2.  Try to keep to a sensible diet and exercise programme. Yo-yo dieting won't help your heart much, so you should think of your weight loss as a long-term plan, and aim to lose no more than 1-2 pounds per week.

3.  Eat regularly. Again this will help you keep to your diet, and you will find the added energy you have from eating regularly will help you keep active and fit. A healthy breakfast is really important - studies have shown that slimmers who eat breakfast lose more weight than those who miss breakfast, so there's no excuse!

4.  Eat plenty of fibre. It fills you up so you don't get as hungry, and helps to reduce blood cholesterol levels. Good sources of fibre include breakfast cereals, pulses and wholemeal breads, rice and pasta. You should also try to eat at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables per day.

5.  Regularly check your blood pressure and cholesterol levels with your doctor.

6.  Do exercise! Your heart is a muscle and needs to be exercised to be in good shape. Try to visit the gym at least 3 times per week and aim for cardio-vascular exercises that raise your heart rate. Your gym will be able to advise you on what your maximum heart rate should be. You should also aim to keep more active by climbing stairs rather than taking the lift, and walking rather than taking the car or bus;

7.  Remember that stress can also cause heart disease, so make sure you take time to relax. Listen to music or take a bath. A small amount of alcohol can actually help reduce heart disease, but moderation is the key word. One glass of red wine per evening is ideal.

If you still don't feel motivated, just think of the following:

• Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the world according to the World Heart Federation;
• The UK has one of the highest rates of heart disease in Europe with 43% of deaths due to cardiovascular disease;
• In 1998, 99,000 men and 104,000 women died of coronary heart disease and stroke. Around the world, 17 million deaths are estimated to be caused by heart disease, or 30% of all deaths. Women are around 8 times more likely to die from heart disease or stroke than breast and ovarian cancer combined;
• Professor Antonio Baye de Luna, Chairman of the World Heart Day Steering Committee, advises, "What is clear is that most heart disease is largely preventable. Our overall message is that preventative measures are, for the most part simple and will reduce the incidence of death and disability due to heart disease".