Health Camp in Southall a huge success
Heartlink was very pleased to help at the hugely successful Health Camp held at the Ramgharia Sabha Gurdwara in Oswald Rd, Southall on Sunday 9th August. The Camp was organised by the Gurdwara led by the President Joga Singh, with invitations circulated widely in the local community. It was held inside a marquee at the back of the Gurdwara, and involved health advice and testing at a number of stalls run by a variety of locally based health organisations.
The Heartlink stall was run by a dozen of our wonderful volunteers who gave out hundreds of leaflets and heart advice booklets, including our new leaflet about ‘Healthy living after 65’, which is in both Punjabi and English.
We got a fantastic response from attendees with dozens of new people joining us. Those stalls which offered blood pressure and diabetes testing never stopped their work for a minute.
We were very happy to be visited by Ealing Mayor Councillor Faduma Mohamed and local Southall MP Deirdre Costigan, who spent hours visiting all of the stalls.
The event was a fantastic success showing the appetite for health advice and testing amongst local people. Heartlink has begun to work with local pharmacy Chana Chemists and we plan to offer blood pressure and other heart health testing when we run our stalls in the next few months.
We extend our huge thanks to Joga Singh and the Gurdwara Committee for inviting us.
Dr Sahota provides vital heart advice
A record audience attended our August meeting at Ealing Hospital to hear well-known local GP Dr Onkar Sahota give us a talk entitled ‘The GP-patient partnership against heart disease and diabetes’.
The aim of this excellent talk was to advise us how to maximise the benefit we can achieve as patients from our local GP and other NHS services by following simple steps including self-monitoring using basic tests.
He stressed how diabetes and heart disease are linked conditions for many patients and that high blood sugar will, over time, irritate, damage and inflame the lining of our arteries.
As we can only see our GP and health professionals for short appointments, it is vital to monitor our own results regularly. Home blood pressure monitoring, done consistently and correctly with an upper arm cuff, together with recording the results, is vital. Having regular HbA1c blood tests at the GP surgery is key to tracking possible diabetes. Only patients on specific medicines, for instance insulin, need to carry out home pinprick blood tests. He gave important specific advice to heart failure patients about monitoring themselves using normal weight scales.
He advised us to maximise what we get out of our brief 10 minute GP appointments by preparing so that we prioritise raising our most important concerns.
His presentation was very well received by the audience with many varied questions Dr Sahota had prepared a very useful one-page handout of his key messages which we gave to all attendees. A full copy of his presentation can be seen if you click HERE.
He stayed behind for a long time to take individual questions from members, and we are very grateful to him for his time and input.
Good advice about strokes
At our July meeting we were given vitally important advice about strokes by one of our most popular speakers, Heartlink Trustee and Cardiology Consultant Dr Harmandeep Singh. The meeting was one of our best attended, with well over 60 of us there.
Significant numbers of people will suffer from a TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack) or mini stroke, and this is a warning that the person needs follow medical advice because there is risk of a much more serious event. He explained that there are two types of stroke, ischemic and hemorrhagic, which need to be treated in different ways, very urgently in hospital.
He stressed the importance of FAST action if you suspect someone may have had a stroke, as rapid medical intervention is vital to save lives and maximise the extent of recovery. The critical action is to call 999 fast and report a suspected stroke. We should not take people to hospital ourselves, as not all hospitals are set up to deal with strokes. The ambulance service will take people to the nearest hospital with a specialist stroke unit. This is similar for heart attacks.
He explained that high levels of bad cholesterol in the blood is a significant cause of strokes, just as it is of heart attacks. As the blood vessels in the brain are very thin, bad cholesterol can cause blood clots and thus strokes.
There our there are a range of actions we can all take relating to diet, lifestyle, exercise, smoking and alcohol which will significantly reduce our risk of a stroke.
Dr Harman’s presentation was followed by a lively question and answer session.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW HIS EXCELLENT PRESENTATION
Also videos of Dr Harman giving his presentation can be seen by clicking THIS LINK.
Great reception at Central Jamia Mosque - Southall
In June we were invited to arrange for our Trustee, Cardiology Consultant Dr Nabeel Ahmed, to address the congregation before Friday prayers at Southall Central Jamia Mosque. His talk was focused on taking simple steps to reduce heart health risks and was very well received by many worshippers. Before and after prayers a group of volunteers ran a stall with booklets, leaflets and information and we were almost overwhelmed by the interest. A hugely successful event.
Sponsored walk a fantastic success
40 enthusiastic members and supporters joined our most enjoyable Sponsored Walk on Wednesday 10th June. We held our walk to promote healthy exercise and raise funds for our vital work of supporting local heart patients and raising heart health awareness. The walk was organised by our weekly Wednesday Walkers Group and many of the participants were regular walkers. We were very pleased to be joined by Mrs Midha, longtime Heartlink supporter and previous Mayor of Ealing, and our Trustee Gary La Touche, Ward Manager on the Heart Ward at Ealing Hospital
From the photos you can see that we enjoyed the walk from Greenford Centre through local parkland in Perivale Park to the Pear Tree Park Bistro, where we all had a good chat and refreshments. We were fortunate to avoid any showers.
