This February, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) are calling on people to ‘Go Red’ for Heart Month and raise money for lifesaving research. You can get involved by hosting events like a coffee morning, a red-themed office day, a quiz, or a sports tournament. Participants can create a fundraising page on the BHF website to promote their activity and collect donations.

The British Heart Foundation have managed to do a vast amount of research thanks to the individuals who fundraise for the cause. Their ‘heart conditions’ research has revolutionised how heart diseases such as heart attacks, heart rhythm problems and congenital heart defects are treated.

Reasons why the BHF conduct their research: –

• 190 people die from heart attacks each day
• Over a million people in the UK have a heart rhythm problem
• Each day, 13 babies in the UK are diagnosed with congenital heart disease
• An estimated 920,000 people in the UK are living with heart failure

Heart UK are taking this Heart Month to raise awareness about cholesterol and are outlining ways to adjust your lifestyle for a healthy heart. This year they are encouraging people to take action to improve their heart health. Join in on their challenge events such as 10,000 steps a day or organise a healthier bakes fundraiser.

Some of the main risk factors for heart issues are: –

• High blood pressure: This increases the heart’s workload, leading to thickened and stiffened heart muscles.
• High cholesterol: Elevated levels can lead to the build up of fatty deposits in your arteries.
• Smoking: Significantly raises the risk of developing heart disease.
• Physical inactivity: This can contribute to weight gain and increased risk of heart conditions.
• Unhealthy diet: Diets high in saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol can contribute to heart disease.

Some preventative measures you can make are: –

• Regular physical activity: Engaging in at least 150 minutes a week can improve heart health.
• Healthy eating: Consuming a balanced diet will help maintain optimal heart function.
• Stop smoking: This reduces the risk of heart disease significantly.
• Regular health screenings: Monitoring blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and diabetes status aids in early detection and management of potential issues.

It is also vital that medical professionals are alert to heart issues, identifying people who are at risk and investigating and treating symptoms which could indicate heart issues and if they do not do this, it may result in medical negligence. For example, Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is the leading cause of heart attacks. CHD is a condition in which the coronary arteries (the major blood vessels that supply the heart with blood) become clogged with deposits of fats such as cholesterol and other substances. If CHD can be diagnosed before a person suffers a heart attack, they can receive treatment for this, including medication and surgery, such as stenting or a heart bypass. If there is a negligent failure to diagnose CHD, a medical negligence claim may be able to be brought.

Also, when someone is suffering from a heart attack, it is vital that they receive treatment as quickly as possible, in order to give them the best possible chance of recovery. If there is a negligent delay in providing treatment after a heart attack, such as delays in paramedic attendance or failure to recognise cardiac symptoms, and there has a been a worse outcome because of it, a medical negligence claim may be able to be brought.

We at Williamsons have a long history of successfully pursuing claims concerning heart issues, including surrounding treatment delays following a heart attack and surgical errors during cardiac surgery. If you would like to discuss a potential claim concerning heart care, please do not hesitate to contact our experienced medical negligence team.