Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

epSos.de via Creative Commons/Flickr

Just 14 per cent of Irish people know the symptoms of heart failure

Despite heart failure being one of Ireland’s deadliest conditions, just one in seven people can correctly identify the symptoms.

JUST ONE IN seven people in Ireland can correctly identify the symptoms of heart failure – despite the fact that it is one of Ireland’s deadliest conditions.

An Ipsos MRBI poll for the Irish Heart Foundation has shown that just 14 per cent of people surveyed could name more than one symptom of heart failure – such as unexplained breathlessness, swollen ankles and severe tiredness.

In terms of prevention, just five per cent of respondents said that treatment for high blood pressure was an important action people could take to reduce their risk of heart failure – a fact that Irish Heart Foundation Medical Director, Dr Angie Brown, called “extremely worrying”, given that high blood pressure predates the majority of heart failure presentations.

Symptoms of heart failure

  • Fatigue
  • Shortness of breath, especially with activity
  • Shortness of breath when lying flat
  • Swollen feet and ankles
  • Weight gain over a short period of time (ie days)
  • Loss of appetite and abdominal swelling
  • Dizziness or near fainting episodes
  • Irritable cough, sometimes producing frothy sputum
  • Sudden severe breathlessness waking one from sleep – this requires urgent attention

A worse five year survival rate than many forms of cancer

More than 90,000 people in Ireland are living with heart failure and 20,000 are admitted to hospital each year as a result of the condition, which the Irish Heart Foundation says has a worse five year survival rate than many forms of cancer. The IHF says it is vital for people to understand how deadly heart failure can be if left untreated – pointing out that 60 per cent of heart failure sufferers will die within five years of experiencing the condition.

Respondents also appeared to be confused about what exactly heart failure was: while 93 per cent of those surveyed were familiar with the term, just 73 per cent could correctly identify it as a condition that prevents the heart from pumping properly or working as efficiently as it could.

Brown said that there was “no doubt” that low awareness levels of heart failure was leading to high levels of avoidable death in Ireland. “Because so few people understand how common and life threatening the condition is, they are not seeking the prompt medical assistance that can save their lives. With suitable treatment patients can live an active and comfortable life, preventing the heart function getting worse and helping them live longer,” she said.

The IHF says that 42 per cent of hospital bed time is related to heart failure admissions, and says that timely interventions significantly improve both patients’ quality of life and longevity – as well as making huge cost savings.

Misinformation

As well as ignorance surrounding the true symptoms of heart failure, the survey also showed that respondents incorrectly thought some unrelated symptoms were associated with the condition. Some 51 per cent of the 1,000 people polled wrongly thought that chest pain was a heart failure symptom, whilst 58 per cent mistakenly defined it as a heart attack or a condition that stopped the heart beating.

“All this points to dangerous levels of ignorance and confusion at a time when the incidence of heart failure is predicted to rise dramatically – up to 63 per cent by 2019, Brown said. “There is little chance that the HSE will undertake an expensive awareness raising campaign – despite the benefits of doing so – given the prevailing economic climate. So people have to take it on themselves to make sure they know the warning signs and what they have to do to minimise their risk of developing heart failure”.

Brown identified several points that can help to prevent heart failure:

  • Regular exercise
  • A healthy diet
  • Stopping smoking
  • Reducing alcohol intake
  • Receiving treatment for high blood pressure
  • Receiving treatment for cholesterol

For your free copy of Living well with Heart Failure, contact the Irish Heart Foundation on 01 6685001. Or talk in confidence to an Irish Heart Foundation nurse on the National Heart & Stroke Helpline 1890 432 787, Mon to Fri, 10am to 5pm. www.irishheart.ie

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
10 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shane Brehony
    Favourite Shane Brehony
    Report
    Jan 10th 2012, 7:40 AM

    Brown highlights things that can help avoid heart failure but where is it highlighted what are the identifying marks of heart failure .

    67
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute linda marvel
    Favourite linda marvel
    Report
    Jan 10th 2012, 8:12 AM

    He said it at the start: unexplained breathlessness, swollen ankles and severe tiredness:)

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sam Rhodes
    Favourite Sam Rhodes
    Report
    Jan 10th 2012, 11:30 AM

    This article only lists three symptoms. Would it not be beneficial to list them all given the title of the article?

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute vv7k7Z3c
    Favourite vv7k7Z3c
    Report
    Jan 10th 2012, 5:11 PM

    Hi Sam – good point! I’ve found the rest of the symptoms of heart failure and placed them in the story.
    Cheers,
    Jennifer

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute JibberIrish
    Favourite JibberIrish
    Report
    Jan 10th 2012, 8:47 AM

    Oops… I have had all them symptoms, not together mind you. I thought it was pain in left arm. 0_o

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shanti Om
    Favourite Shanti Om
    Report
    Jan 10th 2012, 4:01 PM

    Shooting pains down the left arm as well as tightness in the chest is a sign of a heart attack, which is time to call an ambulance.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Caroline Dimascio
    Favourite Caroline Dimascio
    Report
    Jan 10th 2012, 9:20 AM

    Not many people know, including doctors that the symptoms for women are different to men. Often the first symptom is death after the menopause. :{

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aisling Cahill
    Favourite Aisling Cahill
    Report
    Jan 10th 2012, 4:26 PM

    This article is extremely unhelpful. If you care about the issue, do something about it.

    i.e. LIST in an easily-digested format, ALL of the symptoms of heart failure

    This may be more useful than random statistics buried in quotes and other bunf.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sam Rhodes
    Favourite Sam Rhodes
    Report
    Jan 11th 2012, 12:46 AM

    Jennifer has kindly updated the article to include the symptoms, thanks Jennifer. A public information campaign along the lines of the highly successful FAST campaign for strokes would be really useful. However in the absence of that we can all help by sharing this post on social media. I’m sticking it on my FB now….

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lillian Sallee
    Favourite Lillian Sallee
    Report
    Jan 11th 2012, 12:22 AM

    I’m glad to see this topic covered. A more detailed follow-up article or feature would be very valuable including the different types of heart failure: left, right and congestive; acute versus chronic; male versus female and cardiomyopathy related. There are many similarities but there a definite differences. Additionally more details of causes of each and treatment options would be the icing on the cake.

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      News in 60 seconds