Lack of exercise in Bradford is costing almost £10 million a year

Figures released today from the British Heart Foundation (BHF) have revealed a breakdown of NHS care costs for treating people in the area with long-term conditions, including coronary heart disease, caused by not getting enough physical activity.

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The city has one one the worst death rates caused by heart disease in the country.

Across the district, there are about 18,800 people living with coronary heart disease and it costs the city around £5.2m a year to treat.

The rest of the bill, which BHF said is "around £9.9m" includes just over £2.2m a year for diabetes care and cancer makes up the rest.

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BHF's Director of Prevention, Survival and Support, Catherine Kelly, said: "It is staggering the amount of money that inactivity is costing health services in Bradford every year. Encouraging people to be more active and less sedentary will help reduce their risk of heart disease and will save millions of pounds for health services."

District health leaders are already working to cut the number of deaths related to heart disease and last night reiterated their message.

NHS Bradford Districts Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) lead for cardiovascular disease, Dr Youssef Beaini, said: "Bradford has one of the worst death rates from heart disease in England. That's why one of the CCG’s main priorities is to reduce the number of deaths caused by heart attack and stroke."

Last year, a major campaign started in Bradford to help tackle heart disease, which was branded one of the district's biggest killers.

Bradford's Healthy Hearts project is spearheaded by the NHS Bradford Districts CCG and will run over three years, helping reduce the chance of heart attacks and strokes, in people who are considered to be at risk.

It brings together all 41 local GP practices and the wider NHS to promote heart health and the powerful benefits of exercise, healthy diets and stopping smoking.

"As well as ensuring that the best possible care and treatment are available for local people, Bradford's Healthy Hearts aims to raise awareness about how to make the right lifestyle choices to reduce the chance of being affected by avoid heart disease and stroke," Dr Beaini said.

"Coronary heart disease happens when the blood supply to the heart is reduced because the blood vessels to it become too narrow, or are blocked, as a result of a build-up of fatty deposits that interfere with the normal flow of blood to the heart.

"Everyone can reduce their chances of developing CHD by eating healthily, stopping smoking, drinking less alcohol and being physically active.

"An active lifestyle can significantly reduce the chances of developing heart disease. But it’s not past activity levels that count – it’s important to be active now and into the future.

"Activities such as fast walking, gardening, rambling, running and dancing are ideal. Adults should do 30 minutes of activity five days a week. For the exercise to count, they need to be active enough to make them feel warm and slightly out of breath. Even those who are currently inactive will soon achieve benefits when they start to exercise."

Ms Kelly added: "If we are to ease the burden of this country’s eye-watering physical inactivity costs then people need to take action to improve their health."

Per 100,000 population, Somerset's care costs due to sedentary lifestyles are the lowest at £742,838 and Stockton-on-Tees is the highest with £2,942,802 - the Bradford cost stands at £1,888,655.