Many members made big efforts to raise funds for us by getting friends and those who they know from our local community to sponsor them. Others donated via Kindlink on our website Donate Page. Although the final sum is not available yet, it is likely to be well in excess of £2k.
A key aim of the walk was to encourage more heart patients and others to take up healthy exercise and join our Weekly Wednesday Walkers Group. A number of those who took part said they will do that just that.
Our Wednesday Walkers meet at 10am every Wednesday at Greenford Hall and you can see more details by clicking HERE.
You can see MANY MORE PHOTOS of us all on the walk in our website PHOTO GALLERY – click HERE.
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Huge impact at David Lloyd Heston
We were delighted to deliver a Heart Health Awareness Campaign in collaboration with Chana Health (Chemist) at the David Lloyd (DL) Gym at Heston on Wednesday 13th May. The event brought the DL community together to focus on the importance of heart health and preventative care, offering a range of health checks including blood pressure (BP), blood glucose and cholesterol testing. It was encouraging to see so many people taking positive steps towards improving their wellbeing and engaging so positively with our project.
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Chana Health (Chemist) for carrying out all of the health testing and to David Lloyd Heston Club for their warm hospitality and continued support in making this event such a success. We would also like to thank the Skipton Building Society Harrow for their amazing donation of the tests and testing equipment
A special thank you also goes to our Heartlink members, Kuldeep for organising the initiative and Sunny & Isha, whose support and dedication throughout the event were truly invaluable.
Successful Hub with Chair Yoga and local fire safety advice
Our Community Hub session on 21st May was a great success, with a fantastic turnout from local residents for an enjoyable and informative session.
The session began with Chair Yoga from Mr Chana, giving everyone the chance to relax, stretch and enjoy some gentle exercise in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
This was followed by a helpful talk from the LFB Blue Watch Team on fire safety and prevention. Attendees appreciated the clear and practical advice on staying safe at home and preventing fire risks.
We would like to thank everyone who attended, along with the LFB Blue Watch Team for supporting our community hub meeting. A special thanks also to Mr Chana, Jasbir, Japnam, Mukhtar, Dolly, Kuldeep, Sevraj and Isha for their support and contribution.
Community Spirit & Heart Health at Southall Parkrun
A huge well done to the 150+ runners, joggers and volunteers who joined us early on 28th March at the Southall Parkrun! The crisp, sunny weather set the perfect tone for an incredible turnout that truly celebrated the power of community. There was a real buzz in the air, bolstered by Heartlink providing water bottles to all the runners to ensure everyone stayed hydrated from start to finish. A dozen of our wonderful Heartlink volunteers ran a hugely popular stall with many runners stopping for booklets and a chat.
A highlight of the morning was the unveiling of the new ‘British Heart Foundation Red Bench’ in Southall Park. Dedicated to local runner Bill Lonsdale, the bench encapsulates a personal journey through diagnosis, treatment and recovery, reflecting the reality of living with a heart condition. It serves as a meaningful addition to the park and a powerful reminder of the vital importance of heart health awareness in our community. CLICK HERE to see the full BBC News Story about Bill.
The Power of Movement
This event highlighted how vital regular physical activity is for everyone. Whether you are a seasoned runner or a heart health patient, staying active is one of the most effective ways to improve long-term wellbeing. By fostering healthier lifestyles through movement and encouragement, we don't just feel better individually, we also help reduce the long-term pressure on our vital NHS services.
Special Thanks to:
• The Southall Parkrun Team for their warm welcome and partnership.
• Chana Chemist for supplying the electrolytes that kept our participants going strong.
• Kuldeep for the legendary fruit flan—the perfect motivation to cross the finish line!
The Southall Parkrun is a regular event every Saturday starting at 9am in Southall Park next to the Uxbridge Ed.
Thank you for making the morning so special. Let’s keep moving together!
Diet & Your Heart
Another well attended meeting of members and supporters heard an informative and relevant presentation about diet and heart health from one of our key partners. Emmy West is a Cardiac Dietitian at the Cardiac Health And Rehabilitation Services with Imperial NHS Trust, and is based at our local Hanwell Health Centre.
Emmy highlighted four key ways in which diet affects our health, covering cholesterol, blood pressure, protective nutrients and weight.
She took us through which foods are particularly helpful for each of these issues, for example substituting vegetable oils in the place of butter, ghee and coconut oil . She highlighted the difficulty of avoiding too much salt as so much is already in the foods we buy, and we have to be careful to check the details on the labels.
