Archive for the ‘Travelling with a heart condition’ Category

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Do you know about World Heart Day?

Monday, September 26th, 2011

World Heart Day was created in 2000 by the World Heart Federation. World Heart Day is celebrated every year to raise awareness of heart disease and how to promote healthy hearts. National activities such as public talks and screenings, walks and runs, concerts or sporting events  are organized worldwide by members and partners of the World Heart Federation.

 World Heart Day is at the end of this month, on the 29th September – it takes place on the same day each year.

The Theme this year is ‘One World, One Home, One Heart’. For the last 2 years, World Heart Day has focussed on heart health in the workplace, but this year we are urged to take charge of improving heart health within the home, for all the family. This includes choosing healthy food options, increasing physical activity, and saying no to tobacco. This year, we are challenged to take charge of our family’s heart health and become our home’s advocate for heart-healthy living.
The recommendations include:

1. Ban Smoking from your home: The risk of coronary heart disease is cut by half one year after quitting and 15 years after quitting the risk is nearly the same as someone who never smoked.
2. Stock your home with healthy food options: Recommendations include making sure that every evening meal contains at least 2 to 3 servings of vegetables per person, and including fruit in your breakfast.
3. Be Active: Just 30 minutes of activity on most days can help to prevent heart attacks and stroke. World Heart Day recommends families should limit the amount of time spent in front of the TV to less than 2 hours per day. It recommends organizing more outdoor activities for the family and this is especially interesting to us in terms of travel.  For example, could your next holiday be a cycling or hiking trip?
4. Know your numbers: Visit a healthcare professional who can measure your blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels, together with waist-to-hip ratio and body mass index (BMI). You can then develop an action plan specific to your own family’s heart health and  make this action plan clearly visible in your home as a reminder!

Ok, so a lot of these recommendations are things we know already, but it’s always useful to be reminded of them, and you may want to think how some of these recommendations might apply when booking your next holiday! You can get more information on travelling with a heart condition in our Medical Travel Insurance Guide.

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Could chocolate be the answer to heart disease?

Thursday, September 22nd, 2011

 

travelling with heart conditions

Could chocolate be the answer to heart diease?

Chocolate seems to help cut the risk of heart disease and stroke, an overview of research has found. People who ate the most chocolate had a 37% reduced risk of heart disease and 29% reduction in stroke, compared to those who ate least, according to analysis of data from more than 100,000 people.

Previous studies have found that chocolate contains anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds that could help ward off heart disease, but the problem is that many popular chocolate products still contains lots of fat and sugar and these ingredients are likely to offset any health benefits derived from the chocolate content.

Therefore, the researchers (from Cambridge University) said companies should consider reducing the fat and sugar content of their products to make the most of chocolate’s health-giving properties, but did not recommend that people increase their chocolate intake for the sake of their hearts.

They analysed seven studies of the topic, finding that five linked high chocolate consumption with lower risk of heart disease, even after adjusting for things like age, weight and exercise.

Some evidence suggests that dark chocolate with high cocoa content is the most healthy, but the studies included milk, dark and white chocolate, as well as drinks, biscuits and desserts.

Catherine Collins, a dietitian at St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust in London, said it could be the relaxing element of treating yourself to chocolate that is good for the heart.

Victoria Taylor, Senior Heart Health Dietitian at the British Heart Foundation, pointed out that more research needs to be done. This study didn’t explore what it is about chocolate that could help and if one particular type of chocolate is better than another, so she would not advise people to eat more chocolate based on this research.

Ok, so we can’t really answer the question in the title. As with  most things, chocolate may only play a partial role in a multi-faceted approach to a healthy heart, and there is still more research that needs to be done before we can really have an answer. But, for more information on a healthy heart, particularly when you are travelling, you can check out our info on travelling with heart conditions.

