New website gives young hearts a boost

10:22am Thursday 6th December 2007

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A fun, interactive website for teenagers has been launched by the British Heart Foundation.

The website www.yheart.net, encourages young people to find out how their heart works and how to keep it healthy in an exciting and interesting way.

It is jam packed with health-related competitions, quirky games and challenges that win prizes.

The website also has a password protected area called Meet @ Teen Heart which is specifically for teenagers with heart conditions.

Here, young people can chat with each other, share experiences and talk to an expert.

No other such website exists for teenagers who were born with heart problems.

Information about smoking, drugs, healthy eating and keeping fit is given in a chatty style. Bite-sized facts keep visitors enthralled and info pages help people learn about their heart health.

This is a vital step forward in a country with rapidly increasing childhood obesity levels and decreasing activity levels.

Nicki Cooper, Head of Heart Health at the BHF says: "We wanted to create a website that spoke to teenagers and that's why we involved teams of teenage pilot testers for different sections.

"They told us what they wanted to see on the website, and that's why it's full of useful stuff about the heart and what we can do to keep it in the best condition we can.

"The Meet @ Teen Heart is THE website for teenagers with heart problems to have in their favourites folder.

"It is a secure site where they can chat with other teens who've experienced similar problems to them, sharing support and information, and where they can get confidential advice from our experts."

Also on the website:

• Challenges on topical issues: earn points which can be exchanged for funky gifts.
  
  

• Monthly competitions: ipod shuffles and HMV vouchers up for grabs just by answering a health-related question.
  
  

• Fun games such as Urban Energy, the lifestyle quiz or Office Olympics.
  
  

• Downloads of cool screensavers brighten up your screen.
  
  

• BHF events like junior golf or the London to Brighton bike ride are listed for you to get involved in and do your bit for charity.

It is estimated that 4,600 babies are born with a heart defect in the UK every year - that's one in every 145 babies. At least three quarters of babies born with congenital heart disease are predicted to survive to adulthood1.

But lifestyle is a major factor in many people developing heart and circulatory disease in later life. Heart and circulatory disease is the UK's biggest killer and 208,000 people died of it in 20052.

People can avoid heart disease by living a healthy lifestyle from a young age by not smoking, keeping to a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet which is low in salt and fat, and keeping physically active.