THE British Heart Foundation have released figures about risk factors of heart disease ahead of their Wear it. Beat it. campaign.

A survey carried out by the foundation revealed that more than three quarters of people in the North-East said they were aware of a family member with a major risk factor of heart disease.

The charity have said that despite the awareness of these risk factors, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol and being overweight, two fifths of those polled were “too afraid” to speak to their loved ones, with almost half saying that they were reluctant to discuss health issues for fear of “upsetting someone”.

Dr Mike Knapton, the BHF’s associate medical director, said: “Heart disease can strike anyone at any age, without warning.

“That’s why it’s vital we do everything we can to reduce our risk and protect our hearts against these devastating conditions.

“By signing up to Wear it. Beat it. You can help fund cutting-edge research to better understand, treat and predict who is at risk.”

The Wear it. Beat it. campaign, which has raised over £6m since 2009, calls for people to wear red and hold a fundraising event on Friday, February 5.

The charity hopes to raise £1m this year from the campaign to help fund lifesaving research and raise awareness of heart and circulatory disease, which affects around 358,000 people in the North-East.

To sign up to the campaign, visit bhf.org.uk/red or call 0300-330-0645 for a free fundraising pack.