Give your heart a boost this Valentine's Day

Today is seen as a time to fill your heart with romance and love, but even if you do have a day full of exciting plans, take some time to think about the health of your heart.

Carrying out a simple 'lifestyle audit' is often the first step, a task which can be done by taking a few minutes to think about smoking, being overweight, having diabetes, high blood pressure, eating a high-fat diet and lack of exercise.

Each of these things impacts the health of the heart and should be considered regularly in a bid to reduce the risk of cardio problems.

Women over 50 are at an increased risk of heart problems due to a fall in the level of oestrogen which protects against cardiac issues.

Exercising regularly can provide a range of heart benefits, as staying active has been shown to halve the risk of cardiac disease and add as much as two years to your life.

So, even on a day like today, when love is in the air, take 30 minutes out of your day to strengthen your heart muscles through moderate exercise..