Bradley Walsh health: ‘You need to get fit’ – star left at risk of ‘killer’ disease

The Chase: Bradley Walsh asks guest about his career

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The popular presenter, who is best known for hosting ITV’s The Chase, and 24-year-old son Barney who has taken after his father and taken up acting and presenting are trekking across Europe, tonight (Monday, January 24) landing in Hungary where they take on some epic challenges such as sailing and escapology. But back in 2020 the host revealed that he was at high risk of getting a deadly condition, that his own father Daniel died from at only 59 years of age.

Talking to The Sun at the time, Bradley explained that it was his doctor who first warned him it was time to “get fit”.

He said: “I was a time bomb. I produce too much cholesterol. It’s a silent killer. My heart guy said, ‘Look, Brad, you need to get fit’.

“I had a hang-up because my father, Daniel, died at the age of 59. I had it in the back of my mind that I just had to get past my dad’s age. So turning 60 was a bit of a milestone.

“I was 33 when he passed away. I’d just done the Royal Variety Show performance which helped launch my career, but my dad died from heart failure two weeks after that and never got to see it.

“Once you know it’s hereditary, you start having regular tests. Of course it’s a concern… I thought, ‘Oh, crikey. I’m gonna be bang in trouble here if I don’t lose the weight and start dealing with this.'”

The NHS explains that coronary heart disease is a major cause of death both in the UK and worldwide.

It is caused when your heart’s blood supply is blocked or interrupted by a build-up of fatty substances in the coronary arteries.

Over time the walls of these arteries can become “furred” with fatty deposits in a process known as atherosclerosis. Those who suffer from the condition are also at a much higher risk of having other conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes.

In order to keep on top of his condition, Bradley has his heart tested every couple of years. A test known as a carotid artery test allows doctors to find out how much furring an individual has in the artery.

Taking heed of the doctors warning Bradley made some drastic changes to his diet and lifestyle. The star started to eat more fruit, vegetables, salads and fish, and became conscious of hidden sugars.

“This was literally just prior to lockdown,” Bradley added.

“Then lockdown hit. I got on the scales and saw I’d hit 14st 9lbs, the heaviest I’ve ever been. I really was quite big.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/5POPpFYtq9A

“I decided to get consciously stuck in. So, touch wood, I will be okay.”

Seemingly to successfully manage his high cholesterol levels and risk of heart disease, concerns for Bradley’s health didn’t stop there. In an interview with This Morning, the star revealed how both he and Barney were left severely poorly after filming the first series in America.

The pair admitted that the itinerary for the trip was seriously intense, and Barney was concerned that he had taken one adventure “too far”.

“It actually made us ill for a couple of days didn’t it? It actually made us ill,” Bradley said, with Barney adding: “There was one point that I thought I’d taken it too far. I had to do the activity first and I was like, ‘Wow, this is tough’.”

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A post shared by Barney Walsh (@barneywalsh)

The main symptoms of coronary heart disease to spot include the following:

  • Chest pain (angina)
  • Shortness of breath
  • Pain throughout the body
  • Feeling faint
  • Feeling sick (nausea).

However, it is important to note that not everyone has the same symptoms and some people may not have any before being diagnosed with heart disease.

The condition cannot be cured, but treatment can help to manage symptoms and reduce the chances of individuals suffering heart attacks.

Managing the condition effectively consists of a combination of lifestyle changes, medicine and in some cases surgery.

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