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The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has revealed that Louise Banks, who had a major congenital heart defect, is lucky a doctor noticed her symptoms and diagnosed her before her heart gave in to the strain.

Prenatal screening and more advanced medical technology mean that such defects are picked up on sooner by medical staff, according to the UK charity.

Cardiac nurse for the BHF, Ellen Mason commented: "Large holes in the heart are normally diagnosed at a younger age, due to the symptoms that they cause. Louise’s case is quite unusual, especially as her heart has also coped with the added strain of pregnancy."

Holders of life insurance policies may be interested to learn that Louise Banks is rejoicing in her survival by organising a fundraising event for the BHF.

The fundraising summer ball will be held near Exeter at the Woodbury Park Hotel on June 20th. The BHF and Macmillan Cancer Trust will be splitting the proceeds.

The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people living with Cardiomyopathy.

Individuals wanting to ward off obesity or lower their blood pressure may do so with the help of a pedometer, it has been claimed.

US researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine found that using the pocket-sized device can help ordinarily sluggish people become more physically active, lose weight and reduce blood pressure.

With a pedometer counting the number of steps an individual makes each day, the researchers looked at a wide range of studies and concluded that its use increased physical activity by 2,183 steps.

Of those observed by the academics, almost all pedometer users lost weight and experienced improvements in blood pressure.

Lead author Dr Dena Bravata pointed out that such reductions in blood pressure are linked to reduced risk of death by stroke or cardiovascular causes.

"Just over 2,100 steps might not sound that much, but it equates to a 27 per cent increase in physical activity," she commented.

Another study by US and UK researchers has shown that the death rate owing to heart disease is beginning to climb for young women across the Atlantic.

The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people with obesity, high blood pressure or heart disease

Obese people and those living with diabetes may benefit from a new treatment which lowers blood pressure, it has emerged.

Direct renin inhibitors (DRIs) have been found to target the causes of raised blood pressure (hypertension), thereby offering increased protection against heart and renal disease, as well as the blindness associated with diabetes.

Peter Sever, professor of clinical pharmacology and therapeutics at Imperial College London, pointed out that inhibiting the activity of renin can ultimately prevent its "pathological consequences" in the tissues of the kidney, eye, heart, blood vessels and brain.

"Whilst any patient with elevated blood pressure will benefit from DRI therapies, patients with type-2 diabetes, who are prone to obesity and also cardiovascular, renal and eye damage, are also candidates for DRI therapy as an early component of blood pressure-lowering treatment," he remarked.

Further trials are being carried out to test the treatment’s ability to reduce damage to the heart, kidneys and other organs, as well as cut the rate of deaths, heart attacks, strokes and renal failure in patients with diabetes and high blood pressure.

According to a recent review of public health, England has the highest levels of obesity in Europe and diabetes is on the rise.

The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people living with obesity and diabetes

Strokes, the third most common cause of death in England and Wales after heart disease and cancer, can happen "to anyone at any age", a charity has warned.

According to the Stroke Association, there is a common misconception that the condition only affects older members of the population, particularly men.

In fact, the charity pointed out, a quarter of all strokes happen to people under the age of 65, with around 150,000 people experiencing one in the UK every year.

A spokesperson for the Stroke Association added that although most people affected are over 65, anyone can have a stroke, including children and even babies.

"There always needs to be more awareness of the risk factors with stroke," emphasised the charity’s representative.

"High blood pressure is the single biggest factor of stroke and obviously people don’t realise they have high blood pressure unless they get it measured, so it’s vitally important that people do it regularly," she added.

The Stroke Association recommends that people exercise regularly, stop smoking and eat healthily to improve their blood pressure.

Around 300,000 people are living with moderate to severe disabilities as a result of a stroke.

The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people living with medical conditions