Cox: Scots lifestyle is deadly...we must change how we live
FILM star Brian Cox has told how a family tragedy has inspired him to urge his fellow Scots to look after their health and help prevent heart disease.
The Bourne Identity and XMen star shared his profound sense of loss when his uncle dropped dead of a heart attack while running for a bus.
Cox is the latest in a string of celebrities to support the Heart of Scotland Appeal, backed by The Mail on Sunday.
The 73-year-old, originally from Dundee, revealed he had been misdiagnosed with a heart attack – and claimed it was a ‘no-brainer’ to be involved in the campaign.
He said he suffered from blood pressure problems and diabetes, and called on Scots to take better care of themselves.
The actor, who lives with his wife Nicola Ansari and their two sons in New York, said he had tests carried out a couple of years ago after a suspected heart attack.
He said: ‘I had to go through the whole thing of being checked and it turned out to be the opposite and my heart is pretty healthy. I went to a specialist but it ended up being a reading on my ECG that was inaccurate.
‘Going through that whole procedure, it seemed a no-brainer to back the Heart of Scotland.
‘My uncle Jack dropped dead of a heart attack while running for a bus. He lived in Edinburgh and I don’t think he was even 50.
‘I remember it vividly. I was probably eight or nine when it happened. It was very sudden.’
The Churchill star noted that younger people are having heart attacks, so it is important to take precautions – and that having a healthy diet is a ‘key factor’.
The actor said: ‘I have a sweet tooth and I’ve got to watch it – sugar is the killer.
‘It’s a lifestyle and unfortunately we’re not very good at that in Scotland, but we’re getting better and it has radically changed since I was a child.
‘Exercise is important, diet is really important and, of course, Scots do like their carbohydrates, so we need to doubly careful.
‘I think a major problem is that people eat out of habit and habits can be deadly. The care of the heart is important. In Scotland, the diet people have, it’s really right people take care of themselves. You can’t mess with the heart really. If there’s any condition that’s even slight you should attend to it.’
Statistics show that 41 people die from cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Scotland every day, causing more than a quarter of all deaths in the country.
People in Scotland are also almost twice as likely to die from CVD than people living in the South-East of England.
Earlier this month, Scots actors including Bill Paterson and Richard Wilson got on board with the campaign at a reception in London. The appeal raises funds for pioneering research into the prevention, treatment and cure of heart disease.
Those wishing to join the campaign by donating or organising a fundraising event can visit heartofscotland.org.uk to request a fundraising pack.
Text HEART to 88080 for a limited edition Heart of Scotland badge. Donations can be paid at
heartresearch.org.uk/support or sent by post to Heart Research UK, Suite 12D, Joseph’s Well, Leeds LS3 1AB.