Looking after your heart before problems arise

Free Spire Cheshire Hospital heart health event brings positive message to Stretton

A free patient event at The Park Royal Hotel in Stretton has encouraged local people to take greater control of their heart health — with expert advice on recognising potential problems, understanding treatment options and reducing the risk of heart disease.

The event, held tonight, attracted a strong audience keen to learn more about keeping their hearts healthy and lowering their risk of serious conditions, including heart attacks.

The presentation was led by Consultant Cardiologists Dr Ahmed Farag and Dr Fozia Ahmed. The event was listed by Spire Healthcare as a free heart health session focused on recognising heart problems and exploring available treatments.

Know your own body

Dr Farag emphasised the importance of being aware of your own body and recognising when something may not be quite right.

He explained that not everyone will immediately realise they have heart disease, making it important to pay attention to possible warning signs and seek medical advice when concerns arise.

He also challenged the dramatic image of a heart attack often seen in films and on television. A heart attack does not always happen as an obvious, sudden event, and some people may not realise that they are experiencing one.

The reassuring message was that effective treatments are available and that outcomes can be positive, particularly when problems are identified and treated promptly.

Dr Farag is a Consultant Interventional Cardiologist whose areas of expertise include coronary intervention, cardiac CT and cardiac prevention. He also treats conditions including chest pain, angina, coronary heart disease, heart attack and heart failure.

Prevention is key

Dr Fozia Ahmed highlighted the importance of prevention — knowing your personal risk factors, making healthier lifestyle choices and taking steps to reduce the likelihood of developing heart disease.

Her message was positive and practical: small, consistent changes can make a real difference. Paying attention to factors such as diet, activity levels, blood pressure, cholesterol and overall health can help people take action before problems arise.

Dr Ahmed specialises in areas including heart failure, heart rhythm conditions, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, breathlessness and heart health checks.

Dr Ahmed Farag and Dr Fozia Ahmed

Healthy choices, without the guilt

The evening also included advice from Zowie Wild, a Dietitian at Spire Cheshire, who helped put the audience at ease with a friendly and realistic approach to healthy eating.

Rather than presenting nutrition as a strict list of rules, Zowie’s message was one of balance. No single food needs to be treated as completely off-limits, provided it is enjoyed in moderation and forms part of an overall healthy diet.

The discussion highlighted the benefits of foods such as oily fish and vegetables. Avocados and walnuts were also used as examples of foods that are relatively high in fat but contain healthier unsaturated fats which can form part of a balanced diet.

Alongside making healthier food choices, gentle exercise and staying aware of personal risk factors were also presented as important parts of looking after the heart.

Zowie Wilde

A hopeful message

The event left attendees with a clear and encouraging message: heart health is something people can take an active role in protecting.

By learning to recognise possible warning signs, understanding individual risks and making achievable changes to diet and activity, people can improve their chances of staying well and seek help sooner if something does not feel right.

It was an insightful and positive evening — leaving the audience with hope, confidence and a renewed determination to look after their hearts before problems arise.

• More heart health advice at Spire Cheshire Hospital