As we know, healthy weight loss is not easy and best achieved by long term lifestyle changes including changes to diet and exercise habits. She warned us about the volume of misinformation about diet that we all encounter, particularly online, and gave us a list of websites which provide good reliable information.
Many attendees had attended the Cardiac Rehab Course in the past but found it very useful to be updated. There were a lot of important and relevant questions from the large audience, which Emmy addressed. We are very grateful to Emmy for giving up her time to give us such a useful talk.
A copy of her full presentation, which Includes all the useful links can be found by clicking HERE.
A video of Emmy giving us her presentation can be seen just below.
Heartlink Success at Acton and Hanwell Rehab Sessions
Heartlink recently participated in the Imperial Heart Rehab programs held in Acton and Hanwell and we are thrilled to report that both sessions were a resounding success. The events offered a fantastic platform to highlight our ongoing commitment to helping those managing heart conditions and to showcase the vital work Heartlink does within the community.
We are also incredibly grateful to the Imperial College Rehab team for their valuable support and the trust they place in us to be part of these important sessions. This collaboration demonstrates the powerful impact that collective effort can achieve in fostering a positive and motivating environment for all participants.
The turnout was incredibly encouraging with many attendees eager to dive deeper into our initiatives and find ways to get involved. Beyond the clinical aspects of rehabilitation, these gatherings served as a meaningful space for building relationships, sharing mutual support and increasing public awareness. The sense of unity and motivation among everyone present underscored just how much can be accomplished through a shared dedication to cardiovascular health.
We would like to extend a huge thank you to our dedicated volunteers; Sunny, Kuldeep, Mohinder and Isha for their hard work in signing up new members. Their efforts ensure our community stays informed with the latest news and resources. We would also like to recognise Isha, our newest member for her invaluable support at both events. Her contribution made a real difference and together these efforts continue to strengthen the Heartlink community.
Coping with a Heart Attack
At our March meeting Dr Pamela Kaushal, who is an experienced Consultant Psychiatrist at a nearby NHS Trust, talked to us about ‘coping with a heart attack’ and gave a range of useful advice about the pressures and worries caused by heart conditions. Her talk was attended by a packed room of 60 Heartlink members and supporters and chaired by Heartlink Vice Chair, Sunny Chana. If you missed her talk you can catch up by viewing the video below.
She started by getting us to join her in a few minutes of silent mindfulness to help relieve immediate anxiety. She then explained very clearly how some of the symptoms many of us suffer from, particularly after heart treatment, can be caused by our worry and stress. This can include palpitations, sweating, difficulty sleeping, shortness of breath and even chest pains. It is vital to become familiar with and practise useful coping routines to take our minds away from the immediate anxiety. For heart patients suffering from stress it is important to keep immediate treatments to hand including aspirin and a GTN spray. The availability of these can help get us out of panic attacks.
She told us that, after heart attacks more than 50% of patients suffer from depression, and she stressed how important it is for people to seek help for this via their GP, who can refer them for assistance.
Dr Kaushal dealt with a range of important questions from the audience and stayed to talk to the individual members afterwards. Sunny extended our thanks and appreciation for her helpful talk and we presented her with a thank you gift.
Dr. Sethi talks to Heartlink Members and Ealing Worshippers
Despite torrential rain, over 50 members and supporters of Heartlink attended our February educational seminar at Ealing Hospital to hear one of our Trustees, Dr. Amarjit Sethi, speak on the rising rates of cardiovascular deaths in people under 65.
Dr. Sethi is a leading and highly experienced cardiologist, working across several London hospitals including Ealing Hospital, and, as a Heartlink Trustee, he helps guide our charity’s work in supporting heart health awareness and patient care.
He explained the growing number of cardiovascular deaths and outlined the standard modifiable risk factors for heart disease: high blood pressure, raised cholesterol, diabetes, and smoking. He highlighted how many lives could be saved by improving treatment for these conditions.
Dr. Sethi also addressed additional contributors to heart health problems, including unhealthy lifestyles, poor diet, excessive alcohol intake, physical inactivity, obesity, and stress. Genetics, pollution, and socioeconomic factors also play a significant role.
He emphasised simple steps everyone can take to reduce their risk and discussed the potential for future improvements in treatment through technology and AI.
A lively discussion followed for nearly an hour, with many heart patients providing positive feedback on the session. You can
view his presentation by clicking here.
Just 10 days later, as part of the Heartlink Outreach programme, Dr. Sethi delivered a similar talk to a large audience at Ealing Gurdwara, taking time to respond to questions from attendees.
You can see a video of his talk below.
These events highlight how Heartlink actively supports local patients and raises awareness of heart health in our communities.
Beyond talks, Heartlink’s outreach work includes delivering educational presentations, running volunteer information stalls with BHF and other resources at community events, and maintaining permanent booklet displays at multiple public locations.