Heart disease is still the biggest cause of premature death in the UK, but there are signs that the figures are improving.

A newly appointed 'heart tsar' Dr Roger Boyle needs to reach the Government's target of cutting deaths by 40 per cent within ten years.

Coronary heart disease is the single largest killer of Americans, according to the US Heart Association, but from 1987 to 1997 the death rate declined by 24.9 per cent.

Other countries have done even better. In the 10 years up to 1994, heart disease deaths among 35 to 74-year-olds fell by 44 per cent in Australia, by 40 per cent in Canada and in Sweden, Finland and the Netherlands it was 38 per cent.

Here in the UK the death rate is falling, but not by as much. Figures from the British Heart Foundation show that among men aged 35 to 74, the death rate fell by 33 per cent over the same period. Britain is also lagging behind the rest of Europe. France is best, with 57 deaths from coronary heart disease per 100,000 of the population of 35-74 year olds.

The UK comes 13th - with 188 deaths per 100,000.

Ireland is even worse, and at the bottom of the table with 246 deaths per 100,000.

Oxfordshire fares much better than most of the country, with a reduction in the past ten years of around 50 per 100,000, leaving an overall toll of 1096 deaths caused by heart disease in 1998.

But that is still a large figure that needs addressing, especially as Oxfordshire Health Authority distributes millions of pounds to spend on heart disease every year.

Sian Griffiths, director of public health for the Oxfordshire Health Authority, said that Oxfordshire's record should not mean that it rests on its laurels. "It's all about prevention, treatment and the rehabilitation of the community. Heart disease is preventable and we have to get that message across.

"We want children to eat healthier meals right from the beginning at play-groups and through schools. We want people to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables every day and to maintain a balanced diet," she said.

"Many counties are starting up programmes which make fresh fruit and vegetables much more affordable for the population that wouldn't otherwise be able to afford it.

"Living on white bread, fatty foods and sugary products gives you a much higher risk of getting heart disease.

"Exercise is also very important in the prevention programme so we need to promote sport in schools" she said. As a result exercise schemes are being set up by the local authority around the county. Another target area is your GP's surgery. Oxfordshire inhabitants will be urged to have health checks to make sure they don't suffer from high blood pressure.

The health checks will also provide a better screening system. And of course cutting back on the number of smokers is vital in the fight against heart disease. A nicotine replacement scheme in Oxfordshire is already in the pipeline on the NHS.

But the main reason Oxfordshire fares so well on the heart disease front is because of it's affluent population, according to Ms Griffiths.

Research shows that the affluent are less likely to get heart-disease, mainly because they are better educated as to the causes. Lifestyle and the services available in Oxfordshire are the remaining factors in the equation.

Heart tsar Dr Boyle will spearhead wide-ranging measures to tackle coronary heart disease. The £50m initiative promises fast-track chest pain clinics, extra doctors, staff and operations, increasing use of aspirin and other drugs and an extra 700 defibrillators, which are used to restart the heart after an attack.

Story date: Tuesday 21 March

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