BHF survey finds that heart disease may leave many without a final goodbye

British Heart Foundation

New statistics from the British Heart Foundation (BHF) reveal that over three-fifths of people in the North West (61%) don’t tell their partners they love them before leaving the house each morning and over a fifth (21%) don’t usually kiss their loved ones goodbye. 

The BHF commissioned a survey of 2,000 UK adults to highlight the sudden devastation of heart disease and how the BHF’s life saving research is bringing hope to the 901,850 people in the North West living with these conditions.

The most popular excuse for dashing out of the house without a goodbye was forgetting (26%).

Many couples in the North West aren’t following old wives’ tales either, as an astonishing three-fifths of couples go to bed on an argument (61%) with half leaving the house in the morning before making up (50%).

Heart disease is heartless and can strike anyone, at any time. It tears families apart without warning, leaving them no time to say goodbye to their loved ones.

In the UK, more than a quarter of all deaths are caused by heart and circulatory disease, which equates to one person every three minutes. Research is the answer to this devastation and the BHF is urging the public to invest in its life saving heart research.

Simon Gillespie, Chief Executive of the British Heart Foundation, said: “Many of us lead very busy lives and time with our loved ones is precious. Heart disease can suddenly affect anyone at any time and has a huge emotional impact on those left behind.

“We have committed to funding half a billion pounds of research over the next five years into these conditions that continue to devastate the lives of over seven million people in the UK each year.

“It is only thanks to the public’s generosity that we’re able to continue our fight against heart disease, but we urgently need more support to accelerate this research to keep more families together. 

"For over 50 years, research funded by BHF has helped save and improve the lives of millions of people living with heart conditions. Whether it’s a parent dying from a sudden heart attack or a baby being born with a congenital heart defect, our research is identifying new treatments to help prevent, treat and one day beat heart disease.”