raising awareness of ‘A’ – atrial fibrillation, ‘B’ – blood pressure, ‘C’ – cholesterol, and ‘D’ – diabetes, the programme encourages early identification of risk factors before symptoms develop.
Detecting and managing these conditions early can significantly reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular and other diseases, helping people take control of their health and make informed lifestyle choices that support a healthier future.
Five ways to improve your heart health:
- Stop smoking – Or if you can’t stop completely, at least cut down as much as you can. Smoking cessation programmes are readily available through Quitline Guernsey.
- Take regular exercise of at least 30 minutes a day – “This can be as simple as walking, which is very undervalued, as most of our calories are burned during daily activity,” said Ms Ogier. “Walking is a great way to be active, especially if you have a sedentary job.”
- Maintain a healthy weight – “Avoid saturated fats, eat plenty of plant-based foods and increase your water intake which helps keep you hydrated and feeling fuller for longer,” she advised.
- Keep alcohol intake to within recommended limits of less than 14 units a week – This can help lower the risk of high blood pressure and other heart related conditions.
- Have regular blood pressure and cholesterol checks – “This is particularly important because high blood pressure and cholesterol often don’t have symptoms. This means damage is being done and you don’t even know about it.”
Screenings at Guernsey Chest and Heart are available to everyone aged 25-70 provided that they are not currently being treated for conditions related to their heart, blood pressure, cholesterol, or diabetes.
Clients are recalled for a follow-up screening every five years.
Appointments can be made by telephoning the centre on 237261.