Heart smart: tips to understand, protect and care for your heart this February
Published Feb 12, 2026
Heart Month is an important opportunity to raise awareness of heart health and the steps we can all take to reduce the risk of heart disease and cardiovascular disease. Your heart is a powerful, hardworking organ that pumps blood around your body every minute of the day, delivering oxygen and nutrients while removing waste products.
Understanding how the heart works, what increases the risk of heart disease, and how everyday lifestyle choices affect heart health can help you take control of your well-being.
This Heart Month, learning more about your heart is a simple but effective way to support long-term health and protect the organ that keeps you going.
Heart Health: Key Takeaways
This Heart Month, small, consistent changes can make a big difference to your heart and overall wellbeing
Understanding how your heart works helps you recognise the importance of protecting it
Cardiovascular disease risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity and inactivity
Uncontrollable risk factors - Some risk factors cannot be changed, such as age, family history and sex - but many can be managed
Healthy lifestyle choices like balanced eating, regular exercise, good sleep and stress management support long-term heart health
Knowing CPR can save lives in a cardiac emergency and is an important part of community heart health
Heart Health: Understanding how your heart works
The heart delivers oxygen and nutrients to the body, whilst also removing waste products as blood travels around the body.
It is divided down the centre by a structure called the septum. The left side of the heart pumps oxygenated blood to the body, while the right side pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs.
When you breathe in, oxygen enters the lungs and passes into tiny air sacs called alveoli. These alveoli allow oxygen to move into the bloodstream and travel to the heart. At the same time, carbon dioxide is removed from the blood and exhaled. This process is essential for maintaining healthy heart and lung function.
Key parts of the heart and their functions
The heart is a muscular organ, about the size of a fist, and made up of four chambers. The two upper chambers, known as the right and left atria, receive blood as it enters the heart. The two lower chambers, the right and left ventricles, pump blood out of the heart.
There are four main heart valves (tricuspid, pulmonary, mitral and aortic valves). These valves act as one-way gates, preventing blood from flowing backwards and ensuring it continues to circulate in the correct direction.
The heart also had its own electrical system. Electrical impulses trigger consistent, rhythmic contractions of the heart muscle, helping to maintain a steady heartbeat and ensuring blood is pumped effectively.
How blood flows through the heart and body
Blood flow through the heart follows a precise and continuous pathway. Deoxygenated blood from the body enters the right atrium and passes through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle. The right ventricle then pumps the blood to the lungs, where oxygen is absorbed and carbon dioxide is released.
Oxygen-rich blood returns to the left atrium and flows through the mitral valve into the left ventricle. The left ventricle then pumps the blood to the rest of the body.
The heart is protected by a sac called the pericardium and is supplied with oxygen and nutrients by the coronary arteries. Because the heart works non-stop to keep you alive, so taking care of your heart should be a top priority.
Cardiovascular disease and heart disease risk factors
Cardiovascular disease refers to conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels and is one of the leading causes of heart attacks. Several factors can increase the risk of developing heart disease, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity and a sedentary lifestyle.
Understanding these risk factors is essential for prevention, as many of them can be managed or reduced through lifestyle changes and regular health checks.
Uncontrollable risk factors for heart disease
Some risk factors for heart disease cannot be changed. The risk of heart disease increases with age, particularly for men over 45 and women over the age of 55. A family history of heart disease can also increase the risk.
Men generally have a higher risk of heart attack at a younger age compared to women, although women’s risk increases after menopause. Certain ethnic groups may also have a higher risk of heart disease due to genetic and environmental factors.
While these risk factors cannot be controlled, being aware of them allows for early action and prevention. Taking a proactive approach to heart health can significantly reduce the risk of a heart attack and improve overall well-being.
Healthy lifestyle choices for a healthy heart
Making healthy lifestyle choices plays a major role in supporting long-term heart health.
What you eat has a direct impact on your heart. A heart-healthy diet should focus on:
Fruits and vegetables - these provide fibre, vitamins and antioxidants
Whole grains - such as brown rice, oats and wholemeal bread
Healthy fats - found in seeds, avocados, olive oil and nuts
Lean proteins - such as beans, fish and legumes (plants in the pea family)
Food high in salt, sugar and unhealthy fats should be limited as they can raise blood pressure and increase cholesterol levels.
Regular physical activity helps keep your heart strong and improves circulation. Activities such as walking, swimming, jogging or dancing are all beneficial. Even a brisk 30-minute walk each day can help keep your heart healthy.
Maintaining a healthy body weight reduces the risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Reducing alcohol intake and smoking are also important, as excessive alcohol, along with smoking, can weaken the heart muscle and raise blood pressure.
Managing stress is another key part of protecting your heart. Stress is common in both work and home environments, so taking time to relax with family, friends or in nature can help reduce its impact.
Sleep is also vital for keeping your body, mind and heart healthy. Adults should aim for seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Reducing screen time before bed and limiting fluids in the evening may also help improve sleep quality.
CPR Awareness: Knowing what to do in an emergency
During Heart Month, it’s also important to remember that knowing how to respond in a cardiac emergency can save lives. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can help maintain blood flow and oxygen to vital organs if someone’s heart stops.
▶ Watch our CPR video to learn the basic steps and build confidence in an emergency:
Learning CPR is a practical way to support heart health in your community and help you be prepared to act if someone experiences a cardiac arrest.
Looking after your heart
This Heart Month, looking after your heart isn’t about making huge changes overnight; it’s about small, consistent choices that add up over time. You are the only person who can truly take care of your heart.
By eating a balanced diet, staying active, managing stress, getting enough sleep and attending regular health checks, you can significantly reduce your risk of heart disease. Your heart works tirelessly to support you every day, so take this opportunity to return the favour. A healthier heart means a healthier you, not just this month, but for life.