Getting to the heart of the matter
like high blood pressure and heart disease can be helpful.
“It’s been estimated that in some cases, this may double the risk,” notes Prof Mayet. “Ethnicity also importantly influences the chance of developing heart disease.
“In particular, South Asian ethnicity strongly increases the chance of developing heart disease.
“African-caribbean ethnicity is very strongly linked with high blood pressure and strokes.”
A family history does not mean you are destined to have heart disease – but Prof Mayet says it does make it that bit more important to be aware and seek advice about looking after your heart and managing any increased risk.
Healthy lifestyle measures are still very important.
pressure to release
IF THERE’S any way to make looking after a baby or toddler a little easier, most mums and dads will grab it with both hands.
Mum blogger Kate Murnane (katemurnane.com) knows how hard it is to get everything done, as she regularly posts videos and blogs for her 348,000 Youtube followers, while looking after her two young sons, Archie, aged six, and Elliot, three.
Like most mums, she’s picked up tips and tricks on her motherhood journey, and is now sharing them in her new book, The Little Book Of Mum Hacks.
“My main reason for writing the book was to share my passion for making life as a parent that little bit easier,” she says.
“All we can do is try our best and, thankfully, there’s often a way to do something quicker, or more simply and efficiently, that enables us to free up that one thing we can’t get more of – time.”
Here are some of Kate’s favourite hacks...
“I couldn’t have got through the first night of being a new mum without this hack, and I’m so shocked at how many people have told me they didn’t know this simple trick,” she says.
Instead of taking a baby vest off over baby’s head, you can pull it down over their shoulders, thanks to the stretchy envelope neckline on almost all baby vests, she explains.
“This was an especially useful hack for us, as my first son was very ‘mucus-y’ when he was born, and was sick about five times that first night in the hospital (so don’t let anyone tell you you’re taking in too many outfits, we got through them all and needed more).
“Aside from sick, this hack also comes in handy for poo explosions, as it helps you keep the mess away from your baby’s face, allowing you to change them with the least amount of upset for both of you, and to keep things as clean as possible.
“It’s also useful when your child gets to the wriggly, crawling-awayas- you’re- trying- to- change- them stage, as you can quickly pull the vest off them as they zoom in the
other direction!”
Kate doesn’t shy away from the subject all new parents know about but don’t love – poo explosions – pointing out that they definitely take a bit of getting used to, and quickly turn all the beautiful white vests, baby grows and expensive outfits a much less attractive mustard shade, even after a few washes. But never fear – your lovely baby whites can shine again with a simple sunshine hack, she promises.
“The day I discovered the sun is nature’s way of bleaching stains, I have to say, I felt like a genius,” she says. “Place the washed item of clothing in the sun and watch the poo stains disappear. OK, maybe give it a few hours. But it’ll happen!”
She says it works best on white clothes, and also works well on soft baby pinks, blues and pastels.
But avoid anything brightly coloured, as the sun will bleach the vibrant colours too.
Baby-led weaning, where young children explore the texture and taste of food with their hands and mouths, can be messy, and Kate points out that because babies’ little hands are still learning to grasp, it’s not unusual for them to struggle to hold certain foods initially, so most of them end up on the floor. But there’s an ingenious way to help your baby hold food, she says.
“Try using a crinkle-cut potato cutter to cut your baby’s cooked vegetables, and even some fruits.
“The ridges will give them a better grip on slippy foods.
“Some fruit and veg can be really
■ Step four: mutter under your breath while they slide around on the garden furniture you asked them to move. ■ Step five: ask the children to move the smaller objects from the surface. They oblige by throwing everything over the wall into the neighbours’. ■ Step six: your spouse knocks on the window from the warmth and safety of the house, and angrily points at a child (Emma), who appears to be eating soil. ■ Step seven: one (or both) children slip on the decking and slide into the garden wall with a thud. Look at your partner through the window and shout ‘I told you it wasn’t safe out here’. ■ Step eight: rifle through the shed for hosepipe attachments to fit a pressure washer because the ones you left on a windowsill a year ago are gone. ■ Step nine: fire up the washer, chase the children with it, let them pull the trigger and then simply watch as they both drench each other. ■ The final step: remove the shivering children from the outdoor area, finish the work you should have completed an hour ago and tell yourself the important thing is their happiness and not your blood pressure.