Live chat on our Mending Broken Hearts Appeal

Join our live chat online with the BHF Medical Director Professor Peter Weissberg on Thursday 24th of February between 4pm and 6pm.

Peter will be answering your questions “live” on our BHF blog with questions coming from the our Facebook page, Twitter and email.

This is your chance to ask us about our new appeal, you could ask us about the Zebrafish and what we can learn from them.

Or perhaps you want to know more about regenerative medicine, whatever your question we look forward to hearing them.

How do I ask a question?

The "live chat" will take place on Thursday 24th February 2011 between 4pm and 6pm.

If you can’t make that time but would still like to ask a question you can send us your question now and check the blog after 6pm on Thursday to find out your answer.

You can send us your question by:

• Emailing us your question to internet@bhf.org.uk

• Posting it on the BHF Facebook page

• Tweeting your question with the hashtag #HOPEisComing

We look forward to hearing from you!

You can be reminded of the "live" chat by accepting our event on Facebook.

Campaigning and policy live chat 24 November 4-6pm

Got a burning question about the campaigning we do and our policies on heart health, but never known who to ask?

Well, get ready, because on Wednesday 24 November between 4pm and 6pm, Betty McBride - our Director of Policy and Communications - and Maura Gillespie - our Head of Policy - will be answering your questions live on our blog.

You could ask us why we’re campaigning for a ban on tobacco vending machines, or why we want to get women and heart disease in the news.

Why not ask what we’re doing to get results for heart patients from the new government, or what we think of their plans for the NHS?

Perhaps you’d like to know what we plan to do next year, or find out how to join our campaigns.

Whatever your question, ask it – we’re ready.

How do I ask a question?

Send your question to us on in advance or on Wednesday, at any time before 6pm:

• Email us your question to internet@bhf.org.uk

• Post it on the BHF Facebook page

• Tweet it with the hashtag #BHFQs.

Betty and Maura will try to answer as many of your questions as possible on the day. We look forward to hearing from you!

Thanks and Goodbye from Peter and Keith

The live chat has now finished. Thank you for all your questions and staying with us for the answers.

This is the first in a series of live chats which we'll be continuing over the coming months. The next topic planned is on policy, in November. Please check our website, Facebook page and Twitter account for more details in the weeks to come.

As always do comment here if you've got any other thoughts or questions. But for now Peter and Keith would like to say goodbye.

Live chat for BHF Volunteers

Take part in our very first Volunteer Live Chat on Tuesday 5^th October between 4pm and 6pm. Our Chief Executive, Peter Hollins, and Fundraising Director, Aneesha Moreira will both be on hand on the BHF blog to discuss your comments, ideas, feedback and questions.

You can submit your question in advance or on the day by:

• Emailing internet@bhf.org.uk with your question and "Live chat" in the subject line
  
• Posting a question on our Facebook fan page
• Sending us a "tweet" with your question using the hashtag #BHFQs.

We will answer all the questions on this blog we receive on our blog, so keep an eye out for your question and answer.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Live chat nurse Judy - the final question

Katie asks: “Hi, I am 27 years old and was born with my left coronary artery on the wrong side. I had this re-implanted at 10months old and also suffered a heart attack. I have since found out in October last year that my valves were leaking and they were going to replace them up until I had an angiogram in January and they discovered my heart was enlarged. Plus almost 1 1/3 of my heart is just scar tissue from having the heart attack as a baby. So I was told the only option for me was a heart transplant. So I now take 3 different meds a day and I am becoming more symptomatic showing breathless, limited exercise tolerance and chest pain. I have been referred to another consultant for a transplant assessment and wondered what this entails exactly? I am a mother of 3 and a wife, as you can imagine this is a very anxious time for us all. How long is recovery after transplant? How long will I be in hospital for? Look forward to hearing from you.”

Judy says:

I am so sorry to read of your very complicated medical history and of your need to have a heart transplant so young. I totally appreciate how hard it must be for you, your husband and your young family. The recovery period following a heart transplant varies considerably from one patient to another. You can read more about what to expect before and after the surgery in our BHF publication on heart transplants. I hope that you will be ok, that you will be accepted for the surgery and that you will be given a new heart soon. If you want to chat about this you might find it easier to call our HelpLine on 0300 300 3311 and talk to a cardiac nurse. I wish you good luck with everything and I hope that you have the support you need and deserve from family and friends.

