Heart Health Made Simple: 5 Numbers Could Save Your Life

Managing your heart health is far simpler than most people think, according to a leading cardiologist who's spent three decades saving lives across two continents.

Professor Nicholas Ossei-Gerning, a UK-based interventional cardiologist who also works in Ghana, shared straightforward advice on Joy FM that could help millions prevent heart attacks and strokes. His message cuts through medical jargon with refreshing clarity: know your numbers, manage five risks, and keep moving.

The five critical risk factors Professor Ossei-Gerning wants everyone to monitor are diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, and obesity. These account for the vast majority of heart attacks and strokes, yet all are manageable with basic lifestyle changes.

For those with family history of early heart disease, knowing your numbers becomes even more important. A healthy Body Mass Index should stay around 26 to 27, while blood pressure should read roughly 130 over 80. Cholesterol targets depend on individual risk, but most people should aim below three, dropping to 1.4 if they've had a previous heart attack.

The exercise prescription couldn't be simpler. Thirty minutes of movement four times weekly provides adequate protection for most people. Even brief daily activity makes a difference.

"If you can't fly, run. If you can't run, walk. If you can't walk, crawl," Professor Ossei-Gerning said, quoting Martin Luther King Jr. "But by all means, you need to keep on moving."

He emphasized that any movement beats no movement. Walking around your house for ten minutes is better than sitting still. The Mediterranean diet offers a good eating pattern to explore, though individuals should find what works best for them.

Why This Inspires

Professor Ossei-Gerning's career embodies his message of accessible healthcare. After training in London and building a distinguished UK practice, he helped establish the Euracare Advanced Diagnostics and Heart Centre in Accra. In 2017, he even flew from the UK to perform an emergency cardiac intervention at Ghana's 37 Military Hospital when a patient needed urgent care.

His 2024 appointment as Officer of the Order of the British Empire recognized his services to interventional cardiology in both the UK and Ghana. Now he's using his platform to democratize heart health knowledge, stripping away the complexity that often prevents people from taking action.

For those worried about sudden cardiac events during exercise, he offered reassurance. Rare genetic conditions like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can cause problems, but these shouldn't deter the general public from staying active. Anyone with family history of sudden cardiac death should get screened with an ECG and heart scan for peace of mind.

The bottom line remains beautifully simple: whatever you can do, do something.