Healthy Hearts | Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

In Kensington and Chelsea, circulatory diseases account for around 20 per cent of the difference in life expectancy between the most and least deprived areas.

Cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke, is one of the leading causes of illness and early death in the UK.

We are working with partners and communities to reduce health inequalities and improve wellbeing. This includes encouraging access to free NHS Health Checks, smoking cessation support, and weight management programmes.

Improving your heart health

check in with your heart and health: if you’re age 40 to 74, book your free NHS Health Check today.
if you smoke, need advice around eating well, weight loss and moving more, contact our free One You service who are here to support you.
want to lose weight and feel better? Get active with free or discounted local activities - from swimming and outdoor gyms to walking groups and football sessions.
cut down on alcohol – get free and confidential support from our free alcohol and drug services.
reduce your stress levels - visit our Wellbeing Hub for resources and services to improve your mental health and wellbeing.
check your blood pressure regularly. There are blood pressure monitors at North Kensington, Kensington Central and Chelsea Library that are free for you to use plus you can get your blood pressure checked at most pharmacies.
cut down on alcohol – get free and confidential support from our free alcohol and drug services.
reduce your stress levels - visit our Wellbeing Hub for resources and services to improve your mental health and wellbeing.
check your blood pressure regularly. There are blood pressure monitors at North Kensington, Kensington Central and Chelsea Library that are free for you to use plus you can get your blood pressure checked at most pharmacies.

Other quick ways to improve the health of your heart

walk 10 minutes a day – could you get off the bus or tube one stop early and power walk the last 10 minutes? Tracking apps, like the free NHS Active 10 app could help
fancy a longer walk or cycle but want to avoid busy streets? Plan your route on the clean air map
take the stairs instead of the escalator – research shows that short bursts of stair climbing can improve cardiorespiratory fitness and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. It’s also good for your brain health!
want to start cycling but don’t have a bike? Check out Peddle my Wheels to try a bike before you buy, or make use of the many Santander bikes around the city
make simple food swaps – such as cutting down on salt and sugar. Could you swap your strawberry yogurt for plain yogurt with half the sugar? Get food swap ideas here and healthy recipe ideas here
set a reminder on your phone to get up and move every 30 minutes throughout the day
discover more simple and free ideas on the NHS website

One You

One You is an integrated healthy lifestyle service offering free 12-week one-to-one health coaching, weight management, and physical activity programmes for Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea residents.

One You supports those already living with a long-term health condition or helps to reduce the risk of developing one in the future. They also deliver Making Every Contact Count training to everyone working in Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster to raise awareness of local support, signposting, and an approach to effective healthy lifestyle conversations.