You may also want to contact the heart transplant support network on 0800 027 4490 or the their website.

Live chat with nurse Judy

Frances asks: “My 16 year old son had open heart surgery last month to replace aortic valve. As a result of heart block, he has now had a pacemaker fitted. Once everything is healed, and he is fully recovered, what is the maximum weight he can safely lift? The reason for asking is that he is looking at career choices and wouldn’t want to choose something physical if it could affect his health.”

Judy says:

I hope your son is making a good recovery from his open heart surgery and his pacemaker insertion. It’s hard to give you a definitive answer to your question as I don’t know his full medical background and the type of heart condition he has. If he has congenital heart disease, he should have a chat with his cardiologist about career choices. Some young people with complex congenital heart disease are encouraged not to do weight lifting but others with more simple congenital heart disease do not need to be so careful. I hope that your son’s cardiologist will be supportive and give you him the advice that he needs. I wish him luck with his health and his career choice.

Live chat with nurse Judy

Denise asks: "Hi Judy I’m 42 awaiting valve surgery they have said I’ve got a tiny femoral artery it needs some electrical rewiring and there’s a hole. I’m just a bit worried about being on warfarin all my life they have said if it cant be repaired a metal valve will be fitted any info about the warfarin I’d be grateful thanks."

Judy says:

I am sorry to read that you need to have valve surgery and I understand your concern about taking warfarin for life. There are benefits and risks associated with taking warfain which you can read about here. If you have a metal valve replacement you will have to take warfarin for life as otherwise a potentially fatal clot would build up on the valve. When making the decision about surgery what you need to consider is what are the risks associated with the surgery (and with warfarin) versus the risks associated with not having the surgery in the first place.

It might be worth talking to your surgeon about this again if he or she did not explain the risks of not having surgery. You can read more about valve disease here. Whatever you decide I wish you good luck with it and good health for the future.

Live chat with nurse Judy

Eric asks: I had a minor heart attack in 2002 and have been put on ramipril, simvastatin, metoprolol tartrate and asprin for life. What evidence is there to prove that I will live any longer taking the pills. Being a scientist by training I like to evaluate evidence for myself and not do something because some government dept. thinks its a good idea! I run, go to a gym twice a week and have not had a problems since 2002. Have I improved my chances of avoiding HA or are the chances still the same as if I had put my feet up?

Judy says:

I am sorry to read that you have experienced a heart attack but it’s great that you have made a good recovery. It’s difficult to point you in the direction of the evidence which supports the use of the cocktail of medication used to prevent a second heart attack as this evidence is not in one place. As a scientist yourself I am sure you will appreciate that the vast body of evidence has been accumulated over many years from scientists and medical researchers across the world. If you have a look at the stats on our website you will see that the death rate from heart disease has been steadily declining and the medication prescribed post a heart attack will have contributed to this decline. Other contributing factors include more prompt diagnosis and better access to emergency treatment (clot busting drug) at the time of the heart attack.

But you are right when you point out that medication alone is not enough and a healthy lifestyle is a vital part of the post heart attack rehabilitation. Its great that you have taken control over your health by going to gym twice a week.

I hope that this has answered your questions and I wish you good health in the future.

Live chat with nurse Judy

Janie asks: “How does a Bivent work I understand the pacing and defib, but unsure about the other function, I have one fitted due to Cardiomyopathy”

Judy says:

The benefit of biventricular pacing is that it in addition to regulating the heart rate, it can help to improve the pumping function of the heart muscle. There are three leads, one in the atrium, one in right ventricle and one in the left ventricle. By pacing both ventricles it help to synchronise them and thereby helping to make the heart more efficient. This can help to relieve symptoms. You can read more about biventricular pacing in our booklet pacemakers and more about cardiomyopathy here.

