Heart failure is one of the biggest heart issues affecting people in Monmouthshire, with some 1,600 diagnosed cases.

But as national Heart Month gets under way (February 2023), local heart charity the North Gwent Cardiac Rehabilitation and Aftercare Charity warns that the true number is probably much higher with many people going undiagnosed until they are admitted to hospital with advanced heart failure and serious complications.

“Heart failure is the term used when your heart can’t pump blood around your body as well as it should, and needs treatment to help it work better,” explains charity chair Jacky Miles MBE, Associate Professor with the School of Care Sciences at the University of South Wales

“It can be caused by damage to your heart – most commonly as the result of a heart attack or high blood pressure. 

‘‘But in Wales some 50 per cent of cases are due to coronary heart disease, where the arteries supplying your heart muscle become narrowed by fatty deposits, starving it of the oxygen-rich blood it needs to work efficiently.” 

The three key symptoms are Fighting for or shortness of breath, Fatigue or lack of energy, and Fluid build-up, often noticeable as puffy feet and ankles and unexplained weight gain.

The good news, says Jacky, is that modern drug treatment coupled with monitoring by your healthcare team and a programme of regular cardiac rehab exercise can significantly improve and extend the lives of people living with heart failure.

“And as an added bonus, regular exercise can also help you stay out of hospital and reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke and other serious complications.”

When to seek advice

The British Society for Heart Failure recommends seeking medical advice as soon as possible if you recognise the following symptoms – the 3 Fs – in yourself or those you care for:

Fighting for breath; Fatigue

Fluid build-up

Early diagnosis and referral to a specialist can significantly improve outcomes – as can taking part in appropriate cardiac rehab exercise.

• The charity runs 10 x weekly cardiac rehab exercise classes at venues across Monmouthshire and Blaenau Gwent.

For details of how to join, visit cardiac-rehab.org.uk, email [email protected] or call 07856 629148.

Tony’s story

Usk resident Tony Grenow, 65, has a hereditary condition that causes high cholesterol.

He had a serious heart attack 10 years ago and is now living with heart failure.

But when he tells his story, the word that crops up most often is “lucky”.

Lucky that, as a regular blood donor, his high cholesterol was picked up in his early 50s: an early warning that led to his GP prescribing cholesterol-lowering statins.

Lucky that a year before his heart attack, he’d attended an Ambulance Service First Aid course, and that the trainer’s parting words – “never be afraid to call us if someone has chest pains” – stuck.

Lucky that when he developed chest pain he remembered that advice and the ambulance arrived within minutes.

And lucky that it was only when he was in the ambulance and on the way to hospital that he went into full cardiac arrest.

“I thought it was indigestion to start with,” says the retired planning officer. “But when the pain started spreading down my arm, up my neck and into my jaw I knew it was a lot more serious.

“The last thing I remember was getting into the ambulance: nothing else until I woke up in A&E at Nevill Hall Hospital.”

Tony had an angioplasty the following day, to help widen his arteries and improve blood flow to his heart, and after going through the hospital-based cardiac rehab programme was referred to the North Gwent Cardiac Rehabilitation and Aftercare Charity for ongoing rehab support.

Tony admits he’s not naturally drawn to exercise. “I played club rugby up until I was 42, but even then, the training was just a means to an end. But I know exercise is an important part of managing my heart failure, so I cycle a five-mile route four or five times a week, and do at least one Cardiac Rehab class.

“Coming to a specialist heart class with trained instructors gives me confidence as I know I’m in a safe environment, with people who understand about heart conditions. I like to make the most of my time while I’m there, but it’s nice to catch up with people, too.

‘‘And there’s absolutely no pressure: you can work as hard as you like, or take it a bit easier if you’re having an off day.

“The way I look at it there’s life and there’s living.

‘‘So, I still enjoy a beer, and exercise is the trade-off.

‘‘I’m lucky that even with heart failure, I can still do pretty much everything I enjoy.

‘‘And I’m pretty sure that’s a lot to do with keeping up with the Cardiac Rehab classes.”