EATING your way to a healthier heart is just one of the subjects on the agenda at a seminar at Ewood Park next week.

The free seminar on heart disease and how to prevent it will be led by Dr Ahmed Shihadah from Queen's Park Hospital, and has been organised with the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust's health promotion team.

It will deal with everything from how much salt to have safely in your diet, to how much fruit to eat and other helpful tips on how to keep your blood pressure down. It will be followed by the chance for visitors to get advice on all aspects of healthy living.

Dr Shihadah said he believed the event, featuring the 45-minute seminar, was one of the first of its kind.

"I think we are the first to do this.

"A lot of the patients who come to my clinic do not know how important salt is, or how vegetables and fruit can reduce your blood pressure.

"Simply by eating five portions of fruit and vegetables can reduce your blood pressure the same as taking tablets from your doctor.

"There are fewer strokes in warm climates, so even warming the house can make your blood pressure drop down.

"Unfortunately, many of the people do not know these things. A lot of people don't get their blood pressure checked, and, if they do, they don't know what is normal anyway."

The evening will include advice stalls and information on subjects including exercise, how to quit smoking and healthy eating, manned by local health staff and volunteers.

It's on Wednesday, February 13 between 7pm and 9pm at the premier suite, with doors opening at 6.20pm.

A heart disease expert, Dr Shihadah recently took part in an international study on cutting the chances of further attacks for stroke victims.

Some of his patients from Blackburn and Accrington were among patients worldwide who took part in a five year study into the new drug Progress, which, as a result of the study, was found to cut the risk of further strokes by 28 per cent.