Live chat with nurse Judy

Carey asks: “Hi Judy, I'm 31 and had a heart attack end of March this year. I was put on 1.25mg Ramipril once a day (amongst other things!), which last week was increased to 2.5mg. On the lower dose I felt fine, but since the dose being increased my heart misses a beat quite frequently; approx. 5 times an hour. Is this something to... be concerned about and should i go to see my GP to go back on the original dose? Thanks Carey”

Judy says:

I am very sorry to read that you have had a heart attack at such a young age. Ramipril belongs to a group of drugs called Ace Inhibitors. Those drugs can drop your blood pressure quite quickly when you first start taking them. So it is standard practice to start on a low dose and gradually increase. 1.25 mgs is usually considered to be too low for long term use so it is not surprising that your GP increased it to 2.5 mgs.

Your symptom of being aware of your heart beat or feeling that your heart misses a beat every now and then is not uncommon. It may be that you have a disturbance to the heart rhythm or it may be that you are just experiencing an extra beat every now and then which is harmless. It would be worth reporting it to your GP who could arrange for some tests to help you get to the bottom of it. Hope this helps. I wish you good health for the future.

Live chat with nurse Judy

Luke asks: “I recently had my cholesterol checked and it was high. 7.9 to be exact, but the HDL was high at 1.3. I am 33 years old, my mother and grand mother both have high cholesterol and take tablets. No family history of heart attacks before 50. I am fit and well, and very active. Gym 2-3 times per week, football twice a week. I changed my diet as I ate a lot of eggs, and now only have eggs once a week. I take benecol and use flora pro active butter. I have cut down on my saturated fat intake, and I eat more porridge, lentils, pulses, fish etc. I always have 5 a day in fruit and veg. I drink alcohol at weekends and probably consume between 20-30 units. I smoke 1-2 cigars at the weekend. I was surprised by my reading, as I am not over weight, and I have a good diet or so I thought. I have lowered it to 5.9 now, but I still need to lower it further. Is there anything more I can do?”
Judy says:

It’s great that you are doing lots of exercise each week and eating healthily, so it’s a shame that your smoking and drinking habits are so unhealthy. 20 to 30 units of alcohol over 2 to 3 days is excessive and way beyond the recommended guidelines of 2-3 units a day for men. Alcohol is very high in calories and binge drinking is potentially damaging to the liver and the heart. Smoking is also a significant risk factor for developing heart disease in the future. It sounds as though it’s the weekends that you struggle with – it might be worth trying to identify small steps you could take to change your weekend habits. Only you will know which steps are realistic and achievable but I recommend that you identify some tangible goals to reach as a starting point such as having one cigar instead or two, and take it from there until you have given up completely.

A family history of high cholesterol should not be ignored and it may be that you have a genetic condition called familial hypercholesterolemia. You can find more information on the condition here. Take this to your GP for further advice as you may benefit from taking a statin. But a healthy lifestyle is a vital part of reducing your risk of developing heart disease in the future. I wish you the best of luck in reducing our alcohol intake and with quitting smoking.

Live chat with nurse Judy

Karen asks: “My husband had a heart attack at the end of January, he had a stent fitted, he was off work 3 weeks. He is now back to playing football twice weekly and golf, I say he is doing too much and should be taking it easy, wasn’t this a sign telling him to slow down. How likely is he to have another heart attack, he is 55.”

Judy says:

Your concern is understandable and is very commonly experienced by partners/spouses of someone who has had a heart attack. When I first started nursing it was common practice to keep patients in bed for ages following a heart attack. Now thanks to research we know that regular exercise is good for the heart, and that it’s an important part of the rehabilitation programme for those who have had a heart attack.

Lots of people ask us to quantify the risk of having a second heart attack. It’s impossible to do this but what I can tell you is that a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise, can help to reduce the risk of another heart attack. It’s also important that your husband takes the medication he has been prescribed.

Another benefit of regular exercise is that it’s great for mental health and well being and can help boost the confidence of the person who has had the heart attack. So whilst I can fully understand your concerns it would be best to encourage your husband to keep active. Obviously if he were to experience symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath on exertion he should stop and rest and report it to his GP. But if he has no symptoms on exercise he should continue to enjoy it and all the benefits it brings.

Live chat with nurse Judy - we're back!

