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Articles by Lee Kettle
Former England star Jack Wilshere and wife Andriani announced as BHF ambassadors
Former England and Arsenal footballer Jack Wilshere is joining forces with us to raise awareness of heart conditions after his daughter underwent lifesaving surgery. Jack and his wife Andriani have both been announced as BHF ambassadors after revealing for the first time today that their daughter, Siena, required open heart surgery for a congenital heart defect. Inspired by Siena’s battle, Jack and Andriani are now determined to raise awareness and money for the lifesaving research we fund.
Football legends inspire the nation to learn lifesaving CPR
An inspiring line-up of footballers impacted by life-threatening heart conditions are joining forces to urge more than a quarter of a million people to learn lifesaving CPR. Former international stars Graeme Souness, David Ginola and Glenn Hoddle took their places alongside Luton Town captain Tom Lockyer as we joined Sky Bet to unveil a ground-breaking new campaign - ‘Every Minute Matters’ - at Wembley Stadium.
Tom Lockyer returns to stadium where his life was saved
Football fans from Luton Town and AFC Bournemouth joined forces to raise awareness of CPR and funds for lifesaving heart research at their rescheduled game that was abandoned after Tom Lockyer’s cardiac arrest. Last night the 29-year-old Luton Town captain was guest of honour as Bournemouth beat Luton 4-3 in a Premier League fixture at the Vitality Stadium.
Football legend Graeme Souness urges fans to learn lifesaving CPR
Football legend Graeme Souness is calling on fans across the country to unite in a campaign to learn lifesaving CPR – that could be a game changer for survival rates. The former Liverpool FC captain is joining forces with us to help save more lives from out of hospital cardiac arrest. Not confident Over half (53%) of Brits are not confident performing CPR, despite one in five (20%) having been in a situation where they needed to perform it and 46% knowing someone who has had a cardiac arrest.
Leading scientist to run London Marathon to help fund Heart Healing Patch
A leading scientist will run the TCS London Marathon 2022 for us, to help a revolutionary Heart Healing Patch he is creating become a step closer to reality. Professor Sanjay Sinha is leading ground-breaking research that we fund to develop the Patch, which could be applied to damaged hearts like a plaster to help them repair.
Single pill proves more effective at preventing further heart attack or stroke
A single pill containing medication to lower cholesterol and blood pressure and stop clotting is more successful at preventing further cardiac events after a heart attack, according to research presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Barcelona. The study found that the pill was more effective at preventing another heart attack or stroke when compared with taking the drugs separately.
British Heart Foundation joins Pride parades across the UK
Our colleagues and volunteers will celebrate the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community by joining Pride parades across the UK. We have secured over 200 spaces to take part in seven parades across all four nations of the UK this summer. Colleagues and volunteers kicked off the celebrations at Edinburgh Pride on 25th June and will join Pride in London this weekend (2nd July). They will also join events in Belfast, Brighton, Cardiff, Manchester and Birmingham held over the next two months.
Endurance exercise could impact body's largest artery differently in men and women
Older male athletes could be at higher risk of heart and circulatory diseases than female competitors of a similar age, according to new research presented at the British Cardiovascular Society (BCS) conference in Manchester. The study, which we have part-funded, showed that older male athletes had a stiffer aorta. However, the findings should not deter people from exercising, as further research is needed to understand the biological reasons underpinning these differences.
New research to better understand how heart scarring impacts veteran athletes
We have funded new research which will monitor the heartbeats of more than 100 athletes over two years to measure how endurance exercise impacts their heart. Heart scarring is a key feature of many heart diseases and has a strong association with abnormal heart rhythms, which can cause a life-threatening cardiac arrest. A previous small study involving male athletes aged over 50, also known as veteran athletes, found that around half of the participants had developed scarring on their heart.
