Why Heart Failure Is More Prevalent in Wales

Can We Afford to be Ill in Wales?
October 4, 2016
Case History on Reducing Health Insurance Costs
October 19, 2016
Show all

Why Heart Failure Is More Prevalent in Wales

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has reported that there is a higher prevalence of heart failure in Wales than in the rest of the UK, reports the BBC. This reason for this worrying statistic may be down to social structure, especially within areas of higher unemployment and poverty.

Heart failure is a condition caused by the heart failing to pump enough blood around the body at the right pressure. It usually occurs because the heart muscle has become too weak or stiff to work properly. Heart failure does not mean a heart is about to stop working, but does mean the heart needs some support to do its job, usually in the form of medicines.

Heart failure does not often have a single cause. A number of problems usually “gang up” on the heart, causing it to fail.

The NHS lists some of the causes of heart failure including:

  • High blood pressure (hypertension) – this can put extra strain on the heart, which over time can lead to heart failure;
  • Coronary heart disease (CHD) – where the arteries that supply blood to the heart become clogged up by fatty substances (atherosclerosis), and may cause angina or a heart attack;
  • heart muscle weakness (cardiomyopathy) – this can cause heart failure; the reasons for this are often unclear, but it may be genetic in origin, or caused by an infection (usually viral), alcohol misuse, or medication used to treat cancer;
  • heart rhythm disturbance (atrial fibrillation);
  • heart valve disease, damage or problems with the heart’s valves;

Sometimes anaemia, an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism), or high pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension) can also lead to heart failure.

Unfortunately, in most cases, heart failure is a lifelong condition and cannot be cured. However, lifestyles changes, medicines, devices, and surgery can improve the function of the heart or remove excess water from the body. Such lifestyle changes include stopping smoking, losing weight, and drinking less alcohol.

Further information on heart failure can be found on the NHS website.

For information on Private Health Insurance, designed to provide people with special treatment or when someone needs to go into hospital, please contact us on:

Comments are closed.