Lindsay asks: "Hi about three months a go I had an ablation on my heart which my consultant told me was successful, since the operation I have not felt very well and have found it hard to get around without feeling dizzy and off balance, also I keep getting a severe headache pulsating at the back of my head, so I went back to my consultant and had a 24hr tape put on and he has now diagnosed me with Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia and put me on a tablet called Ivabradine 5mg twice a day. I’m still feeling really unwell and wondered if anybody could help, thank you"


Judy says "I am very sorry to hear of your considerable symptoms – it must be difficult to tolerate the headache you described. Ablation treatment for heart rhythms problems is usually reserved for those people for whom medication did work. In other words it is used for people whose rhythm and associated symptoms are difficult to control. Unfortunately it does not always work and sometimes a second attempt is needed or other medication. I suggest you keep in communication with your cardiologist who can continue to monitor your symptoms and make adjustments to your treatment accordingly. Sometimes it takes a while to identify the effective treatment for some people with heart rhythm problems – I hope yours will soon be under control and that you’ll feel better soon."

Thanks for your question, we hope that has helped.

Live chat with nurse Judy - out to lunch

Hi everyone, thank you for all the questions so far today, we have been inundated! We hope that the answers have helped you all.

Our nurse Judy is now on lunch and we will be back at 1:45 to answer more questions. Please keep the questions coming and we will try to answer as many as we can.

Thanks, see you all at 1:45.

Live chat with nurse Judy

Christine asks: "Hi my husband has heart disease, he had a quadruple bypass 5 yrs ago but 3 have closed already and only has 1 doing all the work, how long can this artery last?"

Judy says:

I am very sorry to read that your husband has had such bad luck so soon after his surgery. It’s impossible to answer your question to be honest – no one can predict how long before his symptoms will return. The rate at which the disease progresses to the viable bypass graft can be reduced with a combination of medication and a healthy lifestyle. It would be advisable therefore for him to take the medication he has been prescribed and to avoid smoking, eat a healthy diet (low in saturated fat and rich in fruit and vegetables) and to take regular physical activity.

I can understand that its a concern for you so you might find some support by joining our free service Heart Matters. Members receive a free magazine where we regularly feature articles on caring for someone with a heart condition. You might find it comforting to know that a lot of spouses/partners are in your position. I wish your husband good health and I hope that he will remain symptom free for a long time.

Live chat with nurse Judy

Sarah asks: My son was born with Tetralogy of Fallots and dissconnected pulmonary artery. He had a Fallots Repair two years ago, having the pulmonary artery repaired and a shunt fitted after birth. We have been told he will need further surgery as he grows to replace tubes with bigger ones. Around what age is this normally done? Also he has a very loud heart beat, is this normal?

Judy asks:

The age at which a child with a ‘repaired’ Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) needs further surgery will vary from one child to another depending on the child’s symptoms as he or she grows. If you notice that he is playing less or complaining of being short of breath let your GP or paediatrician know. As a general rule, children with TOF will be seen regularly in clinic by their paediatrician so that their condition and symptoms can be monitored. We recently published a new booklet for parents of children with TOF. I’m not sure why his heart beat is loud – ask his GP for advice about this.

I hope your little boy is enjoying the summer with his friends and I wish him good look with any further surgery.

Live chat with nurse Judy

Barry asks: "How concerned should I be that my father's around 4 stone overweight - is this putting him at higher risk of heart trouble? Thanks"

Judy says:

You are right to be concerned about your dad’s weight – being overweight increases the risk of developing heart disease. If his weight is predominantly around his middle it will increase his risk of developing diabetes which in turns increases the risk of heart disease.

We may be able to help to motivate him to lose weight with our free Heart Matters service. On joining your dad would receive a free membership pack which includes a handy tape measure with instructions on how to measure his waist. The tape measure highlights the point at which an increased waist measurement increases the risk of heart disease – some of our members have told us that this motivated them to lose weight so that they went from the ‘at risk red area’ of the tape to the healthier white. Of course lots of people find eating healthily a chore so we have over 140 healthy but tasty recipes available to choose from our online recipe finder.

Our free heart matters magazine gives tips on staying active in ways that are both enjoyable and inexpensive. If you dad joins today he will receive our October issue of the magazine which has a fantastic article on dog walking. I hope he will give us the opportunity to support him in looking after his heart by joining Heart Matters.