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Pecan nuts can help cut heart disease

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011
travelling with heart conditions

Eating pecan nuts can help cut heart disease

Nuts are really one of those foods – you either love them or you hate them (or cannot eat them because of allergies). But, according to this article, eating pecan nuts can lower the risk of developing heart disease. A study showed that eating pecans increases the amount of healthy antioxidants in the body, which help reduce inflammation in the arteries. This protective effect is important in helping to prevent development of heart disease.

The nuts are particularly rich in one form of the antioxidant vitamin E called gamma-tocopherol, and the study showed that its levels in the body doubled eight hours after eating pecans.

The researchers analysed 16 men and women who ate a sequence of three diets, one of whole pecans, one of pecans blended with water, and a neutral ‘control’ meal. The findings were published in the Journal of Nutrition.

Even after three hours, unhealthy oxidation of ‘bad’ cholesterol in the blood – which can cause heart problems – fell by up to a third (Walnuts can help lower cholesterol too). Research from Loma Linda University published earlier in the Journal of Nutrition showed that a pecan-enriched diet lowered total cholesterol levels by 11.3%.

So eating more pecans and walnuts is something to consider, as part of a healthy balanced diet of course. If you have a heart condition and are planning a holiday, you may be interested in our blog category, travelling with a heart condition.

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The genes behind heart disease

Thursday, March 10th, 2011
Travelling with heart conditions

Researchers have indentified genes associated with heart disease

 

According to this article, researchers have now identified a number of the rogue genes associated with heart disease, which is a major step forward.

The 18 genes that raise the risk of cardiac problems, from heart attacks to hardening of the arteries, have been pinpointed in three studies involving hundreds of scientists worldwide.

This information could help treat and even prevent heart disease, which is to blame for one in eight deaths around the world – including more than 90,000 a year in the UK. Researchers say that the potential of the findings is so great that heart disease could be eradicated within 50 years.

The discovery was detailed in the journal Nature Genetics. Some of the newly discovered genes affect cholesterol, blood pressure and other processes important to heart health – but how many of the others damage the heart and arteries is, as yet, a mystery. This suggests there are important causes of heart disease yet to be found – and that drugs to combat the effects of the genes could one day make a huge improvement to health through targeted drugs. Professor Hugh Watkins, who co-led one of the studies, said the first new drugs could be on the market in under a decade.

To identify the genes, 300 scientists from around the world analysed the DNA of more than 200,000 people. They focused on genetic links to the narrowing of the arteries that supply the heart muscle with  oxygen-rich blood. This narrowing, caused by the build up of fatty deposits, raises the risk of blood clots; angina; heart attacks; heart failure and irregular heartbeats.

North American researchers said the breakthrough meant we were ‘inching closer’ to a genetic test that will tell a person their risk of a heart attack.

However, it is important to remember, that for most people, other factors such as smoking, poor diet and a lack of exercise can play a much greater role in causing heart attacks.

So, this research seems to be a major development in the fight against heart disease, but obviously lifestyle still plays a major role too.

If you have a heart condition, and are planning any travel, you might want to check out our blog category, travelling with a heart condition.

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Scorpion Sting could help heart patients

Thursday, November 4th, 2010

Ok, when we think of scary creatures, scorpions are probably quite near the top of the list, together with spiders, and snakes. But actually scorpions may not be as bad as you think –they may be able to provide a useful function for people in the future who require a bypass. Travelling with a heart condition

A bypass is performed to improve blood flow to the heart in people with severe coronary artery disease who are at risk of heart attack. During the surgery a healthy artery or vein from another part of the body is connected  to the blocked coronary artery. The new passage routes oxygen-rich blood around the blockage to the heart muscle. The bypass can fail if the vein graft becomes blocked. An obstruction can develop if the body’s injury response causes too much cell growth.

An article in the Daily Mail, said that the bark scorpion, which can grow up to 8cm long, can help to reduce these bypass failures. The Central American bark scorpion is not deadly but has a painful sting in the form of a toxin.  Scientists at the University of Leeds have found that the toxin, margatoxin, is at least 100 times better than any other compound at preventing vein graft failure. It works by suppressing the blood vessel’s natural response to injury so keeping the vein clear.

