February is National Heart Month UK, a campaign led by the British Heart Foundation to raise awareness of heart disease and encourage people to take practical steps for better cardiovascular health. It’s the perfect time to book a heart health check, review your key numbers and make small, lasting changes that protect your heart for the future.
Why National Heart Month Is The Right Time
February provides a clear focus for checking your heart health and setting realistic goals after the winter months.
A clear point in the year
National Heart Month UK is an ideal reminder to focus on your heart numbers such as blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, waist measurement and family risk. After a season of processed food, alcohol and reduced activity, February offers a natural point to reset and turn vague health intentions into measurable checks.
Quiet warning signs for future problems
High blood pressure, raised cholesterol and extra weight around the waist often cause no symptoms for years, yet they are key drivers of heart attacks and strokes. Identifying these silent risks early allows you to make changes while damage is still preventable.
Using one month to start lifelong habits
Treat February as an annual service for your heart. Record your key measurements, review your family history and set a simple plan with your GP, nurse or pharmacist. A short review later in the year helps you stay accountable and track progress.
Checking Your Blood Pressure In February
Blood pressure is one of the most important indicators of heart health and is easy to measure at home or in a clinic.
Why blood pressure matters for your heart
High blood pressure forces the heart to pump against greater resistance, gradually damaging the lining of blood vessels. This increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease and heart failure, often without any warning signs.
How to measure blood pressure at home
Use an upper‑arm automatic monitor. Sit quietly for five minutes with your feet flat on the floor and your arm supported at chest height. Take two readings a few minutes apart and record the results with the date and time. Share these readings with your GP or nurse for accurate assessment.
Where to get your blood pressure checked
You can have a UK blood pressure check at GP surgeries, through NHS Health Checks for eligible adults, community pharmacies, some supermarkets, workplace health schemes and private clinics. Ask your local pharmacy or GP practice if they offer free checks.
Checking Your Cholesterol Level
Cholesterol is another key measure of heart risk and can be checked quickly with a simple blood test.
Why cholesterol affects heart risk
Too much LDL (“bad”) cholesterol can build up in artery walls, forming fatty plaques that narrow or block blood flow. If a plaque ruptures, it can cause a clot leading to a heart attack or stroke. A healthy HDL (“good”) cholesterol level helps carry excess cholesterol away from the arteries.
How cholesterol is tested
A cholesterol test in the UK can be done with a finger‑prick sample in some pharmacies or with a vein sample at a GP practice or hospital. Results usually include total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglycerides. Make sure you follow any fasting instructions given when you book your test.
Where to get your cholesterol checked
Cholesterol tests are available through NHS Health Checks, GP surgeries, NHS and private hospitals, community pharmacies and private blood test providers. People with diabetes, kidney disease or existing heart problems often have regular tests arranged by their usual clinic.
Checking Weight And Waist For Heart Health
Your weight and waist size are simple but powerful indicators of heart risk.
Why body weight and waist size matter
Excess body fat, especially around the waist, makes the heart work harder and is linked to high blood pressure, raised cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. Central fat is a stronger risk signal than overall weight alone.
How to check weight and waist at home
Weigh yourself on the same scales, at the same time of day, wearing similar clothing, and record the figure. To measure your waist, place a tape measure around your tummy at belly‑button level after breathing out gently. Larger waist sizes increase heart risk, even if your body mass index is normal.
Where to get support with weight checks
GP surgeries and practice nurses can record weight and waist measurements and offer structured advice or referrals. Many community pharmacies, weight management services, leisure centres and private clinics also provide checks and supervised programmes.
Understanding Your Family History
Your family background can reveal important clues about your heart health.
Why family history changes your risk
Having close relatives who developed heart attacks, angina, strokes or sudden cardiac death at a young age suggests a higher inherited risk. This may reflect shared genes and lifestyle factors. Knowing this helps your GP decide how strict your blood pressure and cholesterol targets should be.
How to collect family heart history
Ask parents, siblings and, if possible, children about any diagnoses such as heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes, and the age these started. Write this down and bring it to your February review.
When family history means extra checks
People with strong family patterns of early heart disease may need more frequent blood tests, earlier treatment or referral to a cardiologist or lipid clinic to check for inherited cholesterol conditions. Your GP uses this information alongside your test results to plan extra screening.
Putting Your Numbers Together Into A Heart Risk Picture
Once you have your key results, your clinician can combine them into an overall risk profile.
Using risk calculators
Clinicians often use tools such as QRISK to combine age, sex, smoking status, blood pressure, cholesterol, weight and family history into a single score showing your 10‑year risk of heart attack or stroke. This helps guide how intensive your treatment or lifestyle changes should be.
What a one month review can show
By the end of February, you can collect your blood pressure readings, cholesterol results, weight, waist and family history, then book a review with your GP or nurse. They will explain your overall risk level and agree next steps on lifestyle changes or medication.
How often to repeat checks
People with normal results and low risk can repeat checks every few years. Those with high blood pressure, raised cholesterol, diabetes or strong family history may need yearly or more frequent reviews. Your plan should be personal, not one‑size‑fits‑all.
Where To Get Heart Health Checks In The UK
Heart health checks are widely available through NHS and private services.
NHS GP surgeries and NHS Health Checks
GP practices are the main base for heart health assessment. Adults aged 40–74 can access an NHS Health Check that includes blood pressure, cholesterol and weight. People with existing conditions have regular structured reviews through their GP.
Community pharmacies and walk‑in services
Many community pharmacies offer blood pressure, weight and sometimes cholesterol checks. Some are free under NHS schemes, others are paid services. Walk‑in centres and urgent treatment centres may also check blood pressure and pulse during other visits.
Workplace and private health screening
Some employers provide staff health screening that includes heart risk checks. Private clinics and hospitals offer full health assessments for a fee, often including blood tests, ECG and lifestyle advice. These options suit those wanting faster access or longer appointment times.
Turning February Checks Into Action
The value of National Heart Month UK lies in turning your results into meaningful change.
Agreeing simple goals based on results
After reviewing your numbers, you and your clinician can set one or two key goals. For example, lowering blood pressure, improving cholesterol or reducing waist size by a few centimetres. Clear, measurable targets work better than vague resolutions.
Tracking change over the next months
Keep a simple record of home blood pressure readings, weight and waist once or twice a month, along with any medication changes. Short reviews after three to six months show whether your plan is working or needs adjustment.
Knowing when to ask for specialist help
Ongoing chest pain, breathlessness, blackouts, very high readings or worrying family history may lead your GP to refer you to a cardiologist. Don’t delay if you’re advised to see a specialist as early review can prevent serious events.
Using National Heart Month To Take Control
February is the perfect time to focus on your heart health. By checking your blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, waist and family history, you move from guesswork to clear facts.
Contact us to book your heart health check at The Forbury Clinic and take the first step towards a stronger, healthier heart this National Heart Month.