Live chat with nurse Judy

Keri says: I am 31 and have SVT and up until few months ago was controlled by 50mg atenolol once daily. I had a major SVT event in june and since then I have minor ones daily,dizzy spells, am extremely fatigued and easily fatigued by simple things like housework or walking down stairs at tube station and have noticed fluid buildu...p which I brought up to my gp as we're waiting for my cardiology appointment in 3 weeks. He said my blood pressure is too low to give me anything for fluid its 102/80 and ordered blood tests and a 48hr holter test. My question is with the blood test and all the other symptoms is it possible I am entering heart failure? And what should I be keeping track of to tell cardiologist? At present its everything from svt events how often I get fatigued, dizziness etc.

Judy says:

I am sorry to read that you are so unwell at the moment. When the heart rate is fast and erratic it can lead to the symptoms you have described - low levels of energy on minimal exertion and shortness of breath. Whilst people with heart failure can experience similar symptoms those symptoms alone do not mean that you have heart failure. For most people, once their SVT is better controlled with medication they notice an improvement in symptoms. I hope that this will be case with you and your quality of life will improve soon. As for what you need to tell your cardiologist, what you’ve told us is what you need to tell him or her. A diagnosis will be made using information you give on your symptoms and the test results. Good luck and hope you’ll feel better soon.

Russell asks: I have a 47 year old sister with Downs Syndrome who has always had a slight heart murmur that has never caused any concerns. In the last 6 months she has been suffering from 'funny turns' when she describes her head as 'being funny.' She has undergone several tests including a heart scan and being wired to a heart monitor for 24 hours. The results showed that she has a thickening of the aortic valve that the doctors have told us is no cause for concern. Our family history includes a grandmother who had angina and died of a heart attack, our mother (she also had angina) who during a routine stent operation suffered heart failure and died ten days after the op from a heart attack, a sister (who at the time was 52) who had a massive heart attack and ended up in the bed next to our mum in coronary care. In total there are 9 offspring of whom 3 have heart problems and 4 who have high cholesterol. Gosh, we do sound a right lot don't we?! Our concern is that the valve problem our sister has, given our family history seems to have been dismissed. Should we be doing anything specific regarding this matter? If you could offer any advice we would be very grateful.

On a final note my whole family think you do a fantastic job! Although sadly mum couldn't be saved the care and attention mum, my sister and our whole family received from the staff on the coronary care unit at the Alexander Hospital in Redditch was second to none, they were truly wonderful. Our family did a sponsored walk in memory of mum and to say a massive 'Thank You' and we managed to raise £2,349 which we hoped show our appreciation in a small way.
I am so sorry to read that several members of your family have been affected by heart disease. Thank you for raising funds for us in memory of your mum which will help us to continue our work.

Judy says:

Down’s Syndrome is often associated with congenital heart disease so I am not surprised to hear that your sister has always had a murmur (an unusual sound which can be heard with a stethoscope). Its good news that your sister was told that the thickening to her aortic valve does not need to be treated right now. I am not sure why she is experiencing dizzy spells though so it would be worth revisiting the GP if it persists. Another option is to call an ambulance at the time of her dizzy spell. Your GP may be able to advise you further on this. I hope that your family will have better luck in the future.

Thank you for all the money you have raised for us, what an amazing achievement! Thanks for your question and we hope our answer helped.

Live chat with nurse Judy

Stan asks: "I had a triple heart bypass in April 2007, and over the last two years I have had a tight chest which at times causes me to become a bit short winded, I have told my Doctor of this about ten times over the last two years, Four months ago he thought that I had asthma, after having an asthma test everything was normal, he then sent me for an E C G which everything was normal, He then suggested that it is muscle caused by the operation, I decided to see another Doctor who as told me that it is cartilage which takes a long time to heal after such an operation, I have asked other people that have had the same operation and no one as had anything similar to what I am experiencing. In your experience have you ever come across anything like this, I am asking this because I am concerned about it."

Judy says:

"You are not the first person I’ve heard talking about reoccurring pain following surgery though it is not the norm for everyone. It is reassuring that your doctor does not think that it is related to your heart but that it is more likely to be related to the healing process. If the pain is causing you considering distress it may be worth asking your GP if he or she thinks it is appropriate to refer you to a chronic pain specialist. Hopefully you will not experience a heart attack in the future but should you get chest pain that feels different to the pain you described above you should call 999 immediately. I wish you good health for the future."