The research was published in Cardiovascular Research. According to the scientists, Margatoxin would probably be unsuitable as a drug that could be swallowed, inhaled or injected, but it could potentially be taken forward as a spray-on treatment to the vein itself once it’s been removed and is waiting to be grafted onto the heart.

The British Heart Foundation, who part funded the study, said that 25,000 coronary artery bypass grafts are carried out each year in the UK. In successful procedures they typically last around 10 to 15 years.

If you have a heart condition, and have a holiday planned, or would like to book one, you may want to read more blogs in our travelling with a heart condition category.

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World Heart Day

Thursday, September 16th, 2010

The 26th of this month is World Heart Day, organised by the World Heart Federation. World Heart Day was created to inform people around the globe that heart disease and stroke are the world’s leading cause of death, claiming 17.1 million lives each year. The World Heart Federation spreads the news that at least 80% of premature deaths from heart disease and stroke could be avoided if the main risk factors, tobacco, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, are controlled.

This year is the 10 year anniversary of World Heart Day. At this 10-year milestone, the World Heart Federation is urging governments, healthcare professionals, employers and individuals to reduce the burden of heart disease and stroke.  They are calling for everyone to take responsibility for their own heart health.

Their particular focus this year is on work heart health but at Globebloggers

Travelling with heart conditions
Why not try a walking holiday to help keep your heart healthy?

we are all about holidays. Now when you are on holiday, it can be even harder for you to think about keeping your heart healthy – what with all the new gourmet food to try, and nights out. But there are some things you can consider when planning your destination that might help. For example, what about going on a more active holiday where you can indulge in some exercise? A walking holiday for example – Madeira is meant to be good for a walking holiday – or what about a biking holiday in Holland – at least it is flat! Although, make sure that your travel insurance will cover you for any activities you consider….

But what else can you do? If you do suffer from a heart condition or are simply trying to keep your heart healthy, please share your holiday experiences below and any useful tips for other Globebloggers readers.

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Help for your heart

Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

The 7th to the 13th June is Arrhythmia Awareness Week. This week aims to raise awareness and promote better understanding of arrhythmic conditions.

The theme for 2010 is ‘Know Your Pulse’ 2010. Now part of this campaign is about ensuring routine procedural pulse checks in GP surgeries as a means of identifying potential cardiac arrhythmias, and A-A is working to ensure that pulse checks become a routine procedure when someone visits their GP surgery.

However, a large part of the campaign is about your own personal health information, and tailoring health information to you, which is something I think is very important. It is all about checking your own pulse, using the Pulse Check Card. This card includes guidance on what the pulse is, what it means, when people should take their pulse and a table where you can record the results over a seven day period and seek further advice from  your GP, if required.

The card is very useful as a way to check your own personal health. The Arrhythmia Alliance want to make it clear that checking your pulse is as important as seeing how much you weigh or checking your blood pressure. The Pulse Check Card can be downloaded here www.knowyourpulse.org.

So I would say this campaign is a really good way to take control of your own health.

If you have been diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat, it may at first be something of a shock. However, you should still be able to live your life as fully as possible. So you might find out tips on travelling with an irregular heartbeat useful. If you choose your destination and plan your itinerary with care you should help to minimize any potential risks. It includes useful information on travelling with medication too.

If you do travel with an irregular heartbeat, please share your experiences below and any useful tips for other Globebloggers readers.

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Statins – the pros and cons

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

Statins, the cholesterol lowering tablets, are prescribed to around 6 million people in the UK, so it is likely that some of you reading this blog are currently taking statins. Statins work by reducing the amount of ‘bad cholesterol’ in the blood, which can cause the build up of fatty deposits in the arteries and lead to coronary artery disease. Statins affect the amount of cholesterol that your cells make, forcing them instead to gather cholesterol from your bloodstream, thereby reducing your blood cholesterol level. They have been hailed as a wonder drug in fighting heart disease, and the British Heart Foundation credits statins with saving 10,000 lives a year. However, potential side effects include sleep disturbance, depression and memory problems.

