According to a news poll, many adults in the UK are totally unaware of the risk factors for heart disease.

While a third of people are worried about getting dementia or cancer, only 2% are afraid of coronary heart disease, a survey by the British Heart Foundation has found.

And one in ten adults confessed to not knowing how to look after their hearts.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is responsible for about 74,000 deaths in the UK each year.

About one in five men and one in eight women die from the condition.

As well as chest pain, the main symptoms of CHD are heart attacks and heart failure.

However, not everyone has the same symptoms and some people may not have any before CHD is diagnosed.

Risk factors include smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes.

The British Heart Foundation has issued 10 tips to prevent heart disease:

Give up smoking

If you’re over 40, take up your free NHS health check

Maintain a healthy weight

Lead an active lifestyle

Ditch the salt

Eat your “five a day” of fruit and vegetables

Cut down on saturated fat

Read food labels to find out if something is healthy for you

Don’t drink too much alcohol

Watch food portion sizes.

The poll was conducted by YouGov and included 1,010 men and 1,089 women.

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