Discussing my drinking habits with my doctor:

[Burney]

Well, I work out four times a week and then play hockey on Saturday which gives me a seriously good cardio workout.

And when on the bike and treadmill I monitor my heart rate which rarely goes above 140 even when peddling hard or running at 11.5 km/h.

I'm assuming that means my heart is ok. Mind you these stories about fitness nutters dropping dead of a heart attack are always a bit worrying. There was one recently, chap was the England hockey coach and a fitness addict and he had a heart attack out of nowhere.

At 46 or something.

As any good actuary will tell you, your best guides to life expectancy are when and how your grandparents/parents died. Diet and exercise help, of course, but the underlying health issues tend to be congenital.

I knew a chap whose father and brother both died of heart attacks in their 40s. Given which, he looked after himself scrupulously, exercised, barely drank and certaily never smoked or took drugs. Despite all this, he had a near-fatal clutcher when he was 48 and is now pretty much treading on eggshells waiting for the next one.

You can't beat genetics, I'm afraid.

[World's End Stella]

As any good actuary will tell you, your best guides to life expectancy are when and how your grandparents/parents died. Diet and exercise help, of course, but the underlying health issues tend to be congenital.

I knew a chap whose father and brother both died of heart attacks in their 40s. Given which, he looked after himself scrupulously, exercised, barely drank and certaily never smoked or took drugs. Despite all this, he had a near-fatal clutcher when he was 48 and is now pretty much treading on eggshells waiting for the next one.

You can't beat genetics, I'm afraid.

Ah, now this I like given that my father is still kicking about at 86 and my mother at 82. And my father smoked two packs a day when he was younger and basically never exercised a day in his life. His father passed at 83 and my mother's father at 75 despite being 8 or 9 stone overweight and diabetic.

Genetics gives me confidence Burney, although my blood pressure, love of salty food and drinking make me concerned, if I'm honest.

[Burney]

Ah, now this I like given that my father is still kicking about at 86 and my mother at 82. And my father smoked two packs a day when he was younger and basically never exercised a day in his life. His father passed at 83 and my mother's father at 75 despite being 8 or 9 stone overweight and diabetic.

Genetics gives me confidence Burney, although my blood pressure, love of salty food and drinking make me concerned, if I'm honest.

Heart disease almost always runs in the family. Fortunately, my family has absolutely no history of it whatsoever. We tend to die of cancer and drink.

[Pokster]

Heart disease almost always runs in the family. Fortunately, my family has absolutely no history of it whatsoever. We tend to die of cancer and drink.

Dad died of heart problems at 50, his dad died at 50........ so I've beaten them both

[Burney]

Dad died of heart problems at 50, his dad died at 50........ so I've beaten them both

Good man. You may, of course inherited your mum's heart. It's funny how it works. My daughter - thankfully - seems to have inherited my mother's genes, which means she doesn't have the genes associated with certain health issues my ex had. That said, it does mean she's only about five feet tall and has tiny feet, but that's a small price to pay.