LONDON, 04 May. - (ANA) - Over a million people live with heart failure in the UK. Heart failure occurs when the heart can no longer efficiently pump blood around the body due to conditions affecting the heart muscle or heart valves. Currently, there is no cure, but treatments can help to control symptoms and slow down the damage, including medication and lifestyle changes such as eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and stopping smoking.

 

In some cases, surgery may be necessary. Heart failure is a life-limiting condition, and symptoms typically include tiredness, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, and swelling in the lower legs. People with heart failure require regular check-ups and hospital visits to monitor their condition and are at an increased risk of death from a heart attack.

 

A new study has shown that a simple blood test could help identify those who are at greater risk of dying from the condition, giving doctors time to determine the best treatment options for patients. In a study funded by the British Heart Foundation and published in the European Journal of Heart Failure, researchers reported that patients who had the highest levels of a protein called neuropeptide Y (NPY) were 50% more likely to die from a heart complication compared to those with lower levels.

 

The study followed over 800 people at various stages of heart failure over three years. Researchers are hoping that this simple blood test could help predict which patients are more likely to see their heart failure progress and could be used to guide treatment options.

 

The protein Neuropeptide Y is released by nerves in the heart in response to extreme stress; it is known to cause vasoconstriction of blood vessels in the heart and can trigger potentially dangerous heart rhythms. Currently, another peptide called Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is already used as a marker in the blood to detect heart failure. Elevated BNP levels in the blood are used to indicate heart failure.

 

The researchers suggest that measuring NPY together with BNP could help identify heart failure patients that are at higher risk of dying.

 

This could, in turn, enable healthcare providers to determine the best course of treatment for their patients, and if treatment interventions would help reduce higher risks, also helping to spot those who may benefit from having a potentially lifesaving implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) fitted. The team hope that a blood test for NPY can be used in clinics within five years.

 

Larger studies are planned to determine how accurate the blood test would be in identifying the most at-risk patients.

 

 

 

 

Several risk factors have been identified that can increase your risk of developing heart failure.

One major risk factor is high blood pressure, which can lead to heart damage as the heart has to pump harder to move the blood around the body.

 

Smoking is a main risk factor, as it is linked to high blood pressure and damage to the walls of blood vessels.

Excessive salt intake is also linked to high blood pressure – so monitoring salt intake is important.

 

Eating a diet rich in healthy plant foods can reduce the risk of developing heart failure due to the fibre, mineral, and vitamin contents and anti-inflammatory properties of plant-based foods.

 

Manage stress – it’s not clear exactly how stress affects our health, but it is linked with many conditions that can contribute to heart problems.

 

Staying fit and active and maintaining a healthy weight is important for our physical and mental health, especially as we get older.-(ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/04 May 2024 - - -