New clinical trial aims to improve heart protection during surgery in children
We have funded a new clinical trial that could help improve the recovery of children who undergo life saving heart surgery. The £570,000 study, led by researchers at the University of Birmingham, will compare two ways of protecting the heart when children require open heart surgery to repair congenital heart defects, to find which is most effective. Repairing the heart safely Congenital heart disease is a heart defect that develops in the womb before a baby is born.
Research could help detect early signs of heart failure in diabetic patients
New research that we have funded in Leicester could help understand how heart failure can develop in people living with Type 2 diabetes. An estimated 3.7 million people in the UK are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. The condition is a significant risk factor for heart disease, as it causes damage to the blood vessels. This can lead to heart failure, which means the heart can’t pump blood around the body as well as it should.
Drug used to reduce blood sugar levels in diabetic patients could also benefit hearts
A drug used to treat people living with Type 2 diabetes could also help improve their heart function, according to research we have funded that has been presented at the British Cardiovascular Society conference. An estimated 3.7 million people in the UK are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. The condition poses a significant risk factor for heart disease, as it can damage the walls of the arteries and lead to a heart attack or heart failure.
New research to study benefits of personalised pacemaker programming
Researchers we have funded at the University of Leeds will investigate how people living with heart failure can benefit from personalised pacemaker programming. Heart failure is an incurable condition, in which the heart cannot pump blood around the body as well as it should. As many as 920,000 people across the UK are living with this condition, which can be debilitating and result in symptoms of breathlessness and fatigue - making everyday activities and exercise more difficult.
Genes responsible for high blood pressure discovered in the human kidney
Research that we have part-funded has led to the discovery of 179 kidney genes responsible for high blood pressure. Scientists who led the study, which has been published in Nature Genetics, say that this sheds new light on our understanding of genes associated with the condition. New opportunities High blood pressure is a key risk factor for heart and circulatory diseases, such as heart attack and stroke, and can run in families.
Research in Newcastle to further study the role of genes in congenital heart defects
New research we have funded at Newcastle University will study how certain genes could lead to heart blood vessel defects in babies. Each day in the UK, around 13 babies are diagnosed with a congenital heart defect – a condition that develops in the womb before the baby is born. Some of these defects can be found in the large blood vessels surrounding the heart, and normally require complicated operations to repair.
New research to examine how sedentary behaviour is bad for our health
A new worldwide study that we have funded at the University College London (UCL) will measure how certain physical behaviours, such as sitting for long periods of time, can impact health. The £855,000 research project, in collaboration with the University of Sydney, will look at how sedentary behaviour can lead to heart and circulatory conditions such as heart attack and stroke, in order to improve prevention.
Research in Leicester to study impact of overnight dialysis on the heart
New research we have funded in Leicester will determine if giving dialysis to kidney failure patients overnight, for an extended period of time, will reduce the damage to their heart. People living with kidney failure need dialysis, a procedure to remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood, to stay alive. Most patients typically have four hours of dialysis, three times a week, through daytime appointments at a hospital or satellite clinic.
Rise in excess heart and circulatory disease deaths in under 65s since pandemic began
There have been almost 800 excess deaths in those dying below the age of 65 from heart and circulatory diseases since the Covid-19 pandemic began, our new analysis has revealed. Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that excess deaths in England and Wales for many health conditions spiked during the first peak of the pandemic in March and April. Then, in the 10 weeks following, the numbers fell back to levels seen before the peak.
New long lasting artificial valve could benefit heart patients
A new heart valve with potentially greater benefits than current artificial valves has been developed by scientists at Bristol and Cambridge, thanks to research we have funded. The latest results of the PoliValve, which could be tested in patients within five years, have been published today in Biomaterials Science - a high-impact journal from the Royal Society of Chemistry.
On the NHS frontline: Vanessa's story
Former healthcare professionals have been returning to the NHS frontline to support the fight against coronavirus (Covid-19). Vanessa Smith, a senior cardiac nurse at the BHF, is carrying out a two-month secondment at the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.
