The importance of healthy lifestyle choices, such as regular fitness training, in reducing the risk of heart disease has been emphasised by Heart Research UK.

Denise Armstrong, lifestyle manager at Heart Research UK, also said that while risk factors for men had decreased, they have increased for women.

Such things include total cholesterol, blood pressure and smoking levels.

The comments follow recent research from the British Heart Foundation which said that women are at greater risk of dying from heart attacks than men.

Cardiac nurse June Davison said: "One of the studies also highlighted that while men's cardiovascular risk has improved in the last few years, women's risk has in fact worsened.

"These studies emphasise the importance of making sure that we all look after our heart health properly by not smoking, healthy eating and getting regular physical activity."

Ms Davidson also recommended that all men and women over 40 go to their GP or practice nurse for a heart health check up.

Coronary heart disease is the UK's biggest killer, with one in every four men and one in every six women dying from the disease. In the UK, approximately 300,000 people have a heart attack each year.