Questions - Our vision

Is the British Heart Foundation only dedicated to supporting people who have had heart attacks?

Our vision is of a world in which people do not die prematurely of heart disease. This means any type of heart disease, not just heart attack. We will achieve this through our pioneering research, vital prevention activity and ensuring quality care and support for everyone living with heart disease.

Isn’t it up to the government to educate people about looking after their heart health?

It's vital that all of us in the UK join the fight against heart disease. We're committed to working together with other organisations, and our supporters, to play a leading role in the battle.  As the nation’s heart charity, the BHF remains the largest funder of research into heart disease in the UK.

Some of the most ground-breaking, innovative and important achievements in heart research over the past 47 years have been made thanks to work we have supported. Currently, we fund 27 BHF Professors and over 1,400 research projects. Overall, we invest over £138 a minute in vital heart research.

Surely heart disease is the result of an unhealthy lifestyle?

Heart disease can affect anyone whether they are seven or seventy, a solicitor or a shop assistant.  We run projects that help people to look after their hearts through healthier lifestyle choices.

But even if we all lived perfectly healthy lives, many people would still be born with or develop heart disease.