On the NHS frontline: Victoria's story
Thousands of former nurses, doctors and healthcare workers have been told ‘the NHS needs you’ in a recruitment drive to support the fight against the Covid-19 coronavirus. Colleagues who had left the NHS in recent years have been asked to ‘stand up, step forward and save lives’ to help the health service tackle the greatest global health threat in a century.
Living with an artificial heart: James’s story
When James Maund walks into a public place, people might ask what is inside the bag he carries around his waist. Most will expect the usual response – maybe his keys, wallet, phone and any other form of personal belongings. But that turns to surprise when James explains that the bag carries life-saving equipment to keep his heart working. James is one of around 300 people in the UK living with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD).
New study could prevent future heart attacks and stroke for chest pain patients
Doctors could better identify the warning signs of a future heart attack or stroke in patients with undiagnosed chest pain, thanks to a new study funded by us at Keele University. Each year, up to one million adults in the UK visit their GP because of chest pain. They can be referred for further tests if coronary heart disease is suspected, or the symptoms can be put down to other commonly associated conditions such as a muscular problem or anxiety.
Research in Birmingham could improve treatments for deep vein thrombosis
New research we have funded at the University of Birmingham could improve treatments for a potentially deadly condition that affects tens of thousands of people in the UK each year. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot in one of the deep veins, usually in the leg. It must be treated quickly, as there is a risk the clot will travel to the lungs and block a blood vessel. This is known as a pulmonary embolism and, if left untreated, can lead to death.
BHF Accelerator Award to boost research at University of Birmingham
We have awarded £1 million funding to the University of Birmingham, to strengthen its ground-breaking research into heart and circulatory diseases. The university is one of only six institutions in the UK to be awarded with a BHF Accelerator Award, which encourages pioneering research of the highest calibre. It will bolster the university’s research in atrial fibrillation (AF), heart failure, thrombo-inflammation and vascular biology.
My cardiac arrest was caught on video
Mark Kingsland was filming a karate sparring session when he had a cardiac arrest. He hopes the footage, which he agreed to share with the BHF, will inspire others to learn life saving CPR… Seeing the moment he had a cardiac arrest on camera, Mark Kingsland can barely believe it. “It feels so surreal to think it even happened,” he said.
Clinical trial to identify best treatment for patients with aortic stenosis
New research we have funded at the University of Leicester could change the way people living with a debilitating heart condition are treated. The £2.7m clinical trial aims to identify the best time to operate on people living with severe aortic stenosis (AS). AS is a common condition that causes a narrowing of the heart valve, restricting blood flow out of the heart.
Research in Birmingham could improve care of patients living with artificial heart pump
New research that we have funded at the University of Birmingham could improve the lives of those living with an artificial heart pump. An illustration showing how an LVAD is connected from the heart, to a controller that is worn on the outside of the body. A left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is a battery-operated, mechanical pump surgically implanted into patients who have end-stage heart failure.
Over half living with heart and circulatory diseases have experienced sadness, anxiety and depression
Our new survey suggests that more than half of people living with heart and circulatory diseases have experienced feelings related to anxiety or depression, but many are not getting the help they need. The survey carried out by Picker, and involving almost 5,000 people living with conditions such as a heart attack, stroke and heart failure, found that 58% of respondents living with heart and circulatory diseases had reported feeling sad, down or depressed.
New research in Oxford could lead to improvements in recovery of stroke survivors
Research funded by us in Oxford could help find new ways to aid the recovery of stroke survivors. A stroke is a medical emergency that occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. It is one of the biggest causes of disability in the UK and kills over 36,000 people in the country each year. Ischaemic stroke is the most common type of stroke in the UK and typically occurs when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain.
Research in Leicester will test new treatment target for sepsis
Research we have funded at the University of Leicester could identify new treatments for a life-threatening condition. Sepsis is a serious complication that begins with infection and can very quickly escalate to a severe immune reaction and circulatory problems. Blood pressure falls, and vital organs shut down because they do not receive the oxygen-rich blood they need. It can take hold quickly and, without rapid treatment, can lead to multiple organ failure and death.