Here are some of the arguments ‘For’ and ‘Against’. For the full detail of these arguments, check out this article :

For

  • Statins save lives by preventing heart attacks and strokes by delaying the onset of cardiovascular disease (which is Britain’s biggest killer, responsible for 1 in 3 deaths)
  • Serious problems such as muscle wasting are very rare. Many people take statins without any problems
  • It is always preferable to  alter your lifestyle to lower risk – cutting out fatty foods, quitting smoking, losing weight, and exercising more. But such measures are not always enough to combat rising cholesterol.

Against

  • Side effects include muscle problems, hair loss, depression and impotence
  • People sometimes think that taking statins then give them licence to eat what they like
  • Patients can be motivated by panic to take statins because they fear that they are at risk if they don’t

 If you do take statin medication, and have a holiday planned, you may want to check out our AllClear4you which contains lots of useful information about travelling with medication, and any special considerations you might need.

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FactFile on Arrhythmias and Travel

Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010

Arrthymia is a change in your natural heart rate – an increase or decrease in speed, extra beats or even missed beats – due to a change in the normal electrical pattern of a heartbeat.Beach_deckchair_vector

 But what is a heartbeat? Well basically the heart acts as a muscular pump. It is activated by electrical impulses that  that first direct the upper 2 chambers of the heart (the left and right atria) to contract. These squeeze the blood into the lower chambers – the ventricles. The impulses then cause the ventricles to compress, pumping the blood to the lungs and the rest of the body. This process is a heartbeat.

 As we know, a heartbeat should normally occur between 60 and 100 times per min when the body is at rest. Tachycardia is when the rate is over 100, and brachycardia is when the rate is below 60.

If you have been diagnosed with an arrhythmia, you may be worried, but at AllClear we believe you should be able to live your life as normally as you can, and that includes being able to travel if at all possible. Please take a look at the AllClear4U page for full information on travelling with an arrhythmia. But for now, here is a brief description of the different types of irregular heartbeat and considerations for travel (Thanks to an article in the Daily Mail for providing some of the info).

 Atrial arrthymias

 Supraventicular tachycardia (SVT)

What is it? A fast heartbeat. Tony Blair suffered from this, although patients are more typically young females

Diagnosis? Diagnosed using an ECG (electrical tracing of the heart rhythm)

Symptoms? Palpitations, shortness of breath, chest pain, rapid breathing, dizziness

Complications? Unpleasant, but generally not life threatening

Treatment? Medication can be taken for infrequent symptoms. Ablation therapy – when a soft catheter is fed up a blood vessel to the heart and abnormal tissue is frozen – has a success rate of around 95% with many SVTs.

Travelling with medication? Make sure you carry sufficient medication in your hand luggage to cover you from “check in“ to reclaiming your baggage at your destination (Allow a few more hours on top in case of delays). Take a list of your medications which includes both the generic and brand names of each together with respective dosages. Keep the list separately from the medications themselves. Ideally all medication should be carried within your hand luggage just in case checked in luggage goes astray or medications are damaged in the hold.

 Atrial fibrillation (AF)

What is it? A particular type of SVT. Attacks can last from seconds to days and can become permanent. Up to aged 65, there is a 1% chance of developing AF, over age 75, it is 10%.

Causes? AF often occurs in those with high blood pressure, when the heart muscle in the left atrium begins to stretch, causing abnormal impulses to be sent out.

Symptoms? May be asymptomatic but could include palpitations or shortness of breath

Complications? Can cause clots which could cause a stroke

Treatment? In an otherwise healthy patient, aspirin is normally used. Those in high risk groups, such as the elderly or diabetics – are prescribed warfarin

Travel Destinations? Prepare your trip well in advance by checking out your accommodation. For example, avoid staying at a hotel situated at the top of a steep hill, miles away from the nearest town. It may not be advisable to travel to countries which have extremely cold conditions as this may affect the heart by increasing the heart rate and blood pressure, and the risk of developing clots. If you intend travelling to high altitudes, you should check with a medical professional that you are fit to travel.

