UK residents ‘oblivious to heart failure impact’

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has published new research demonstrating a lack of understanding of the full effects of severe heart failure in the UK.

According to a survey carried out by the charity, more than three-quarters of respondents are unaware of the condition and the impact it can have, despite the fact that more than 750,000 people are living with heart failure in the UK at present.

One-third of people believe that heart failure means the organ stops working, whereas in fact the heart continues to beat but is unable to pump properly, causing the lungs to fill with fluid and creating breathing difficulties.

This study comes as part of the foundation's Mending Broken Hearts Appeal, which aims to raise money to support regenerative medicine research that could help address this issue.

BHF medical director Professor Peter Weissberg said: "We believe a cure for heart failure is a goal we can achieve. We want to advance the science so that when someone has a heart attack, doctors have the tools to help repair the heart."

There are a number of related conditions that can increase the likelihood of heart failure developing, including coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, cardiomyopathy and atrial fibrillation.