New research could advance treatments for people living with damaged hearts
Scientists could find a way to rebuild damaged hearts, thanks to new research we have funded. The new research will involve sophisticated experiments in the lab. This shows epicardial cells derived from human embryonic cells in a dish. Researchers at the University of Cambridge have discovered that using stem cells to make new heart tissue has the potential to regenerate injured hearts and treat heart failure.
Study in Birmingham could lead to better detection of people with irregular heart rhythm
Research that we part-fund at the University of Birmingham could better identify people living with an undiagnosed abnormal heart rhythm. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common forms of abnormal heart rhythm. It has been diagnosed in 1.3 million people in the UK, but it is estimated that there are hundreds of thousands of people living with undiagnosed AF in the country.
New hospital funding in Birmingham to detect deadly heart condition
More people in the West Midlands will be screened for a deadly inherited heart condition, thanks to new funding awarded by the Miles Frost Fund and the British Heart Foundation (BHF). Debrah Ntini has joined University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust as a clinical nurse specialist, thanks to funding from the Miles Frost Fund and British Heart Foundation (BHF).
Nurse with hidden heart condition raises vital funds for life-saving research
Nurse with hidden heart condition raises vital funds for life-saving research 30 November 2018 Lee Kettle Category: Fundraising A nurse whose heart condition remained undetected for years has raised more than £5,000 for our life-saving research. Vicky Burton was diagnosed with a faulty mitral valve. She was told that this had developed before she was born, but it was only discovered 21 years later.
New research in Birmingham to study smallest vessels of the heart
Dr Neena Kalia, Senior Lecturer in Microcirculation Research and Director of Intravital Research at the University of Birmingham, is leading this new research funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF). New research that we have funded at the University of Birmingham will study the damage caused to the smallest vessels of the heart following a heart attack. Microvessels in the heart play a crucial role in regulating blood supply.
New regional service identifies more than 100 people living with life-threatening inherited condition
New regional service identifies more than 100 people living with life-threatening inherited condition 10 December 2018 Lee Kettle Category: Survival and support A ground breaking genetic screening service that we fund is helping to save lives, after identifying more than 100 people who have a life-threatening inherited condition.
BHF backs plans for Clean Air Zone in Birmingham city centre
We have supported Birmingham City Council’s public consultation on plans to introduce a Clean Air Zone in the city centre. A tram in the centre of Birmingham (Credit: Shutterstock.com). Under proposals for the Clean Air Zone, the most polluting vehicles will be charged to enter all roads within the A4540 Middleway ring road.
Research funded by the BHF at the University of Leicester could reduce the risk of death from a life-threatening aneurysm.
Research we've funded at the University of Leicester could reduce the risk of death from a life-threatening aneurysm. An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a swelling of the main blood vessel in the body. This image shows a large abdominal aortic aneurysm, which is at risk of rupturing. An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a bulging of the major vessel that supplies blood to the body, which runs from the heart down to the chest and stomach.
Cardiac arrest survivor reunited with brave villagers who saved his life
Five people who saved the life of a man have been recognised by the British Heart Foundation. Alan Thompson, pictured centre (blue jacket, white shirt), suffered a sudden cardiac arrest whilst cycling through the village of Smisby. Pictured left to right with Alan is Ian Higginbotham, Mike Cuming, Tony Louca-Weston, Nicola Abell and Laura Redfern. A cardiac arrest survivor has been reunited with the brave people who saved his life.
New study underway to find best treatment for wake-up stroke patients
We have funded a new clinical study that could improve outcomes for people who have a stroke in their sleep. Researchers at the University of Leicester have been awarded more than £320,000 to study the best treatment for people who have an ischaemic stroke whilst asleep and then wake up with symptoms – also known as a wake-up stroke. An ischaemic stroke is the most common kind of stroke and occurs when an artery that supplies blood to the brain becomes blocked by a blood clot.
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