Heart Failure team helping screen undiagnosed patients
The Heart Failure team from the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital will be helping to detect undiagnosed heart failure at the Pumping Marvellous BEAT Healthy Heart Event in March.
The Pumping Marvellous Foundation was set up by a patient with heart failure and provides information and advocacy for patients living with the condition. They run heart health events across the country and this year the first takes place in Norwich.
Members of the public can drop in to the Forum in Norwich on 7 March from 10am until 3pm. They will be invited to complete a questionnaire, have their blood pressure taken and an enhanced pulse check. Those who appear symptomatic will be offered a finger prick blood test, and if positive will be referred to the NNUH Heart Failure service.
Cardiologist and Heart Failure lead, Dr Kristian Skinner, said: “Events like these are really important because lots of people are at risk of heart problems but have no symptoms, and some people might have symptoms of heart problems but put it down to other things. We hope that by going out into the community and encouraging people to get checked, we’ll be able to pick up more people at risk of heart problems, and reduce their risk, and perhaps some people who already have heart problems but don’t realise and get them treatment.”
Kate Hornby, Operations and Development Manager for Pumping Marvellous, added: “Over 30% of people we have seen to date have displayed hypertension, which is why heart health check-up events like this are so important. I’d encourage anyone over 40, with or without symptoms, to come and see us.”
Dr Bernard Brett, Medical Director at the NNUH said: “I strongly support this event and is a real opportunity for members of the public to undergo a simple and rapid assessment – early recognition of hypertension, heart failure and other cardiovascular conditions can enable treatment which can prevent much more serious disease in the future. The more we can prevent disease and enable people to live longer healthier lives the better.”