 Ventricular arrhythmias

 Ventricular tachycardia (VF)

What is it? Rarer than SVT, it is a fast heartbeat originating from within the ventricles,  where the electrical impulses are firing too quickly to empty blood from the heart

Causes? Include scarring of the heart muscle following a heart attack; hereditary; viruses or alcohol abuse

Symptoms? Dizziness, palpitation, shortness of breath, collapse and loss of palpable pulse

Complications? VT can become ventricular fibrillation (when blood stops pumping into the arteries) and asystole (when there is no cardiac electrical activity) and cause sudden death

Treatments? Any underlying condition such as heart disease will need to be treated. For the symptoms, beta blocker medication

Travel Activities? If you have arrhythmia, there is a risk of losing consciousness if you go diving. Therefore, you will need to visit your doctor to see if you are fit to dive

 Heart disease can cause problems whilst on holiday, however if you choose your destination and plan your itinerary with care this should help to minimize any potential risks, and make sure that you enjoy your holiday!

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Holidays for your heart

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

So you have suffered from a heart attack or have been diagnosed with heart disease. You would not be alone – you would be among 3.5 million Britons, but what does this mean for you now personally?  You may have the medication, and made the necessary  adjustments to your lifestyle but how about living the rest of your life? It may be that you have a holiday booked and are now not sure whether you can go on it. Maybe it involved specific activities like horse riding or skiing and now you are not sure whether you can do this activity.

Well the good news is that keeping active is still said to be good for the heart, even after a heart attack. Here are some things that might help you if you are considering going on holiday with heart disease (Thanks to a nurse from the British Heart Foundation speaking in the Daily Mail for some of this information). For more detailed information, you might want to check out the AllClear4you page on travelling with a heart condition, and obviously you will still need to take advice from your medical professional for your specific situation.

 Can I go on holiday? For most heart disease patients, it is said to be better to keep yourself physically active, as this often helps reduce symptoms and the risk of another heart attack. The important thing is to discuss your plans with your medical professional, to ensure that you can travel safely. You could consider going on a holiday somewhere with beautiful scenery where you can enjoy some lovely long low-level walks, for example!

Travelling with a heart condition

Travelling with a heart condition

 So what precautions should I take?  Discuss any planned trip, and activity on that trip, with a medical professional. If you have recently had a heart attack, or have high blood pressure, you should be assessed by a specialist in cardiac care, who will check for diabetes, blood pressure and weight. It may be necessary to adjust your medication before taking part in any strenuous holiday activity such as skiing or living at altitude.

 What about my medication? Some medications used to control heart disease or angina can affect how the body responds to exercise – for example, beta blockers regulate the heart rate. This means that the heart cannot beat as fast, so an extreme sports activity holiday, may not be advisable

 What kind of activities are best? A cardiac care specialist will be able to suggest specific exercises, which could include low impact activities like yoga or Tai chi – imagine carrying out these activities on a lovely warm beach somewhere! For all heart disease patients, warming up and cooling down before any activity is very important to prepare the heart. You should stop the activity if you have chest pain, palpitations, dizziness or breathlessness. According to Ellen Mason, Senior Cardiac Nurse at the British Heart Foundation, walking is one exercise that is suitable for almost everyone – best get booking that low-level picturesque walking holiday!

 Am I covered on my insurance? Just as you would get specialist cover if you were doing winter sports on holiday, you will need to get specialist travel insurance for your heart condition. It is important to make sure that your insurance actually includes your condition, in case you require medical treatment while you are abroad – check out AllClear for more info.

 So what is the key message here then? Well, basically, as long as you make some specialist plans and preparations, in consultation with your medical professional, a holiday could be just the thing you need. In fact, you could consider the type of holiday that your heart might need first…

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